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Ex-Americas phenom to play in state all-star game
By Lenny Jurado
Tammy Acosta is El Paso's only girl playing in next week's Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A-5A All-Star Basketball Game.
As a bonus, she'll even get a new pair of Nike Shocks.
"I'm a little bit nervous but mostly excited, especially about the new shoes part," she said.
Of course, the new foot gear isn't No. 1 on the mind of the recent
Americas High School graduate.
For this all-star, it's never been about the shoes.
It wasn't any high-tops that made her a three-time District 1-5A and three-time all-city most valuable player.
And she'll be looking to leave her opponents in their shoes when she plays for the South next week. Her all-star game will begin at 6:30 p.m. MDT on July 10 at Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas.
"These are the top players in Texas," she said. "I feel really honored. Most of all, I'm excited. It's going to be fun getting to play with girls who are going to play at big (colleges)."
Acosta will be joined by 11 other players on the South team. She also is the second El Pasoan participating in a TGCA all-star game next week.
Franklin all-state libero Madison Leeper will take the court a day earlier as a volleyball player.
Acosta is El Paso's third consecutive TGCA basketball all-star. Burges' Danielle Cota and Natalie Flores, respectively, preceded her the past two seasons.
"I think people across the state are finally recognizing her (Acosta's) skills, and it's a good thing for her and for El Paso because we have a lot of good basketball players in town," Trailblazers basketball coach Paul Baca said. "Hopefully, they'll continue looking in our direction.
"I'm proud of her and she's well-deserving of this, and I hope she plays well. She'll do well."
It's not easy to make a TGCA all-star team, but Acosta was worthy of the nod, Chapin girls basketball coach and TGCA panelist Marlee Webb said.
"The high school coaches nominate (players), and we choose them from the bios we get," said Webb, who has been on the selection committee the past three years. "I think it's important to have representation from El Paso, and including the girls who have come before her, to me, they were the best seniors coming out of our area and obviously, the committee went ahead and agreed."
A four-time all-city honoree, Acosta certainly has the résumé to merit an all-star selection.
She led the Trailblazers to four district titles, advancing to the Sweet 16 as a sophomore, and twice was named Texas Association of Basketball Coaches all-region.
This past season, Acosta averaged 12.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 2.4 spg and shot 71 percent from the field.
Having already proven herself while at Americas, the University of Texas-Permian Basin signee plays to "just have fun, basically," on the all-star stage.
"I want to enjoy the experience, playing with the top players in Texas in my grade level," she said.
Lenny Jurado may be reached at
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