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Snyder sophomore Abby Benitez went for a layup during the Lady Tigers’ 40-27 win over Big Spring Friday. Benitez scored 15 points. -
Natalee James crossed up a defender. James led the Lady Tigers with 18 points.
After trailing for three quarters, the Snyder Lady Tigers basketball team came from behind to defeat Big Spring, 40-27 in the District 5-4A home opener at Tiger Gym Friday.
Senior Natalee James and sophomore Abby Benitez powered the offense, combining to score 33 of the team’s 40 points.
Head coach T’Leah Eicke said it is always a boost to get the first district win.
“It’s huge, it’s great,” she said. “It’s always good to come in and get that first win. To start out with a win is way better than starting out with a loss. It kind of boosts the morale and gets that train rolling.”
Benitez did most of the Lady Tigers’ scoring early. The sophomore guard scored three of the Lady Tigers’ five first quarter points as both teams struggled to find offense.
Big Spring nailed a three and managed to grab a 7-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw four lead changes. After a Benitez jumper tied the game at seven, junior Melanie Martinez made a pair of free throws to give Snyder a 9-7 lead. A few minutes later, Big Spring reclaimed the lead on a 3-pointer from senior Trinity Galloway.
James made a pair of free throws and Snyder took the lead once again, but a fadeaway jumper from Big Spring sophomore Tristan Smith gave her team a 14-11 lead as the half ended.
The back and forth continued into the third quarter. At the 2-minute mark, James made a contested layup to draw a foul and drained the following free throw to take a 20-18 lead, but Big Spring responded with a 6-2 run to close out the third quarter and Snyder trailed 24-22 heading into the final quarter.
Snyder scored four straight points to reclaim the lead in the fourth quarter. Big Spring responded with a 3-pointer, but the Lady Tigers had gained momentum. Benitez and James teamed up to take the Lady Tigers on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes, waking up the fans in Tiger Gym and forcing the Lady Steers to take a timeout. Big Spring failed to muster any kind of a response and Benitez went 3-of-5 from the free throw line to close out the 40-27 win.
Eicke was happy to see her team battle late.
“A win is a win,” she said. “After struggling for the first three quarters, they didn’t give up and a lot of teams would have. It’s refreshing to know that your team can play that way, but it’s also frustrating knowing we can play better for the first three quarters.”
Eicke said she was proud of the way Benitez and James lifted their team to the win.
“Abby stepped up,” she said. “She is exactly where I wanted her to be. She persevered last year because she wanted to achieve a lot of things and I had to tell her to be patient. This year, she is coming alive. Just a sophomore, she was a standout in volleyball and I want her to be a standout in basketball too. I am proud of her.”
The Lady Tigers improved to 14-12 on the year and are 1-0 in District 5-4A play. Up next is a Friday home game with Sweetwater at 6:30 p.m. in Tiger Gym.
Snyder scorers: Natalee James, 18 points; Abby Benitez, 15 points; Melanie Martinez, 5 points; Mayce Herrington, 2 points.
Big Spring scorers: Madison Kuykendall, 9 points; Trinity Galloway, 6 points; Ryen Terrazas, 4 points; Elaina Arredondo, 2 points; Kaydence Cananles, 2 points; Daniah Wrighter, 2 points.