Rattlers Remain Winless in District After Loss to Clemens

By Kaden Bessent 

KTSW Sports Reporter 

SAN MARCOS, Texas- Four quarters of pure dominance on both sides of the ball propel the Clemens Buffaloes to a 92-44 victory over the San Marcos Rattlers Friday night.

This loss gives the Rattlers their eighth straight, and still has them looking for a district win. 

“Clemens, Judson, and Steele are really good. They’re all ranked in the state for a reason,” said San Marcos head coach Dan Miller. “And we’re not at that level to give a state ranked team a close game right now.”

All night long Clemens played up to their top-25 state ranking, according to MaxPreps, through constant full court pressure, which led to over 20 turnovers and plenty of fastbreak buckets for the Buffaloes. The Buffaloes also took advantage on the glass and secured plenty of points on offensive rebounds. 

That early dominance gave the Buffaloes a 40-18 lead going into halftime. Coming out of the break they continued to pressure the basketball and force Rattler turnovers. 

Clemens held a 26-point lead going into the final quarter and that’s when freshman Davion Briggs, a top-scorer on the night for the Buffaloes, put the ball in the hoop with ease. Briggs knocked down a couple threes and scored inside the arch as well to near a 20-point clip on the evening. 

Despite the large deficit, the Rattlers’ effort refused to waver and they proved it in the fourth when seniors Tim Cooper and Ernest Lozano traded shots. Cooper found ways to score all around the floor, while Lozano, who’s known for his shooting, came in the game and hit back-to-back three pointers. 

“That’s the one thing we can control is our culture of just togetherness,” said Miller. “But we keep cheering for each other, working hard.”

The Rattler’s search for district win number one continues as they seek to avenge their 6-point loss from earlier this season to East Central. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3 with tip off set for 7 p.m.