Local teams ready for district basketball games

Staff Report

The Tucumcari, San Jon and Logan boys and girls basketball teams are in the thick of district competition.

The Tucumcari Rattlers and Lady Rattlers have critical games Saturday against rival Santa Rosa at the Snake Pit.

The Rattlers 13-5, are currently ranked first in the District 5 3A standings with a 2-0 record. However, the Lions come into Saturday’s match up also 2-0 in district.

“It is important to win at home,” said John Span, Rattlers head coach.

Span said a team wants to defend their home court, it can be hard to get over a home loss especially in district play.

The Rattlers defended their home court successfully on Saturday with a 55-17 routing of the Raton Tigers.

The Rattlers took the lead of Saturday’s game midway through the first period and never looked back. The Rattlers offense went on a 24 point run, lead by 3 point shooting by John Paul Garcia (3) and Daniel Lopez (3) in the first half.

Garcia ended the night with 16 points and Lopez with 19 points as the starting Rattlers were benched in the third period.

The Rattlers starting defense held Raton to just 7 points in the first half and the non-starters held them to 10 points for the remainder of the game.

Span said the Rattlers know the Lions will be ready to play on Saturday. He said its also a great confidence builder to win on the road during district.

Span and the Rattlers started their district with a 70-45 road win on Jan. 30 at Clayton.

Game time: 5:30 p.m., Saturday against Santa Rosa

The Tucumcari Lady Rattlers 12-7, 1-1, have a chance to tie Saturday with the Lady Lions who currently lead the District 5 3A standings 2-0.

The Lady Rattlers will be looking to spread the ball around and have several players on the board (scoring) just like they did against Raton on Saturday, said Gary Hittson, Lady Rattlers head coach.

The Lady Rattlers won their first district game 58-34 on Saturday against the visiting Lady Tigers.

The Lady Rattlers had five players score five or more points, Alyssa Martinez, Maribel Lopez, Jasmine Jones and Kalani French. Ashley Shipley and Kaycee Lease each scored 10 points.

“Its a good thing when you are able to score with both your starters and players coming off the bench,” Hittson said.

Hittson said the team did a good job of shooting and their defense was able to keep pressure on the Lady Tigers throughout the game. He said the Lady Rattlers will need to play as aggressive on defense against the Lady Lions.

Hittson said one of the issues the team will work on is free throw shooting. The Lady Rattlers were 10 of 20 from the foul line against Raton.

Hittson said that is to many points left off the board and in a tough district free throws can win or lose a game.

The Lady Rattlers lost the first game of district play 45-39 on Jan. 30 in Clayton.

Game time: 3:30 p.m., Saturday against Santa Rosa.

The San Jon Coyotes 8-10, 2-1, are currently in third place in the 1A District 4 Standings.

The Coyotes last game was a 71-57 win on Jan. 28 at Des Moines.

The Coyotes have five games left in their district run with their next at 6:30 p.m., Thursday at Mosquero.

San Jon Lady Coyotes 3-14, 1-3, are currently in fifth place in the 1A District 4 standings.

The Lady Coyotes last game was a 53-28 loss on Jan. 30 at Elida.

The Lady Coyotes have six games left in their district run with their next at 5 p.m.,. Friday at Mosquero/Roy (Roy).

The Logan Longhorns, 10-9 begin their 2A District 6 play 7 p.m., Thursday against Fort Sumner at Logan.

The Longhorns last game was a 56-48 loss on Jan. 28 at Springer.

The Logan Lady Longhorns, 14-6 begin their 2A District 6 play 6 p.m., Thursday against Fort Sumner at Logan.

The Lady Longhorns last game was a 60-43 win on Jan. 28 at Springer.