.gif)
The Rice Raiders have been one of the best teams in the district and now they are heading into the playoffs to really showcase their skills.
This is going a tough road ahead for the Raiders, but all this team does is battle adversity.
The way they play fits the mold of playoff basketball. The problem the Raiders have is they tend to take their foot off the gas when they are ahead, and playoff teams will make you pay for it.
Looking at the stretch of games against Industrial, Yoakum, Columbus and Hallettsville where, all four games went to overtime. Three of those four games were outright winnable for the Raiders and their talent, but those teams came into the game trying to halt any steam they had built up to that point.
Columbus did this especially well. They had home court against a district rival and just beat them at their own game. Hallettsville was the same and both teams ended up beating the Raiders in OT.
The thing both those teams had in common was that they were both bubble teams fighting for that last playoff spot and the Raiders were a prime target. The Raiders also had late leads in those games that were squandered and allowed for them to comeback in overtime.
Every team is like that in the playoffs. No one is going to stop playing because there’s a late lead and limited time on the clock.
Everyone’s season is on the line, and if there is an opportunity to drive the nail into the coffin, it must be taken. There are no easy victories in the playoffs, but the Raiders have the type of play style to go on a deep run.
The Raiders need to find a way to shift into that extra gear late and close out the game when they have a close-late lead.
The Raiders playoff journey starts on Tuesday, Feb. 20, when they travel to Seguin, TX to take on Great Hearts Northern Oaks in the Bi-District Championship which may be the catalyst to jump start their run.
