SMHS GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Rattlers were reeling entering their district home game against Hays County rival Buda Johnson as San Marcos was not only coming off a 50-48 defeat to New Braunfels Canyon at the buzzer but also the loss of senior Melayna Perkins, who went down with a severe shoulder injury.
But with a district title and a potential high seed come the postseason now hanging in the balance, it was time for the Lady Rattlers to step up their game to keep their title hopes alive.
“I told them all it’s gonna be bits and pieces of everybody,” Head Coach Cooper Haralson said. ”Everybody’s gonna have to do a little bit more.”
San Marcos responded with a resounding 54-46 win over Johnson as the Lady Rattlers were back in the win column and more importantly back in the district title race with only four games remaining.
“Honestly, it feels great to come back and win, especially playing at home and everybody coming back to see us play,” senior forward Azariah Fennell said. ”[We were] playing for Melayna. We played the game for her and we wanted to win for her.”
Knowing the team was down a player, junior guard Rileigh Good credited the victory to the Lady Rattlers’ ability to step up when their number was called on “Coming back, we hit a lot of adversity,” Good said. “But just having faith in our teammates and everyone stepping up really played a part [in the win].”
The Lady Rattlers trailed at 14-11 in the second quarter before San Marcos responded with a 11-3 run to take back the lead at 22-17 capped off by a basket from Fennell.
Despite leading at halftime 24-19, San Marcos found themselves in a tied game at 27-27 following a 8-3 run by the Jaguars.
But the Lady Rattlers answered with an effective 6-0 run to go up 3327 where San Marcos failed to relinquish the lead despite the Jaguars’ comeback efforts.
“We went through all of it on [last] Friday, all the adversity of that game,” Haralson said. “Tonight, we played a really good game almost throughout. We had our runs and limited their runs for the most part. They would get on those little runs, those 4-to-6 point runs and we were able to shut them down and go on our own [runs].
Junior Rileigh Good attacks the defense during the Lady Rattlers game against Buda Johnson. Good finished the game with 11 points. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
The Rattler student section celebrate a Lady Rattler three-pointer during San Marcos win over Buda Johnson. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
“We were able to pressure a lot whether it was dropping back, and pressure them in half court or extending full court. I thought we did a good job of that. I feel like in the second half, rebounding was a big difference.”
Fennell led the team in scoring with 29 points followed by Good with 11 points. Senior Kylie Joseph was third in scoring with six points followed by freshman Kourtney Blakemore with five points.
Haralson praised the work both Blakemore and Joseph did in the paint as their rebounding and work down low played a critical part in the Lady Rattlers win.
“[Blakemore] coming up from the JV, she played varsity early in the year [but] I wanted to make sure she got some playing time so we sent her down for a little bit,” Haralson said. “She did a great job there. Her athleticism is a differencemaker in her hustle. I thought that [Joseph] did a heck of a job hustling, grabbing rebounds and not being afraid to be physical.”
With the win, the Lady Rattlers improved to 189 overall and 6-2 in district play, just one game behind Cibolo Steele and Converse Judson for the district title lead.
The Lady Rattlers are back on the road Friday as San Marcos takes on the Schertz Clemens Lady Buffaloes. Clemens enters the game with a 09 district record and a 722 overall record. In their last meeting, San Marcos defeated Clemens 63-30.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Clemens High School.
Sophomore Aubrey Yanez dribbles the ball towards the basket in the Lady Rattlers game against Buda Johnson. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
