Lady Rattlers take season opening loss

The Tucumcari girls basketball team took it on the chin during a 64-22 season-opening loss Friday at Robertson in Las Vegas.

Alexus Lafferty scored 12 points to lead the Lady Rattlers, and Caylee Benavidez added 10 points.

The Cardinals took control of the game with a 12-0 scoring run in the first quarter and a 16-0 run in the second.

Robertson led 41-14 at intermission.

Tucumcari coach Gary Hittson said ball-handling woes plagued his young team, which lost four starters from last season’s Class 3A quarterfinals squad.

“We need to value the basketball; way too many turnovers,” he said.

The win represented revenge for the Cardinals and their coach, Jose Medina. During their last matchup at Tucumcari on Jan. 26, 2019, the Lady Rattlers defeated the previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Cardinals 39-36 in overtime. Robertson went on that season to win the Class 3A title.