With all due respect to the other boys basketball teams in northern Nevada, there is no comparing them to Elko and Lowry this year.
The two Division I-A powers haven't lost to a team from the Division I North this season. Each team has two defeats, with Elko losing to Herriman, Utah and Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Buckaroos were knocked off by Arbor View (Las Vegas) and Elko. Las Vegas and Arbor View are ranked in the top five in the Division I South.
Barring a volcano erupting in northern Nevada, the two rivals will finish 1-2 in the regular season. The schools will meet Feb. 15 in Winnemucca. Too bad it wasn't a Friday night, but I would advise fans to show up early to get a seat for the game of the year in northern Nevada. The Lowry gym will be rocking.
The two schools should meet the following week in the regional championship in Elko and head to the state tournament in Reno. Last year Lowry and Elko gave Desert Pines and Clark a run for their money in the state semifinals before bowing out. It's likely those same two teams will make the trip north.
Spring Creek (8-4) has all but locked up the third spot but has games left with Elko and Lowry.
The fight for the final playoff spot comes down to three teams in South Tahoe (7-6), Churchill County (6-6) and Dayton (5-8). South Tahoe has given Elko and Lowry fits at times, bit goes missing on occasion. The Vikings have winnable games against Fernley and Sparks. They play at Churchill County on the final day of the regular season.
I am sure the gym will be rocking on Friday when Churchill County travels to Dayton. On paper, the Greenwave should win but it lost at home to the Dust Devils earlier in the year. Churchill County still must face Lowry, Sparks and South Tahoe, with the home game against the Railroaders the only sure victory. If Dayton can get by Churchill County, the Dust Devils have to go on the road to play Truckee and Fernley to close out the regular season.
The Division I North girls division has turned into a four-team race between Elko, Spring Creek, Churchill County and Lowry.
This is how the year has gone so far. Churchill County beats Spring Creek in Fallon and loses to the Spartans in Spring Creek. Elko sweeps Churchill County and beats Lowry, but loses to Spring Creek. Lowry loses to Churchill County in Winnemucca after controlling the game for three and a half quarters and comes back to win at Spring Creek. One day I will understand the Lowry loss at South Tahoe.
Elko has shown it's the class of the league at 11-1 but still has road trips to Spring Creek and Lowry, where anything is possible. If the Spartans beat the Indians on Tuesday, they have the shot of winning the league title. However, Spring Creek closes out the season Feb. 14 in Winnemucca.
Saturday's match-up between Lowry and Churchill County in Fallon will have major playoff implications as well. The Lady Bucks are playing as good as they have been all season. The one issue facing Lowry is the schedule: games with Churchill County, Spring Creek and Elko.
The four schools are a lock to reach the regional championships, it's just wait and see what the matchups will be.
The Division IV East girls division has turned into a race for the title between Eureka and McDermitt. The Vandals are the defending state champions, while the Lady Bulldogs are a youthful bunch thought to be in a rebuilding year. Well, that rebuilding season may turn into a division championship.
Eureka leads the Division IV East at 7-0, while McDermitt is second at 6-1. The showdown for the division crown will take place on Valentine's Day in Eureka. Jackpot, Wells, the defending league champion, and Owyhee are fighting for the final two playoff spots, with Owyhee the likely odd team out.
Pyramid Lake, Smith Valley, Mineral County and Coleville are first through fourth in the Division IV West. Pyramid Lake has just one loss on the year and has a victory over McDermitt.
The battle between Eureka and McDermitt is huge, with the winner likely getting Coleville in the opening round of the regional tournament. A win there and you avoid Pyramid Lake until the championship, when you already have qualified for the state tournament.
If you finish second, you are looking at Smith Valley or Mineral County in the opening round and a date with Pyramid Lake in the semifinals.
Owyhee and Wells have opened a two-game lead in the Division IV East standings and look to be locks for the regional tournament. McDermitt, a squad that won just once in league play a season ago, is third at 4-3. The Bulldogs own a win over Wells and played Owyhee to six points this past Tuesday on the Braves' home floor. If McDermitt can beat Carlin on Friday and Eureka on Feb. 14, its ticket is punched to the postseason. The rematch with Owyhee is Saturday in McDermitt. Anything is possible in that game.
Eureka and Jackpot look to fight for the final playoff spot in the Division IV East.
Whittell, Virginia City, Sierra Lutheran and Mineral County have the four spots in the Division IV West locked up. Whittell is in its first year in Division IV after dropping from Division III.
No matter who you root for, enjoy the next four weeks of high school basketball. It's the best time of the year.
Winnemucca Publishing sports editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached via email at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
