GAME OF THE YEAR
This year’s San Marcos Daily Record High School Game of the Year is tied between two games both featuring the Lady Rattlers and with significant importance.
The first came in the Lady Rattlers home district game against then No.11 ranked Cibolo Steele. San Marcos jumped out on the Knights, going up 15-4 over Steele and entered the second quarter up 176.
Steele cut the lead down to one possession in the second quarter but were unable to take the lead. Going into halftime, San Marcos led 28-20.
Steele again made it a one possession game at 28-25 only for the Lady Rattlers to extend the lead 34-25.
The Knights continued to make a number of comeback attempts only for San Marcos to answer back and maintain the lead. Steele never led against San Marcos as the Lady Rattlers came away with a program-defining win 54-47.
Later in the postseason, San Marcos found themselves in the Regional Semfinals against Austin Vandergrift. Following one week of playing postseason games in Corpus Christi, the Lady Rattlers finally played close to home, allowing the San Marcos faithful to pack out Austin Bowie Gym.
Both the Lady Rattlers and the Vipers were locked in a fierce battle with neither team holding the lead by more than 10 points.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Rattlers 4036 before 7-2 run to take the lead at 43-42 following a basket from Ezra Tobias. Vandergrift went back in front 44-43 after making a basket before the Vipers fouled Tobias to send her to the free throw line.
The senior made the first free throw to tie the game but missed the second free throw. However, junior Melayna Perkins grabbed the rebound and made the basket to put San Marcos up 46-44.
Vandergrift was unable to retake the lead back, allowing San Marcos to hit a couple of key free throws to seal the win at 49-46.
The win put San Marcos in their first regional final since 1992.
HONORABLE MENTION SMHS BASEBALL VS BUDA JOHNSON
In the final home game of the season against the county rivals, the Rattlers defeated Buda Johnson 4-3 on a walk-off single to sweep the Jaguars. Johnson is currently in the regional final.
SMHS BOYS BASKETBALL VS CIBOLO STEELE
The Rattlers played spoiler to the District 29 title race, defeating Steele 74-67 in the final home game of the season. The loss forced a three-way tie for first place in District 29 between Steele, East Central and Judson while elevating the Rattlers to fifth place.
LADY RATTLER SOCCER VS JUDSON
Playing on senior night, the Lady Rattlers defeated the Judson Rockets 4-0 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2023. Senior Annalise Martinez scored four goals for the Lady Rattlers in the win.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
