San Marcos lost 46-44 against San Antonio Pieper at home on Tuesday night. It was the fourth one-score loss this season for the Rattlers.
“We just need to find ways to win these close games,” San Marcos Head Coach Dan Miller said. “We’ll do everything we can, solution-oriented, to find that answer.”
Pieper started the game on a 6-0 run, but the Rattlers surged back with a 9-1 run of their own to take a 9-7 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter.
“I thought we did a good job of taking control of the game, and honestly I felt we were in control for the majority of the game from that point forward,” Miller said. “It’s just down the stretch we’re getting a little tight, we just have to stay calm.”
San Marcos stretched the lead in the second quarter, outscoring Pieper 11 to 7 and closing the half with a three-pointer and a free throw from Donovan Riddick to put the Rattlers ahead 20-14 at halftime.
The Warriors started the third quarter on a 10-4 run, tying it up with the Rattlers at 24. Cash Good responded quickly, knocking down a three-pointer and adding a layup to give the Rattlers a lead that they did not surrender, taking a 34-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
Josiah Hollman was the most reliable offense for San Marcos in the fourth, scoring seven points early to give the Rattlers a 42-35 lead. Pieper came roaring back, going on an 11-1 run behind seven points from junior Mayson Thomas to give the Warriors a 46-43 lead late in the fourth.
After Hollman gave the Rattlers a point off a free throw, Thomas went to the line for the Warriors with a 46-44 lead. Thomas missed both free throws, giving the Rattlers a chance to tie or win the game with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Unfortunately for San Marcos, they were unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded, and the Rattlers fell 46-44.
The Rattlers now head to Corpus Christi for their second tournament of the season.
“I’m hoping that we can go down there and gel as a team,” Miller said. “This will be a good road trip, it’s a field that we don’t know about.”
The Rattlers begin the tournament with a matchup against Rockport-Fulton High School on Thursday.
