Fresh off an upset over McHi last weekend, the Lady Coyotes of La Joya welcomed the Sharyland Lady Rattlers in a Tuesday night showdown last night. Unlike the teams' first meeting when the Rattlers cruised to a win, La Joya would give the district leaders all they could handle before falling in the final seconds, 38-36.

The game ended as a thriller but began as a dud. Six minutes into the game the score stood 2-1, favoring Shary. The last two minutes of the first quarter saw the foes exchange baskets. With just seconds remaining and La Joya in possession and down 3-4, Ali Navarro grabbed a Karla Trevino miss and put it straight back in to give her team a 5-4 lead when the first quarter buzzer sounded five seconds later.

Read more: 30-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lady Coyotes fall to Sharyland in squeaker

30-5A BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES

La Joya Palmview 72, Donna 64

McAllen High 74, La Joya High 72

Sharyland 73, Mission High 37

Read more: BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES FOR FRIDAY, JAN. 14, 2011

MISSION – You never know how a team will respond after a tough loss. Some will recommit while others will give in. For David Keith's Sharyland, they recommitted in a big way after dropping Tuesday's matchup with Memorial. Last night the Rattler's took out their anger by smashing the Mission Eagles 73-37 in a home win that puts the team at 3-2 in district.

“They have been pretty angry,” said Keith of his team after the game. “The lesson learned from Tuesday was a hard one.”

Read more: 30-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Rattlers get back on track

Simply put, a .500 start for the Sharyland Rattlers in District 30-5A boys basketball is disappointing.

“We got a lot of work to do,” says Head Coach David Keith, whose team is now 2-2 after losing to Memorial on Tuesday and to Rowe on the first day of district play. (See Tuesday’s game story and photos online at www.progresstimes.net.)

Read more: Sharyland still working out the wrinkles

When it comes down to the final minutes, it is the big shots that matter. Though the Sharyland Rattlers outplayed the Memorial Mustangs for three quarters and a half, it was the Mustangs who come through in the end, spurred by a home crowd to win 54-51 in a key District 30-5A match-up.

“We missed some key layups and key free throws that cost us the game,” said Rattler head coach David Keith following the game. “They had some guys step up that hit some big shots that normally don't. That was the difference in the game.”

Read more: Missed free throws doom Rattlers in loss to Memorial

LA JOYA -- A sloppy second quarter doomed the La Joya Coyotes and gave the basketball squad its first district loss after losing to McAllen Memorial, 69-52 Tuesday night in at La Joya High School.

The Coyotes (12-8, 2-1) started the first quarter slow, allowing the Mustangs (13-8, 3-0) to take a quick 7-2 lead. La Joya would respond when Ricky Castillo hit a three that would start an 11-2 Coyote run that was spurred by cold outside shooting by Memorial.

Read more: 30-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Memorial hands La Joya first district loss