SMHS BOYS BASKETBALL
The Rattlers fell behind in the first half, but were unable to close the gap as San Marcos lost 61-46 to Judson on Tuesday night.
The loss dropped the Rattlers record to 15-12, with a 1-2 record in district play.
“Credit to Judson, they came in and played good” said San Marcos head coach Dan Miller. “They moved the ball better than we moved the ball; they shared it better than we shared it, and they defended with more intensity than we did.”
Judson came into the game with a 8-14 record, but have been playing well after a slow start to the season.
“A lot of people have probably looked at their record and think they (Judson) aren’t good,” Miller said. “But we know how good they are. They’re putting it together, and they’re gonna be a tough team in the district as they get going. Earlier in the week, senior forward Josiah Hollman reached 1,500 career varsity points, and coach Miller remarked how proud he was of Hollman.
“It’s very cool. He played on varsity all four years,” Miller said. “He played in Arizona, so we were finally able to get his points from his high school he played at in Arizona … He went over 1,500, and Don [Riddick] and Cash [Good] went over 1,000. Those guys have really done some great things.” It was a physical, defensive first quarter. Judson took an early 7-3 lead with a couple of fast break scores.
Sergio Gutierrez dribbles the ball around the Judson defense to create offensive movement. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
The Rattlers worked their way back; tying it 9-9 on a second-chance layup by Sergio Gutierrez and Josiah Hollmon gave the Rattlers the lead on a three-pointer 12-9.
Judson led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Rockets continued their suffocating defense in the second quarter, extending their lead as they made quality shots hard to come by for the Rattlers.
San Marcos drew within one at 19-18 after Cash Good connected on a floater off the backboard.
But Judson stayed focused, ending the quarter on a 13-6 run and taking a 32-24 lead into halftime.
Points were hard to come by for both teams in the third, as Judson continued their high-effort defense and San Marcos moved to a full court press.
Cash Good kept the Rattlers in the game with six of San Marcos’ 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to put a dent in the lead as Judson went to the fourth up 46-34.
The Rockets did not relinquish their lead in the fourth. Josiah Hollmon had nine points in the quarter, but Judson kept their foot on the gas, rolling to a 61-46 win.
Up next for the Rattlers is a trip to Cibolo Steele in a district showdown with the Knights.
Steele enters the game with a 22-2 overall record with losses to Austin St. Michaels and Allen while being the No. 7 ranked team in the state, according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 poll.
Last Tuesday, the Knights defeated the Davenport Wolves 75-59 in non-district action.
Tip-off for San Marcos and Steele is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Cibolo.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
Josiah Hollmon battles down low with the Judson defense in the Rattlers home game against the Rockets. San Marcos goes back on the road to Cibolo Steele in a showdown with the Knights. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
