The Lady Rattlers played one of their best games of the year, but fell against top-ranked Judson 51-46 on Friday in a fiery game on senior night.
The Rockets came out on top to secure a district championship in a game that featured a fourth-quarter fight between players, resulting in the ejection of two San Marcos players and one Judson player.
“It’s an unfortunate thing for both sides,” said San Marcos head coach Cooper Haralson. “Number one and two teams (in the district) facing off, it’s a great game, down to the wire, it’s unfortunate for something like that to happen.”
Before the game, San Marcos honored seniors Ezra Tobias, Ayleceia Pierson, Brooklynn Harris, Leila Hernandez, and Azya Gonzales, a senior class that saw immense success in their four years.
“I think they’ve just been leaders,” Haralson said about the senior class. “They look to Ezra, they look to Ayleceia, they look to them.”
The first quarter was neck-and-neck, with neither team being able to build a lead greater than four points in any part of the period.
Pierson scored the first nine points for the Lady Rattlers with Tobias converting a three-point play as San Marcos trailed 15-12 entering the second quarter.
San Marcos struggled with turnovers in the second quarter, and the Rockets took advantage to take a 29-22 lead going into halftime.
Judson came out quick in the third quarter, getting to the foul line and converting their shots. They led 37-27 as San Marcos called a timeout to try and stop the run.
The Rattlers went on a 6-0 run after the timeout, playing tight defense and getting the ball to the rim. Junior forwards Melayna Perkins and Azariah Fennell converted layups to make it 37-33.
Judson added two just before the buzzer to take a 39-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
Once again, Judson started to pull away, going on a 8-4 run to open the quarter and make it a double digit ballgame. The only Lady Rattler points during that run were scored by seniors Brooklynn Harris and Ayleceia Pierson.
It was 47-37 Rockets, but the Lady Rattlers still battled. Sophomore Rileigh Good connected on a three-pointer, and Fennell two more points to cut the lead in half.
Judson added two points on a midrange jumpshot, but Fennell once again answered to make it a 49-44 game and force a Judson timeout with a minute and a half left.
Coming out of the timeout, San Marcos opted for a full court press, needing to force a turnover. The added intensity resulted in extra physicality, and several players getting involved in an altercation. Two Lady Rattler players were both ejected, as well as a member of the Judson team.
Play was halted for a few minutes as the fight was broken up and officials determined the next course of action.
After the break, the Lady Rattlers were unable to get the last stop that they needed to make it a one-possession game, and as they fell short in a 51-46 loss.
The Lady Rattlers finish the regular season on the road against Cibolo Steele before the playoffs begin.
