Rattlers men’s basketball fall short to Canyon Eagles

By: Mikah Lusby

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Jan. 17 the San Marcos Rattler boys lost their fifth district game this season against the Canyon Eagles with a final score of 69-62.  

The ball game began with slow pace from both squads. A total of four points were scored between San Marcos and Canyon halfway through the first quarter. Both teams were lacking efficiency early on considering the high number of turnovers and lack of shot attempts.   

The first quarter ended 8-12 and the shooting percentages for both teams were below 50%. With the pace slow to start the game, both squads began to pick up the pace in the second quarter.  

The Eagles started off hot in the second. The team cleaned up their passing game and made two wide open shots from three. Canyon guard Mason Wright connected on 75% of his shot attempts from beyond the three-point arc during his time in the first half. Rattlers’ standout player Donovan Riddick made San Marcos’ first three-pointer in the last minute of the second quarter.   

Despite the effort from San Marcos, their offense was not able to find open shots against Canyon’s intense defense in the first half. The Eagles held on to the lead and went into the first half break with a nine-point advantage, 23-31. 

The second half was played tightly between the two squads, as San Marcos and Canyon were trading shots from all around the court.  The Rattler offense was able to find ways to penetrate the Canyon Eagles defense, leading to easy shots inside the paint, unlike the trend in the first two quarters.  

San Marcos and Canyon both scored 17 points in the third. Riddick was able to connect on a couple more three-pointers to shorten the Rattler deficit to five points with a minute left in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Rattlers, the Eagles were able to respond and set themselves up with a comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

It was an uphill battle for the Rattlers to come out victorious entering the fourth and final quarter. In the first 40 seconds of the fourth, the Eagles forced two turnovers leading to a pair of wide open layups. About halfway through the fourth quarter, the Rattlers found their groove and played efficient basketball on both sides of the ball. 

 Josiah Hollmon, the 6’5” San Marcos guard, left his fingerprints all over the fourth quarter trying to will his team to a victory.  He shot and made a contested three pointer, ending in a four point play. Hollmon found himself at the free-throw line multiple times for the rest of the night. The 6’5” guard’s successful and-one opportunities cut the Eagles lead to only two points and opened the door for San Marcos.

Despite the scoring-run from Hollmon, the Rattlers lost their momentum and were outscored in a quarter for a third time against Canyon. The Rattlers were defeated 69-62 and sit with a 15-14 record following the loss to Canyon.

The San Marcos Rattlers are now 1-5 in district play throughout this season. The team is now on a four game losing streak and is looking to end the slide against the Johnson Jaguars on Jan. 22.