Rattlers Hold Off Cobre’s Late Rally for 43-39 Win

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>TUCUMCARI, N.M.</em> — In a hard-fought in-season tournament matchup on Friday, January 2, the host Tucumcari Rattlers (coached by Patrick Benavidez) outlasted the visiting Cobre Indians (coached by Julie Gutierrez) 43-39 in an intense 3A/2A showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game started slowly, with both teams battling fiercely on defense. Cobre won the opening tip, but the first points didn't come until over halfway through the first quarter. The teams traded blows early, ending the opening period tied at 7-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucumcari gained momentum in the second, carrying an 18-14 lead into halftime. The Rattlers extended their advantage in the third, heading into the fourth up 33-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cobre refused to fold, mounting a furious comeback. At the 4:31 mark, Tucumcari led 37-26, but the Indians ripped off a 7-0 run to trim it to 37-33 with 2:44 left. Down to the wire, with 1:40 remaining, it was a one-possession game at 42-39.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians had two open looks from beyond the arc to tie it, but both rimmed out. Tucumcari sealed the victory at the free-throw line, holding on for the four-point win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1058922' first='Cambree' last='Benavidez'] starred for the Rattlers, scoring a game-high 17 points with versatility — attacking at all levels, posting up from the high post, and earning multiple trips to the charity stripe. She added 8 rebounds and 5 assists for a complete performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1356323' first='Maaja' last='Anaya'] provided spacing and playmaking, draining several catch-and-shoot threes while running the offense smoothly. She finished with 9 points, 7 assists, and iced the game with a crucial free throw at the 25.2-second mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='648205' first='Kyla' last='Lopez'] dominated the paint, using smart cuts for easy buckets en route to 8 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. (Lopez, who surpassed 1,000 career points earlier in December, continues to anchor Tucumcari's interior.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Cobre, freshman Kamara Ortiz impressed with 10 points, flashing smooth pull-up jumpers. But the Indians' spark came from sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1068211' first='Hayley' last='Gutierrez'], who poured in 9 points despite constant box-and-one defense and foul trouble. The energetic guard was a playmaking whirlwind, flying all over the court and serving as Cobre's top facilitator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rattlers' balanced attack and clutch execution down the stretch proved the difference in this exciting tournament battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->