Lady Rattlers, hungry for postseason, begin 2019-20 season

San Marcos will use its experience to compete for a district title this year.

The Lady Rattlers basketball team is coming off of a 20-win season and looking to keep building a winning team heading into a new year. That record marked the first time the women’s team won 20 games since the 2014-15 season, going 15-1 in district play in the same year. The team brings back varsity experience at every position, including First Team all-district forward Faith Phillips and Second Team all-district seniors Grace Latham and Miranda Lamb. Head coach Veronda Kendall believes this group of veterans will help the team grow from last year’s successful season.

“We’re bringing back a lot of kids who are very experienced,” Kendall said. “We’ve got three seniors that have gotten a lot of experience in playing time. They’ve taken their lumps … so having that experience coming back is critical, it’s who we are. It’s the core of who we are. Those guys have been given time to develop and I think we’ll see the results of that this year. I’ve seen a lot more maturity. I also see a hunger this year to compete and see what they can make out of this season.”

Sophomore guard Vivian Hernandez, Phillips and Lamb are expected to carry most of the offensive load for the team. Lamb’s 3-point shooting helps spread the floor, while Phillips and Hernandez have displayed the ability to score in a variety of ways, forcing defenses to gameplan for them every night. 

“(Hernandez) last year was a standout player and caught some attention, even as a freshman. And so this year she’s just much more confident, a lot more comfortable and has a much better feel for the game and what we expect on both ends on the floor,” Kendall said. “Same for Miranda Lamb. She’s been in the program since she was a freshman. She understands the ins and outs. She’s a leader, very intelligent and so she will be a major contributor to our success this year.”

In the middle of the paint stands the 6-foot-1 defensive anchor in the middle of the Lady Rattler zone in Latham. Kendall expects her to have a “breakout” season for the team. Latham’s length in the paint aids her in blocking shots when defenders get in the lane, which causes guards to get creative around the rim in order to finish over the top of her. Her defensive prowess allows the offense to score easy transition buckets early. 

One of the Lady Rattlers’ strong suits in last year’s competition was getting out to quick starts. The purple and white averaged 14.1 points per game in the first quarter, the most of any other quarter in the game. Kendall said controlling the tempo of the game will be crucial for the team this season.

“I think depending on your opponent, you may have to slow the game down. It depends on how you matchup,” Kendall said. “With our personnel this year, we may be able to play a bit faster. Defense is our bread and butter. We’ve got to get better at it but we’ve got some people that can score. If we get out to those quick starts, that’s just going to feed into the style of play that we would like to employ this year.”

Kendall also named several newcomers who are expected to make significant contributions, including junior guard Kayla Presley and also the return of sophomore forward Dede Pierson, coming off of an ACL injury this offseason. 

The Lady Rattlers continue to play in one of the tougher districts in the state with competition like 6A state champion Converse Judson and perennial playoff contenders like Cibolo Steele and Shertz Clemens. It won’t be an easy road but San Marcos doesn’t expect its level of play to change based on their opponents.

Not only is it important for the players to continue perfecting their crafts during the off-season, but the coaches themselves must continue to study film, find the perfect combinations to put on the floor in different situations and also take some time to be prepared mentally for what the season entails when chasing certain goals for the year.

“Coaches are always networking, taking X’s and O’s, going to clinics,” Kendall said. “That’s just what we do, who we are. But I also think it’s important to decompress and recharge. That’s a little bit of what we do to stay ready.”

The Lady Rattlers will lean on their experience and look to start the regular season off Tuesday night when they open up against Floresville at 7:30 p.m. inside the Snake Pit. 

“Come out and support us. I think we’re going to be fun to watch,” Kendall said. “You’re going to see an intense, tough style of basketball from these young ladies and it will be worth every minute.”