Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The team faces Fort Sumner Tuesday; Rattlers play Pecos Saturday.
The Lady Rattlers fight for the rebound against the Lady Timberwolves during the 60-27 win against East Mountain on Jan. 3 at the Snake Pit.
By Thomas Garcia
QCS Senior Writer
The Tucumcari Lady Rattlers will try to use the momentum of Saturday's championship win at the Estancia basketball tournament in their next road game.
The Lady Ratters (10-3) will face the Lady Vixens (9-3) on Tuesday at Fort Sumner.
On Saturday, the Lady Rattlers won the Bean Valley basketball tournament for the second straight year. Tucumcari defeated the host Estancia Lady Bears (5-5) 67-33 at Estancia.
"Winning the tournament for a second year gives us a lot of confidence as we progress into the season," said Gary Hittson, Lady Rattlers head coach.
Hittson said Alyssa Martinez was selected all tournament team and all tournament MVP. He said Kalani French, Jasmine Jones, Maribel Lopez and Kaycee Lease were also selected for all tournament players.
To advance to the championship game, the Lady Rattlers (10-3) beat the Santa Rosa Lady Lions (6-6) 53-39 on Saturday and the East Mountain Lady Timberwolves (4-7) 60-27 on Jan. 5.
"The girls will continue to work on opening up each game with intensity," Hittson said. "They did a great job of taking care of the ball and pressuring on defense."
Lady Rattlers next game will be at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Fort Sumner.
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The Tucumcari Rattlers will try to repeat their effectiveness in ball control and free-throw shooting Saturday against Pecos at the Snake Pit.
The Rattlers (4-6) will take on the Pecos Panthers (12-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Tucumcari.
The Rattlers last win was on Jan. 7, a 73-33 against Santa Fe Prep (3-8) at the Snake.
The Rattlers only had seven turnovers in the game and were 5 of 5 from the foul line, said John Span, Rattlers head coach.
"It was a much better showing against the Blue Griffins," Span said.
Span said the team will have to protect the ball against the Pecos. He said the Rattlers had five foul line shots and made all of them, but they need to be more aggressive when going to the goal.
Rattlers next game will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Snake Pit.