SMHS GIRLS BASKETBALL
Fennell surpasses 500 career rebounds
In the battle of the Rattlers, it was San Marcos that stood tall.
San Marcos outscored San Antonio Reagan 212 in the second quarter en route to 54-28 win. San Marcos, who bounced back from their loss to Cedar Park Vista Ridge, improves to 6-2 overall while Reagan falls to 2-6.
“We were all under the understanding from Vista Ridge that we didn’t play our best basketball,” Head Coach Cooper Haralson said. “My main focus is making sure we’re handling ourselves defensively, because it allows for a lot of those transition options or opportunities and things like that. But again, it was understanding that we didn’t play our best basketball, I thought we’d played well for one quarter against Vista Ridge. So to me, it’s about consistency.”
It was a career night for junior guard Rileigh Good who led the team in scoring with 22 points, including making five three-pointers in the game.
On her success, Good gave credit to her teammates while finding her places on the floor to knock down shots.
“Just being able to trust my teammates and help me get to the spots,” Good said. “The next job mentality had me going.”
Haralson attributed Good’s success to her confidence in being a shooter and having the ball in her hands.
“She always plays pretty confident,” Harlason said. “Before the game, I asked her about the basketball because I always do. ‘Is this ball good with you?’ [I said] and she’s just like ‘Oh yeah, that one’s green. That one’s straight green.’ I was just like, okay and turns out it was.
“She’s a very confident basketball player. She’s confident in her shot, getting downhill and with the ball in her hands. That’s the way it needs to be, and that’s the way it always is for her.”
It was also a significant night for senior Azariah Fennell who surpassed 500 career rebounds.
Having surpassed 1,000 career points last season, surpassing 500 career rebounds is an accomplishment Fennell cherishes deeply in a season where she is honoring her grandfather who passed away recently.
“Definitely it means a lot to me, hitting 500 career rebounds this year and then hitting 1,000 points last year,” Fennell said. It just shows how much I love the game and I’m willing to sacrifice not only for myself but for my team. I’d like to say it’s for my grandpa that passed away a couple weeks ago, so just being able to honor him through the game.”
For Haralson, Fennell’s 500th rebound shows how much of a complete player she is.
“She’s an all around basketball player,” Haralson said. “On the defensive end, she’s a lockdown defender. She’s crashing the boards on both ends. She’s hard to stop at the basket and she’s continuing to develop confidence in her shot from the outside. She’s a three-level player on offense, she’s a lockdown defender on defense and is always crashing the board.
‘To see her accomplish those goals, it just shows how much work she’s put into it and how much she loves the game and cares. Rebounding is an effort thing. It’s, ‘I want it more than that person.’ She’s made it clear throughout her career that she wants it more.”
San Marcos is back on the road to participate in the Allen Hoopfest tournament.
Senior Azariah Fennell captured her 500th rebound in the Lady Rattlers win over Reagan. Fennell is also looking to end her season with over 1,500 career points. Daily Record photo by Colton McWilliams
