The McDermitt High School girls basketball team can check off one more box as it looks to grab the top seed for the Division IV East at the upcoming regional basketball championships in Elko and Spring Creek.
The Lady Bulldogs were in Eureka on Friday, Jan. 23, and came away with a 55-48 win, fueled by a 14-2 run in the opening quarter.
"It was a huge win in Eureka," said MHS coach Jaimi Wilkinson. "It's a tough place to play but I was really impressed with my team from tip to the end of the first half. They are beginning to show signs of that hunger and intensity that we have been looking for. I also saw the best defensive effort in that first quarter I've seen all year, which makes me extremely happy. We have lacked that killer instinct, its one of the last missing tools these girls need to be super successful, but for a few minutes here and there the last couple of games it has peaked its head out when they mature enough to seize that never give up, never give in attitude for 32 minutes they are going to be nearly unstoppable."
The Lady Bulldogs (5-0 Division IV East, 14-3 overall) hold a two-game advantage over Eureka and Owyhee for the top spot in the league.
McDermitt never trailed after gaining the double-figure lead, keeping Eureka at bay with the inside game of Deandra Dave and Krissy Long, who combined for 20 points.
Dave and Long also owned the boards with 16 rebounds apiece. Lydia Northrup had 20 points on the night, as the junior was 4-of- from the 3-point line.
"Its no secret our strength comes from the inside," Wilkinson said. "Krissy and Deandra literally owned the paint Friday night and we got Lydia back into a shooting rhythm. The game was super physical with players all over each other and the floor. In the past my kids have shied away from that kind of contact but they did not back down from Eureka which I think surprised the Eureka girls."
Va Draunidalo also reached double figures with 10 points to go with six rebounds. Andrea Smart contributed five points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal,
"Va shot the ball well from the outside too and Andrea is focusing more on creating turnover's for us and rebounding as of late," Wilkinson said. "That is good because when she gets to diving on the floor for loose balls the rest of the girls get after it too."
The coach added that freshman Adrie Smart provided good minutes and that she is a spark off the bench handles the ball well and sees the floor.
"She always comes in and either scores immediately or finds the open man for an assist," Wilkinson said. "Megan (Sam) is also beginning to see more minutes. She rebounds well and if she gets the ball in the paint she is not afraid to go up."
McDermitt begins the second half of the league slate tonight against Wells at 6 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs host Jackpot on Saturday at 4 p.m.
"As we start the second half of league play we need to focus our attention on continuing to make people play a game that favors us, which is slowing things down and running good offensive sets and then running when the numbers are in our favor," Wilkinson said. "Teams are going to want to press us to speed up tempo and as long as everyone keeps their composure we should be able to limit turnovers and fast break opportunities against teams like Wells. We have what I consider three tough games left before the regional tourney and two of them we get to play at home. We have been fighting the flu and cold for weeks now and I will be really happy when we are finally 100 percent healthy."
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