McALLEN — Shots from beyond the arc haven’t been the norm this season for Sharyland High. The Rattlers have connected on just 64 of their 277 attempts for a 23% clip through 17 games.
Despite the low shooting percentage, the Rattlers aren’t afraid to let it fly, embracing a shooter’s mentality.
The shooter’s mentality paid dividends Friday, with Sharyland High hitting a season-high seven 3-pointers en route to a 44-38 victory over McAllen Memorial at the McAllen Memorial Gym.
“This is usually not the norm, but we’ve really been focusing on trying to be more consistent shooters,” Sharyland High head coach Monica Meza said. “I think they came out and were really motivated. They really wanted this game, and they were on tonight.”
Sharyland High’s senior guards, Mary Le and Daylah Vega, shouldered the offensive load for the Rattlers, combining for 27 points.
Le set the tone for the game with a 3-pointer to open the scoring for the Rattlers, with Vega adding a 3 of her own shortly after.
Le finished with a team-high 15 points, including three makes from beyond the arc. Vega added 12 points.
McAllen Memorial senior Serenity De La Garza paced the Mustangs with a game-high 16 points, nine coming during the second to keep her team within reach heading into the break.
Junior guard Ivory Gutierrez came to life during the fourth, scoring five of her eight points in the period to try to erase the Mustangs’ deficit. The comeback attempt fell short, with the Rattlers running the clock to secure the win.
Sharyland High improves to 3-1 in District 31-5A play, tied with Sharyland Pioneer for third. McAllen Memorial drops to fifth, sitting at 2-2 in district play.
“It is a tough district, so we know every Tuesday and Friday night is going to be a battle,” Meza said. “I am super proud of how we finished that game. Basketball is a game of run and momentum. They had some big runs and we had some. They’re a tough squad. … These early season wins are huge. I think in years past we’ve put ourselves in a tough position. Hopefully as we continue to get going, we can give ourselves some cushion and breathing room.”
The Rattlers return home for their next contest after three straight road games, hosting the Valley View Tigers at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sharyland High Gym. The Mustangs hit the road for a game against Sharyland Pioneer at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
