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Rattlers, Lady Rattlers prep for stout Logan teams

Rattler John Fought takes the charge during the 47-35 win against the Estancia Bears on Jan. 12 at the Snake Pit. The Rattlers will host the Logan Longhorns Friday for Homecoming.

Staff Report

The Tucumcari Rattlers and Lady Rattlers basketball teams have a busy week coming up, taking on Dexter on Thursday and Logan Friday night for their homecoming at the Snake Pit in Tucumcari.

“We have to be ready to play a strong game on the road and turn right back around and face a stout 9-6 Longhorn team the following night,” said John Span, Rattlers head coach.

The Rattlers, 9-4, scored their first 100-plus-point game in more than 16 years Saturday night, beating Loving, 111-67.

Span said scoring more than 100 points was not the main focus or the defining point of the game for the Rattlers. He said the second-string players were on point when they took the court. The reserve players shot the ball well and still managed to put up points despite pulling up the reins, Span said.

John Paul Garcia led the Rattlers with 30 points; Daniel Lopez finished with 16, Saul Ramos had 14, John Fought had 10, Jose Duran scored nine and Ronald Carmichael finished with eight points.

The Lady Rattlers, 10-4, lost 64-53 to the Loving Lady Falcons.

Despite the loss, Lady Rattlers Head Coach Gary Hittson said the team is going into the week with confidence.

Hittson said the team is working to block out the distraction of homecoming and looking at playing Dexter first and then focusing on the 10-6 Lady Longhorns, who lost 66-44 on Saturday to Texico at Logan .

Game time: 7 p.m., Thursday at Dexter and 5:30 p.m., Friday vs Logan.