Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
By Thomas Garcia
QCS Senior Writer
The Tucumcari Lady Rattlers routed the East Mountain Lady Timberwolves during the first round of the Estancia basketball tournament.
The 60-27 win by the Lady Rattlers (7-3) will pit them against the winner of Bosque vs Santa Rosa game that was scheduled for 3 p.m. today.
The Lady Rattlers have beaten the Lady Timberwolves (3-6) twice in the last two days by more than 30 points.
On Tuesday the Lady Rattlers beat East Mountain 58-24 at the Snake Pit.
The Lady Rattlers struggled to find their rhythm in the first half against the Lady Timberwolves, despite having a 25-10 lead at half-time.
Tucumcari turned the tide in the second half, outscoring the Lady Timberwolves 34 to 9.
“We need to start our games with the same intensity as we had in the second half against East Mountain,” said Alyssa Martinez, Lady Rattlers point guard.
Martinez led the Lady Rattlers with 17 points, even after sitting out a short stint on the bench due to a hand injury in the second period.
“We were not ready to play,” said Aliyah Herrera, Lady Rattlers shooting guard.
Herrera said the team went into Tuesday’s game lacking energy. She said not being mentally ready and pumped for the game led to turnovers and missed shots.
Herrera had 12 points against the Lady Timberwolves, eight of those were in the second half.
“We need to have faith in each other and come out firing,” said Kaycee Lease, Lady Rattlers point guard.
Lease, who scored 14 points in Tuesday’s game, said the team needs to find the early spark during the Estancia tournament. She said the competition will be tough enough as it is without giving them another edge.
The Lady Rattlers next game is at 2 p.m. Friday against the winner of Bosque vs Santa Rosa.