If you have all five starters score in double figures, you are going to have a pretty solid night.
That is exactly what the McDermitt High School girls basketball team did Jan. 17 in Carlin. The Lady Bulldogs (7-3 overall, 3-0 Division IV East) made quick work of the Railroaders in a 77-26 victory.
"The Carlin game was lopsided," said MHS coach Jaimi Wilkinson. "It gave me a chance to play all eight girls and get some quality minutes out of players like Megan (Sam), Dacy (Horn) and Jackie (Alcaraz). All three played significant minutes and did some really good things. I am impressed with their willingness to come off the bench and be effective."
Alcaraz, the only senior on the roster, scored just three points, but the coach was impressed with her play and on how she has improved this year.
"Jackie outworks people, and while she has little experience she makes up for it with hustle and try," Wilkinson said. "I can't say enough good things about her."
McDermitt raced out to a 16-4 advantage in the first quarter and increased the lead to 39-12 at halftime. The Railroaders equaled their total from the first half with 12 points, but the Lady Bulldogs pulled away with a second consecutive 23-point period. McDermitt closed out the contest on a 15-2 run and the fourth quarter was played with a running clock as part of the NIAA 40-point mercy rule.
Lydia Northrup paced the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points, Krissy Long added 15, Va Draunidalo 14 and Andrea Smart and Deandra Dave each had 13.
"We were able to run a few different defensive looks that we have been working on," Wilkinson said. "Because of the score, I didn't stay in any of them very long because we were able to create so many turnovers and I was in no way looking to run up the score."
McDermitt received a much stiffer challenge, as it traveled to Crane, Ore. The Lady Bulldogs opened up a seven-point lead in the first half and held on for the 63-57 win. The victory gave McDermitt a season sweep of the Mustangs.
"Crane was probably our most complete game of the season," Wilkinson said. "The girls did a super job of rotating defensively and while we still are giving up too many easy looks at the basket they are getting better every night. Intensity is building its just a slow process. All five starters were super aggressive on offense and as a team we went to great lengths to establish our post game early which gave our outside shooters some open shots."
McDermitt led by eight points, 19-11 after the opening eight minutes of play and made the advantage hold. Crane closed within a couple of baskets, but couldn't overcome the deficit.
The Lady Bulldogs picked up another balanced scoring attack with Long netting 19. Northrup added 18, Dave 12 and Draunidalo eight. Smart scored four and Sam two.
McDermitt was scheduled to play at Owyhee last Saturday but the game was postponed to Feb. 4.
The Lady Bulldogs host Eureka, the defending Division IV state champions Friday at 6 p.m. Both squads are undefeated in league play.
"Eureka has a quality team, good coaching and the co/player of the year returning," Wilkinson said. "I am not going to put to much pressure on my kids going into this game. We are going to do what we do best and attack the paint, battle on the boards and try to play smart by controlling the tempo and not let Eureka's press cause so many turnovers that it takes us out of the game.
"We get them later in the season and once we have a better idea of how to prepare for them my goal will be to see if we can't slay that dragon in mid-February. Am I throwing in the towel? Heck no. I think we can play with and beat them, I am just going to make sure my kids are relaxed and maturing every game and see what happens from there."[[In-content Ad]]
