Serving the High Plains

Rattler teams gear up for basketball season

The Tucumcari Rattlers and Lady Rattlers basketball teams still have a lot of work to put in with the season set to start this week, said coaches.

"We still have a long way to go," said Gary Hittson, Lady Rattlers head coach.

Hittson said the Lady Rattlers team lost talent due to graduation and one key players due to injury earlier this year. He said senior guard Alyssa Martinez was lost for the season when she suffered an ACL/MCL injury during volleyball.

"It is hard to replace a player of that caliber," Hittson said. "She is going to be missed."

Hittson said the team is adjusting to filling those positions left vacant. He said the team has been working hard to get ready for the season. There is not going to be much time as the second game of the season will be against Estancia on Nov. 30 at the Santa Rosa Tournament, Hittson added.

"We've got some tough games to start out the season," Hittson said. "The girls are going to have to learn on the fly."

The boys, meanwhile, have a year of experience under their belt with the mindset of eliminating turnovers, said John Span, Rattlers head coach.

"These young men have not forgotten how costly turnovers can be," Span said. "Better ball control that is what we have to stress this year."

Span said the team, many of the players who are coming into the program after the football season, continues to get into shape and the right frame of mind. He said the boys will have a long break between their first game, Tuesday against Floyd and their next game on Dec. 9 at the Johnny May Classic tournament in Tularosa.

"They guys will have to work hard on staying sharp between the games," Span said. "The guys can lose their edge with such long breaks. The challenge will be to get the same type of efforts and results in practices as we get in actual game play."

Girls basketball schedule

November

30 - at Santa Rosa Tournament

December

1 - at Santa Rosa Tournament; 7-9 - Logan Invite; 11 - at Mora, 5 p.m.;14 - Dexter, 4:30 p.m.; 16 - at NACA, 1 p.m.; 22 - Penasco, 4 p.m.

January

2 - at East Mountain,; 4-6 - BVC Tournament at Estancia; 9 - Estancia, 4:30 p.m.; 18 - at Dexter, 5 p.m.; 19 - Logan,• 4 p.m.; 20 - at Bosque, 1 p.m.; 23 - at Raton, 4 p.m.; 25 - at Santa Rosa,* 4 p.m.; 27 - Clayton,* 2 p.m.

February

2 - Texico,* 4 p.m.; 8 - Santa Rosa,* 4:30 p.m.; Feb. 10 - at Clayton, * 2 p.m.; Feb. 16 - at Texico, * 4 p.m.

Homecoming marked with a •

District games marked with a *

Boys basketball schedule

December

7-9 - Johnny May Classic at Tularosa;14 - Dexter, 4:30 p.m.; 15 - Raton, 5 p.m.; 16 - at NACA, 1 p.m.; 22 - Penasco, 4 p.m.; 27-29 - at Citizens Bank Invite at Texico

January

2 - at East Mountain; 4 - at Dexter, 5 p.m.; 6 - at Santa Fe Prep, 2 p.m.; 9 - Estancia, 6:30 p.m.; 12 - at Pecos, 5 p.m.; 16 - Mora, 5 p.m.; 19 - Logan,• 4 p.m.; 20 - at Bosque, 1 p.m.; 25 - at Santa Rosa,* 4 p.m.; 27 - Clayton,* 2 p.m.

February

2 - Texico,* 4 p.m.; 8 - Santa Rosa,* 4:30 p.m.; 10 - at Clayton, * 2 p.m.; 16 - at Texico, * 4 p.m.

Homecoming marked with a •

District games marked with a *