SMHS BOYS BASKETBALL
The Rattlers fell 65-63 against the Smithson Valley Rangers in their home opener on Tuesday night. The loss dropped their record to 0-2, with the losses being by a combined five points.
“I’m proud of the guys just for playing hard,” San Marcos Head Coach Dan Miller said. “We played hard in both games, and unfortunately came up a possession short in both games.”
It was a neck-and-neck first quarter that saw three lead changes. The Rattlers shots were not falling in the first minutes of the game, but stifling defense kept the Rangers from pulling away. A basket from Cash Good put the Rattlers in front 15-13 to close out the quarter.
“We’re playing some good defense, we’re a physical team,” Miller said. “But we’ve just got to get better as the year goes on.”
San Marcos expanded on the lead, thanks to a 6-0 run midway through the second quarter, punctuated by a fastbreak dunk by Josiah Hollmon and a layup by Donovan Riddick that made it 26-19.
The Rattlers went into halftime with a 32-26 lead.
The Rangers came out hot in the second half, a three-pointer from Wayne Jurica put Smithson Valley in the lead 33-32. Smithson Valley ended the third quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 49-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rattlers worked to eliminate the lead early in the fourth, riding seven early points by Donovan Riddick to tie the game, 54-54.
Smithson Valley’s effective half-court offense helped them to avoid turnovers against San Marcos’ full-court press as the Rangers surged to a 62-55 lead late in the fourth, their largest lead of the night.
With their backs against the wall, San Marcos fought back. A score from Donovan Riddick, followed by a three-pointer from junior Walter Howard brought the Rattlers to within two points.
With less than a minute to go, Cash Good knocked down a three-pointer that gave San Marcos a 63-62 lead. But another timely three-pointer Smithson Valley’s Wayne Jurica put the Rangers on top 65-63 with nine seconds to play.
In the final seconds, Rattler guard Donovan Riddick drove the ball to the rim but was blocked by Ranger forward Brooks Laye, giving Smithson Valley a thrilling 65-63 win.
The Rattlers will look to regroup against Round Rock on Thursday morning.
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Senior Josiah Hollman fights off two defenders in the paint during the Rattlers homer opener against Smithson Valley. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
Junior Walter Howard fights for the ball in the tie-up in the Rattlers game against Smithson Valley. San Marcos enters tournament play at the Austin High Tournament in search of the their first win over the season. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
