ELKO - For 24 minutes on Tuesday night, the Lowry High School boys basketball team and Elko showed why they may the two best squads in northern Nevada regardless of classification.
In what could be the first of a possible four meetings if both teams reach the state tournament, the two rivals traded baskets for the first three periods, when Elko used a 14-0 run in the second half to win 53-39. The loss ended the Buckaroos' 13-game winning streak.
"For three quarters, we played as good basketball as we have all year long," said LHS coach Chad Peters. "The fourth quarter, we didn't play well at all. We got down emotionally and we are better than that."
The Indians scored nine of the first 11 points to take early control of the contest. Josh Watterson brought the crowd to their feet with a two-handed dunk along the baseline. Delane Black and Garrett Naveran added buckets to cut the deficit to two points at 13-11.
Trailing 16-11 at the start of the second quarter, Lowry used an 8-1 run to take its first lead of the night at 19-17. Calvin Connors began the run and Dusty Bryan scored the next six. However, just a couple of minutes after the run, Bryan was called for a foul after taking a charge attempt. The Indians used a late 3-point field goal to lead 22-21 at halftime.
"I thought Dusty played a great game," Peters said. "He gave us some good minutes and was physical. I could not ask any more from him."
The teams traded buckets in the third period, with Watterson making the opening basket to put the Buckaroos back in front by a point. Elko led by as many as four points in the third period, when Lowry tied the game at 30 on a put back by Tytus Millikan and a layup by Josh Shaver. There was just enough time left on the clock after Shaver's basket for the Indians to run the ball up the floor. Elko's Marshall Dumas converted a running 3-point shot that went in at the buzzer, beginning the 14-0 run.
"That just burst our bubble and we were done after that," said the coach. "Everyone deflated and I could see that when we were in the huddle. We have to be more mentally tough. When we worked like we did for three quarters, I will take that loss any day of the week. But, when you deflate mentally and let a 3-pointer do that we have to be better than that. We have nine seniors and we can't let that bother us. All of a sudden a three-point game turns into an eight-point game that turns into a 14-point game."
Black ended the run with a free throw, but Lowry could only get as close as 49-39 with 3:09 to play.
Naveran had 10 points and five rebounds for Lowry, while Bryan had eight points and four rebounds. Black added seven points and two assists and Watterson scored six points and grabbed four rebounds. Millikan had four points and Calvin Connors and Shaver two each.
"We know we can play with them," Peters said. "We are fine and I am not worried. It is the first time we came out and played as physical as they did."
Lowry (14-2 overall, 6-1 Division I-A North) was home last weekend for two games. The Buckaroos defeated Fernley 67-29 on Jan. 10 and Churchill County 59-36 on Saturday.
Against Fernley, Lowry used an 18-2 run in the second quarter to help build a 34-8 lead at halftime. The rout continued into the second half with the Buckaroos moving out to a 40-point margin with a 24-10 spurt in the third period.
"I really liked the way we came out in the third quarter," Peters said. "Delane came out and played well. He drove to the basket and is coming along into our system."
Four Buckaroos reached double figures with Watterson picking up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Black finished with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal and Naveran and Shaver each had 10 points. Bryan scored five, Justin Albright, Tanner Lecumberry and Christian Gray four each, Nate Eldodt three and Sterling Dennis two.
Lowry struggled in the first half against Churchill County, leading by just four points at halftime. The Buckaroos scored just 20 points in the first 16 minutes of action, one of the lowest point totals of the year. The Buckaroos slowly pulled away in the second half and used a 20-8 run in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset.
Naveran collected a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds to go with five steals. Watterson led the Buckaroos with 15 points and the senior grabbed seven rebounds. Shaver had 11 points and three steals and Black finished with eight points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists. Millikan added six points and Connors, Albright and Bryan each had two points.
Lowry steps out of conference play Saturday to travel to Sparks to play Reed at 4 p.m. The Buckaroos beat the Raiders 65-46 at the Rail City Classic in December.
"I am going to give them a day off because of finals and we will get back after it," Peters said. "Reed is going to be a different team from the first time we played them. We will see what happens when we go up there."[[In-content Ad]]
