Lady Rattlers top Clayton

The Tucumcari Lady Rattlers now prepare for a tough Texico team following a narrow victory over one of their toughest opponents to date.

The Lady Rattlers basketball program improved to 22-0, but its 63-59 win against Clayton on Saturday at the Snake Pit was the hardest fought for the team since a 61-60 win on Dec. 8 at Logan.

Tucumcari was in an unfamiliar place at the close of the third period, trailing the Clayton Lady Yellowjackets.

Clayton's seven-point cushion was short lived in the final period, as the Lady Rattlers clawed their way back into the game keeping it to a one possession game.

Lady Rattlers junior forward Kalani French scored eight of her 20 points in the fourth. A field goal by French with 1:40 left in the game gave the Lady Rattlers their first lead since the start of the second half.

"I knew we had to match Clayton's intensity," French said.

Clayton (11-8, 0-2) who three nights earlier had given the New Mexico Maxpreps' top ranked Texico Lady Wolverines a run for their money, was not about to give Tucumcari the win.

Lady Yellowjackets Junior Wing Barbara Cruz retook the lead for Clayton with a 3-pointer in the following drive.

"I told the team someone has to step up and make a big play," said Gary Hittson, Lady Rattlers head coach.

With less than 30 seconds in the final period Lady Rattlers junior guard Aliyah Herrera was fouled putting her at the free throw line for 1-1 bonus shots and a chance to take the lead.

"My mind was everywhere; I knew we needed these shots" Herrera said.

Herrera made the first free throw, tying the game but missed the second bonus shot, "As the ball rolled off the rim all I could think about was my team," Herrera said.

Lady Rattlers Sophomore Ashley Shipley came up with the rebound and put the ball back up for two points and the lead.

"I had to have it, I had to come up with the rebound" Shipley said. "Rebounds had killed us in the past few games and it was time for me box out and make a play."

War the Lady Yellowjackets had already hit five 3-pointers, coach Gary Hittson called a final time out to stress to the team "Do not foul, but don't give Cruz or Keegan Clary an open look."

A turnover by the Lady Yellowjackets forced Clayton to foul Herrera, who made a pair of free throws to clinch the win.

"Clayton challenged us, they played a tough game against Texico and came to play," Hittson said. "The girls responded well, they didn't fall apart when they got behind and did what was needed to get back into the game."

Tucumcari won its 21st game of the season and their first District 5-3A match 78-55 on Jan. 25 at Santa Rosa.

"The game shouldn't have been that close, the girls were flat footed on defense," Hittson said.

Hittson said the girls were not aggressive when driving to the basket in the first half. He said Santa Rosa got to many second shot opportunities.

"We have to do a better job of boxing out," said French said. "We can't afford to give the other teams second-chance shots."

Hittson said the team will now focus on preparing for Friday home game against the Texico Lady Wolverines (17-3, 2-0), who have won 11 straight coming in.