SMHS GIRLS BASKETBALL
For a decade, a generation of Lady Rattler basketball players have not experienced the feeling of hoisting up a coveted gold basketball trophy with their names etched in the history books.
That streak came to an end Monday night.
Despite having a limited roster, San Marcos overcame the odds and defeated the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs Junior power forward Melayna Perkins, who finished with 20 points, gave credit to the win towards her teammates and their ability to come together as a unit, in spite of their limited roster.
“It shows us that we could accomplish so much as a team,” Perkins said. “Having San Marcos behind our back and everybody in the crowd cheering for us, really did help push us through the game. This is just so big for us. It hasn’t happened in 10 years, and hopefully we can keep going.” Knowing the significance of winning their first playoff game in 10 years, Head Coach Cooper Haralson was proud of the team for not only accomplishing their goal but also setting a new standard for the girls basketball program.
“I knew these girls could accomplish this,” Haralson said. “From the beginning, before me taking over, I’ve put that goal in their mind so one day we could accomplish it. For these girls to go out here, take care of business in the first playoff game and snap a long streak at San Marcos [is] to start a new legacy. It’s a new routine of things that we want to accomplish. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. They absolutely earned it.”
Haralson also gave credit to Laredo Alexander for their excellent season and giving San Marcos their best effort.
“I just wanted to acknowledge that’s a heck of a team that we just played,” Haralson said. “Alexander, they played hard the entire game; they shoot the ball extremely [well], and they play very well together. So [I give] all respect to them, and [it was] a heck of a season by them.”
It was a thrilling game between San Marcos and Laredo Alexander with both teams playing similar styles of full court pressure defense, transition offense and taking advantage of the three point line.
“In the first half, you know, I thought we played decently,” Haralson said. “They were able to do a lot of things they wanted to do with backcuts and getting some space to shoot the basketball. I thought we did a better job in the second half. We got the injury bug a little bit, some tweaks and things like that that caused some other people to get in there.”
With a limited roster, a number of players were forced to play out of position. But in the biggest moment of the season, the Lady Rattlers were able to step up throughout the game. Haralson gave a particular shoutout to one of the players for her defensive play and stepping up in an important role.
“There’s one person I particularly wanna shout out and that’s Rianna Garcia,” Haralson said. We’ve always known that she can be a lock down defender, and she’s just grown up. She’s grown up before our eyes, and she stayed tight to their best shooter for pretty much the majority of that second half.”
Another player that was forced to play in a new position was sophomore Rileigh Good. Good was tasked with leading the offense at the point guard along with battling a lower back injury.
Despite being thrust into the new role and dealing with injuries, Good was not afraid of the challenge.
“It’s win or go home,” Good said. “I always dealt with the pressure, so coming into the game, it’s just another game. We are already set up for success. We’ve been game planning, watching film, everything.
We knew what they’re going to do, so we were already prepared. It was pretty much easy for me” Going into the fourth quarter, the Lady Rattlers held off a late Laredo Alexander rally early in the period before the offense hit critical shots both from the field and the free throw line to seal the win.
The ability of the Lady Rattlers to close out the game was another reason Haralson was extremely happy with his team.
“I’m just proud of the way that we finished,” Haralson said.
”We finished the game. We played smart, took care of the basketball, we made clutch shots and free throws to come out of here with the win.”
The victory marked San Marcos’ first playoff win since the 2014-2015 season and the Lady Rattlers first playoff win in Class 6A since the 1993-1994 season.
San Marcos advances to the Area Round of the playoffs where the Lady Rattlers will face-off with the Harlingen Cardinals.
Harlingen is the District 32 winner and enters with an overall record of 29-7. In their Bi-District game, the Cardinals defeated the La Joya Coyotes 64-41.
For San Marcos, the Lady Rattlers will have another opportunity to snap another postseason drought. The last time San Marcos won in the Area round came during the 2001-2002 season. A victory for the Lady Rattlers would also mark the first time San Marcos will qualify for the regional tournament since the 1992-1993 season.
San Marcos-Harlingen is set to tip-off at 6:45 p.m. Friday at Aransas Pass High School.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
Above, Junior Rianna Garcia hits the three-pointer during the Lady Rattlers game against Laredo Alexander. Below, Junior Melayna Perkins concretes on the free throw during the Lady Rattlers win over Laredo Alexander. Daily Record photos by Colton McWilliams
