Galena Park ISD would like to welcome back Coach Spiro Amarantos as the head coach for the Galena Park High School (GPHS) football team.
Coach Amarantos is a 1989 Galena Park High School graduate. He also attended Galena Park Elementary, Jacinto City Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. He was a three- year letterman on the varsity football team and played as a cornerback and receiver. He credits Coach Bill Koch and the rest of the GPHS coaching staff for instilling many values in him, many of which he still carries to this day.
After high school, Coach Amarantos attended San Jacinto College then transferred to the University of Houston. Upon graduation, he returned to his roots to begin a career in education at Woodland Acres Middle School eventually becoming a defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Galena Park High School. After 15 years at GPISD, Coach Amarantos went to Summer Creek High School to coach for three years then went to Porter High School. When the position for the Galena Park High School head coach opened, it was a no brainer for him to come back to the community that means so much to him.
Galena Park ISD would like to congratulate Coach Sam Benitez, North Shore Senior High basketball coach, for being named Coach of the Year for the Greater Houston Area.
North Shore Mustangs Basketball Head Coach Sam Benitez (left side) and players with Texas UIL State Semifinalist trophy, at the San Antonio Alamodome, Friday, March 8, 2019. Mustangs end playoff run, Duncanville Panthers won 63 – 56. Pictured above: North Shore Mustangs Head Coach Sam Benitez and players, #0 Joshua Cooper, #1 KJ Smith, #2 Oriekose Egbule, #4 Deveon Taylor, #5 Joseph Murray, #10 Keiman Capers, #11 Bruce Scott, #13 Randy Woodard, #15 Jalen Means, #20 Colton Price, #21 Colby Francis and #22 Jakari Marshall. Assistant Coaches, Trainers and Managers: Trey McDowell, Jonathan Dillon, Theadis Reagins, Reggie Wallace, Lamon Atkins, Anthony Boutte, Dvonte Davis, Ashley Maxey, Kalynn Gray, Chyna Rogers, Mariah Washington, Samantha Nila, Tim Chavanne and Kyle Rice.
By Allan Jamail
San Antonio, TX. – Alamodome — On Friday, March 8, 2019, the North Shore Mustangs, playing in the 2019 Boys State Basketball Championship – 6A Tournament, took the court against the Duncanville Panthers and got off to a good start and a halftime 5 point lead, 26-21.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Mustangs increased their lead, and with four minutes left in the third period, they led by 10 points, 35-25. By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers stepped up their pace and were only behind 2 points.
One minute into the beginning of the final fourth quarter Duncanville tied the game 41-41. The remaining seven minutes, the Panthers took the lead and held a small lead until the final seconds ticked off.
GAME 2: North Shore with Regional Final Trophy and Game Ball after defeating George Ranch Longhorns 35 – 32 – Saturday, March 2, 2019. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
Cypress-Fairbanks, Harris County – Berry Center – Friday, March 1st and Saturday March 2nd 2019 — The North Shore Mustangs East Side Boys Basketball team, under the direction of Head Coach Sam Benitez, captured Regional Title, to advance in the 2019 Boys State Basketball Championship – 6A Regions 1 & 3 tournament.
1ST OF 2 GAME TOURNAMENT:
In a two-day tournament the Galena Park ISD Mustangs on Friday came from a 13 point deficit to defeat the Fort Bend ISD Elkins Knights 69 to 62 in overtime.
After trailing the entire game, late in the fourth quarter Coach Benitez called timeout to give the team his strategy to pull out a win. After the timeout, the team shifted gears and began playing more aggressively. The lead changed by just one point a few times and was tied twice.
With the final 47 seconds on the clock, a 3 point shot by guard KJ Smith tied the game 57 to 57, putting it into overtime. The East Side Boys offense made 12 points, and the defense held Elkins to just 5 points, winning 69 to 62. Mustangs Leading scorer’s #0 Joshua Cooper with 18 points, #11 Bruce Scott with 16 points, and #15 Jalen Means 10 points.
After the game, NC Star writer Allan Jamail asked Coach Benitez what he most contributed the come-from-behind overtime win to. Benitez said, “The East-Side Boys pride.”
February 22, 2019 — North Shore Mustangs Basketball Coach Sam Benitez led the team to a 64 to 47 victory over the Dickinson Gators to advance to the Regional Quarterfinals where they played the Pearland Dawson Eagles. Junior Mustang #0 Joshua Cooper makes a 2 point layup against the Gators.
By Allan Jamail
February 26, 2019 — North Shore Basketball Mustangs defeated the Pearland Dawson Eagles 34 to 30 in the Regional Quarterfinals. Coach Sam Benitez’s Mustangs will advance to the Regional Semifinals against the Fort Bend Elkins Knights (Missouri City).
The Mustangs have an overall record of 31 wins and 3 losses while the Knights record is 31 wins and 7 losses. Early in the season three months ago Elkins squeaked out a one point win over North Shore 56 to 55.
The game will be played at a neutral site on Friday, March 1st at 6 PM at the Berry Center of Northwest Houston, 8877 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX. 77433. This game is part of the 2019 Boys State Basketball Championships – 6A Regions 1 & 3 tournament. The winner play in the Regional Finals on Saturday, March 2nd at Berry Center at 3pm.
Rep. Hernandez and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recognize Coach Kay and the #1 high school football team in the nation, the Galena Park ISD North Shore Senior High School Mustangs.
Coach Kay and the Mustangs also received recognition at a Pep Rally at the North Shore Stadium, and an award at the downtown Houston Touchdown Club.
Coach Kay received an award from the Houston Sports Awards, as televised on Channel 13 at the beginning of February. The team was recognized in a category called “Moment of the Year” for the hail Mary catch that won the playoff game.
Coach Kay and Mustang players were also honored at the North Shore Rotary luncheon in February.
Lady Mustang freshman #5 Donalyn Johnson leaps high over two Dobie Lady Longhorn defenders to tie the game late in the third quarter. Lady Mustangs were eliminated 35-29. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
February 11, 2019 – Deer Park was the neutral site for the Girls 6A Bi-District Basketball Playoffs where the Dobie Lady Longhorns eliminated the Lady Mustangs 35-29. It was a defensive game and the lead changed and was tied several times until the final few minutes. The Lady Mustangs turned-over the ball numerous times in the final minutes, the Lady Longhorns easily scored from the turnover’s and pulled away with the win.
#11 Mustang Ian Butler jumps high past Trojan defenders with a layup for a score.
Defeat South Houston 42-35; Dickinson next
By Allan Jamail
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 — The North Shore Mustangs basketball team advanced in the 2019 Boys State Basketball Championships – 6A Regions 1 & 3 tournament by defeating the Trojans of South Houston 42 to 35 in Deer Park a neutral site.
The North Shore Mustangs will play next the Dickinson Gators Friday, February 22, at 8:00 PM at the Phillips Field House, 2909 Dabney Dr., Pasadena, 77502.
The Mustangs have an overall record of 29 wins and 3 losses, the Dickinson Gators record is 21-8. If the Mustangs win this Area Around game they’ll advance to the Regional Quarter-Finals against the winner of the Dawson and Humble game.
North Shore basketball Coach Sam Benitez is preparing the Mustangs for the first round of the playoffs in a Bi-District showdown against the South Houston Trojans, with a 21 win, 13 loss record. North Shore finished regular season play with 28 wins & 3 loses.
The game will be played Tuesday, February 19th at 7 PM on a neutral site in Deer Park, 710 San Augustine Ave. 77536.
2018 North Shore Mustangs State Football Champion’s for Conference 6A Division I standing at the table displaying both the University Interscholastic League and MaxPrep trophies with Army National Guard Airborne Staff Sergeant Carla Henry and Coach Jon Kay. (Photo by Allan Jamail)
By Allan Jamail
Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 3 PM was a day that will go into history for the Galena Park ISD community. The Army National Guard, UIL and MaxPreps came together to bring the GPISD community a proud day. The event was billed as a Pep Rally and it surely was, as thousands of fans, family and students packed the stadium cheering their Mustangs.
The Master of Ceremonies was Casey Johnson, a North Shore High teacher who kept the program agenda moving forward and lively with his occasional encouragement and stirring up the crowd to get loud cheers for their Mustangs. The Mustang Nation was “in the house” and let it be known they love their East-Side Boys.
Terri Moore, Assistant Superintendent at Galena Park ISD, introduced elected officials who presented proclamations or resolutions honoring the team. Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, Jacinto City’s Mayor Ana Diaz, Galena Park’s Mayor Esmeralda Moya, Senator Carol Alvarado, State Representative Ana Hernandez, County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Constable Chris Diaz, GPISD Trustees Jeff Millier, Wilfred Broussard and Yuroba Harris, representing Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who couldn’t attend. Mayors Turner and Ana Diaz proclaimed North Shore Mustang Day in their cities.
Bill Moore representing MaxPrep for Andy Beal, President and Founder, gave a press statement proclaiming the undefeated North Shore Mustangs 6A Division I number one in the nation. Maxprep is a CBS Sports Digital property, and it’s the online high school sports leader devoted exclusively to the coverage of high school sports, and uses an intricate program to determine team rank. The computer-based system utilizes the huge number of game results played nationwide each season. The Mustangs set a school record for most wins in a single season; evaluations included strength of schedule, talent, quality wins and returning starters, and to qualify for the Nation’s number one rank, you must have won a state championship.
The Mustangs trampled their opponents to the tune of a 41 point average margin of victory. They set a school record for most point scored in a season with 854 (53.4 average).
Allan Jamail, NC Star writer, asked Coach Kay for a prediction and goal for 2019. Kay said, “I can’t predict this far out. We’re losing some great senior talent, but we have a good crop of upcoming players we’ll work to develop to try to fill in for those we’re losing.
Roger Davis, a member of Sheldon FFA, caught a calf during Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Calf Scramble, earning a $500 purchase certificate presented by Paxton Motherall, a Calf Scramble Committee
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, January 28, 2019 — Roger Davis, a member of Sheldon FFA, caught a calf during Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Calf Scramble January 25, earning a $500 purchase certificate for a show heifer and the chance for up to $12,500 in scholarship awards. Davis’s parents are Bobby and Nikole Davis. Davis’s award was sponsored by David and Ginna Sauerwein.
During each of 28 rodeo performances, the Calf Scramble gives 16 Texas 4- H and FFA members the opportunity to catch one of eight calves released during the show in one of the most thrilling and unpredictable events. Justin Boots and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are long-time supporters of the Calf Scramble. Participants who do not catch a calf receive a pair of Justin Boots, a practice that has seen more than 227 pairs of boots awarded annually.
The Stock Show’s Calf Scramble scholarship awards range from $500 to $12,500, to participants who demonstrate dedication and hard work through monthly reports, and a final essay submitted to their sponsors and the Calf Scramble Committee. Davis will use the purchase certificate to buy a registered beef or dairy heifer to raise and exhibit at next year’s Stock Show. This year, $292,000 in calf scramble scholarships will be awarded to 67 students.
