Rattlers rally to win in bi-district round
Reagan’s boys basketball team hasn’t lost since Dec. 1, and the Rattlers showed why Monday night at Pieper High, rallying late in the fourth quarter to force overtime before holding off upset-minded Clemens 52-47 in a Class 6A bi-district round matchup.
“We showed a lot of resiliency tonight,” said Reagan coach John Hirst, whose team has won 24 straight games. “Clemens came out hitting shots and playing hard, but our kids just showed their toughness and didn’t waver, even when we were down late. Nobody tried to take over and be a hero by themselves. We stuck with who we are and did what we do.”
Reagan (30-5) now faces either Round Rock (23-10) or Lake Travis (26-7) in the area round later this week. Round Rock played Lake Travis on Tuesday night, and either team would be a familiar foe for Reagan as the Rattlers played both schools twice in nondistrict play, going 1-1 against each team.
“Both teams are really good,” Hirst said. “They have outstanding coaching staffs and good players. However, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to play them.”
Clemens (21-14) — which won its last three regularseason games to qualify for the playoffs as the No. 4 team from District 27-6A — took the game to Reagan for the majority of regulation. The Buffaloes led 2523 at halftime, 37-34 after three quarters and were still up 43-39 with less than three minutes to go in regulation.
Kenneth Manuel made a layup with 2:05 remaining to get Reagan — the District 28-6A champion — back to within 43-41, and the Rattlers had three chances to tie before Aidan Richard scored to tie it at 43 with 27 seconds left. Clemens tried to hold the ball for a final shot in regulation, but the Buffaloes turned the ball over.
Reagan never trailed in the extra period as Richard made a 3-pointer to put the Rattlers up 46-43 with 3:25 remaining. The Buffaloes closed to within two at 4846 after a Matt Hale 3pointer with 2:37 on the clock, but another Manuel layup on Reagan’s next possession pushed the Rattlers’ lead to 50-46, and Clemens never threatened again.
“(Richard’s 3-pointer in overtime) was huge,” Hirst said. “Clemens came out tonight playing super hard, and I was happy we were able to get back to within one possession at halftime. I’m proud of how we kept fighting and were able to win this game.”
Richard led Reagan with 16 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime. Luke Mills added 14 — including all 10 of the Rattlers’ points in the first quarter — Luke Price chipped in 12, eight coming in the second half and OT, and Manuel had eight, all of which came in the second half.
Jameer Dudley was the top scorer for Clemens with 12 points, and Theodore Hemrich had 10. Hale finished with nine, Andre Starkes netted seven and Travon Williams had six for the Buffaloes in the loss.