Before hitting the road last weekend, the McDermitt High School boys basketball team figured it would be facing its toughest part of the schedule in a five-day span.
The Bulldogs traveled to Wells on Jan. 31 to renew a budding rivalry that boiled over during the football season. McDermitt won the first meeting of the season, handing Wells its only Division IV East loss of the year.
If the first half was any indication, it looked like the Bulldogs were going to complete the season sweep. McDermitt scored the first seven points of the game and Tyler Coble scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in help building a 34-30 lead at halftime. The senior grabbed 14 rebounds for a double-double.
Wells came out of the break with a 15-8 run in the third quarter to claim a three-point lead and held the advantage throughout the fourth quarter. Up by two points with two minutes to play, Wells was able to make a layup to increase the margin. The Bulldogs were forced to foul in the final 90 seconds and the Leopards were able to make their free throws. Wells was 17-of-29 from the foul line, while McDermitt was 5-of-13.
Tanner Coble added 10 points for the Bulldogs, Saul Lopez and Brendan Wilson had six each, Ellison Tom four and Alex Rincon two.
McDermitt (8-7 overall, 4-3 Division IV East) made its way to the Nevada/Idaho border on Saturday to take on Jackpot. The Bulldogs were looking to even the series, after the Jaguars won Jan. 11. McDermitt used a strong first and third quarter to knock off Jackpot 65-56, while putting a dent in the Jaguars' playoff hopes.
McDermitt ran out to a 21-14 lead in the first quarter but Jackpot cut the deficit to three points at halftime on the strength of a 14-10 run. The Bulldogs used a second 21-point quarter out of the halftime break to push the margin back to nine points and McDermitt held that same nine-point lead in the final eight minutes of play.
Coble posted another double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds, to go with four steals. Wilson added 14 points, four rebounds and four assists and Lopez finished with nine points, eight assists and three steals. Leo Lorenzo scored seven points, Edgar Reyes four, T.J. Smith three and Tanner Coble and Tom two each.
McDermitt was back on the road Tuesday to make up a game with Owyhee that was originally scheduled for Jan. 18. The Bulldogs led by a point after eight minutes of play, but the Braves used an 18-9 run in the third quarter to build a double-digit advantage. McDermitt made a 22-17 run in the fourth quarter, but couldn't finish off the comeback.
With two weeks left in the regular season, Wells and Jackpot lead the Division IV East at 6-1. Each team needs one win to clinch a playoff spot. McDermitt (4-3) is third, Eureka (3-4) is fourth and Jackpot (2-5) is fifth. McDermitt needs one victory in its last three games and one Jackpot loss to secure a playoff berth in the regional tournament.
The Bulldogs host Carlin on Friday at 7 p.m. and Owyhee on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
