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The Lady Rattlers took down San Antonio Pieper 54-47 for a big win to improve their record to 13-5 before entering district play.
“I think defense is our identity, and it was leading to easy offense,” Head Coach Cooper Haralson said.. “I’m just extremely proud of our girls for taking the challenge and going out there and taking care of business.”
San Marcos came out of the gates hot, taking a 13-4 first quarter lead on the back of an 11-0 run.
“We came out with a great energy,” Jjunior forward Azariah Fennell said. “We were ready to play as soon as we walked on the court. We knew that Pieper was a really good team and we already knew what had to happen to get the win.”
The Lady Rattlers led 15-6 after the first quarter, but the Warriors settled down in the second, drawing within four as San Marcos took a 26-22 lead to halftime.
“It was a game the entire game,” Haralson said. “But every time that they started to come back our girls pushed back forward to get it back in our favor.”
Pieper continued to close the gap in the third quarter, making it a 33-32 game at the midway late in the period. The Lady Rattlers were not phased, they forced several key turnovers, going on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter after a three-pointer by Rileigh Good to take a 42-32 lead into the fourth.
Down double digits entering the fourth, Pieper needed to mount a comeback quickly, and they did just that, going on a 12-6 run to make it 48-44 after a layup with three minutes to go.
Once again, the Lady Rattlers came through with a response. A clutch three-pointer by junior forward Melayna Perkins swung the momentum back to the side of San Marcos, making it 51-44.
“Hitting threes is a very big momentum changer for us,” Perkins said. “Especially when the gap was closing and I hit that really big three. I think everybody gained their confidence back and we had energy, and that really pushed us to the end of the game.”
With 40 seconds to go, San Marcos had a 54-47 lead with possession of the ball. The Lady Rattlers were able to pass the ball around the court to keep the ball away from Pieper, sealing a 54-47 win.
“We’re so good at just drawing to girls, and getting it to the other girl and just making the smart decision with the basketball,” Haralson said. “The girls do that, that’s all on them. We don’t practice that, they just know how to do it.”
After their fourth straight win, the Lady Rattlers begin district play next Friday against New Braunfels Canyon.
