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The Rattlers dropped another close game to fall to 1-1 in district play, as they lost 87-82 to Schertz Clemens in a hard-fought game on Friday night.
“We fought to the very end,” said San Marcos Head Coach Dan Miller. “We did a lot of good things, just didn’t do quite enough to win the game tonight.”
With the loss, San Marcos’ overall record now sits at 11-9 with five of those losses by five points or less.
Clemens opened the first quarter on a 7-2 run, after a breakaway dunk off a San Marcos turnover, Miller called timeout to talk to his team.
The Rattlers came out of the timeout much more relaxed, as they finished the first quarter on a 20-10 run. Donovan Riddick led the way for the Rattlers with seven points.
Once again, Clemens started the quarter hot, a 6-2 run brought them within a point before Miller called another timeout.
Riddick remained the Rattlers best scorer, taking the ball to the rim with ease. San Marcos’ defense was a strong point in the second quarter, creating tough shots, turnovers, and drawing two charges.
After the timeout, the Rattlers finished the quarter on a 20-12 run, taking a 44-35 lead into half.
Clemens worked to close the gap in the third, with four three-pointers in the quarter to make it a 65-60 game entering the fourth.
The Buffaloes made it a 72-68 game midway through the fourth. Trying to make it a one-score game, they drove the ball to the rim and Rattlers senior Josiah Hollman was called for a foul, and a subsequent technical foul, which was his fifth, and last, personal foul.
Rattlers senior forward Damian Lestourgeon also fouled out of the game during the fourth quarter, further stretching an already thin San Marcos lineup.
The Rattlers continued to battle, but Clemens took a 78-77 lead with a minute and a half remaining in the game. On the ensuing possession, the Rattlers were able to draw a foul but could not convert at the free throw line, missing both.
Clemens responded on their following possessions, adding two points after a San Marcos intentional foul. With less than a minute left, the Rattlers needed a score down 80-77, but a traveling violation gave the ball back to the Buffaloes. Cash Good was forced to intentionally foul, and became the third Rattler to foul out of the game.
San Marcos was unable to overcome the deficit, as the Clemens closed the game out at the free throw line, winning 87-82.
“We don’t make excuses, but it was a battle of attrition,” said Miller. “We just ran out of a lot of lineups that we would normally play. Losing Josiah really hurt, but we’ve got to keep our cool. We can’t beat ourselves.”
The Rattlers take a week off before returning to the court against LBJ Austin in tournament play on the 27th.
