Rattlers Jakus Martinez goes up for the layup after the steal during Friday night's game against Santa Rosa. Martinez led the Rattlers with 17 points (3,2-3,3).

Rattlers Dalton Wood shoots the jump shot over Lions Joseph Chavez During Friday night's 55-48 loss to Santa Rosa.

The Tucumcari Rattlers are in search of their first district win following a pair of losses to the Santa Rosa Lions on Friday night.
With one minute left in the game the 0-4 Rattlers trailed by just four — 49-45 — but were in foul  trouble.
Free throws made by Lions Joaquin Bachicha, Ben Madrid and Robert Serrano in the last minutes of the game put it just out of reach for the Rattlers.
“We had open looks (so) we can not complain about that,” said Rattlers head coach John Span. “We missed some easy shots and the front sides of one-and-one foul shots.”
Jakus Martinez led the Rattlers with 17 points.
“If I had it all over to do I would put the ball into the hands of the shooters we had tonight,” Span said. “They did a good job of getting open and taking the shot.”
In the girls game, an injury to forward Michelle Fazekas added to the woes of the (0-4) Lady Rattlers in a 72-28 routing by the Lady Lions.
“We need someone to step up tomorrow in Clayton,” said Lady Rattlers head coach Gary Hittson. “We need to hustle and make the easy shots.”
The (4-1) Lady Lions offense, led by Sara Tapia’s 22 points, was too much for the Lady Rattlers.
The Lady Rattlers trailed by six points at the end of the first period. That was the last time that the lead would be under double digits for the Lady Lions.
The Rattlers will play at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Clayton, followed by the boys.