WINNEMUCCA - If teams in northern Nevada thought the McDermitt High School girls basketball team was going to be a pushover this year after losing a strong senior class, they better think twice.
The Lady Bulldogs, with just one senior on the roster and the rest freshmen and sophomores, are making a name for themselves.
After a two-week break without games, McDermitt returned to its home floor Jan. 3 and came away with a 60-35 win over Jordan Valley, Ore. It was the second win of the year for the Lady Bulldogs against the Mustangs.
"I am beginning to see some of the small things that we are working on in practice, starting to become habit during games," said MHS coach Jaimi Wilkinson. "The girls played with more intensity than they have all year and were a little more focused. Maturity and mental toughness comes from age and we are lacking upperclassmen. I am beginning to see a fire starting to burn in these young girls and when it finally catches they will be a tough group to beat."
McDermitt (4-3) opened a four-point lead after a quarter of play and methodically pulled away from there. The Lady Bulldogs used a 16-8 run in the second quarter to grab 29-17 advantage at halftime.
The margin increased to 17 points in the third quarter and McDermitt had its best offensive production of the night in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points.
"Defensively, we did a much better job of rotating and helping," Wilkinson said. "But, we gave Jordan Valley way too many opportunities from the free throw line, due to not taking that extra step and gaining good defensive positioning."
Krissy Long led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points, while Andrea Smart joined her in double figures with 11. Smart connected on three 3-point field goals. Lydia Northrup and Deandra Dave each scored eight points. Va Draunidalo and Dacy Horn added six points apiece, Jackie Alcaraz four and Megan Sam two.
"We are getting quite a few second and third chance looks at the basket because our bigs are working harder in the paint to rebound than they have in the past," said the coach. "Deandra, Krissy and Andrea are becoming a force to reckon with on the inside. When you add the outside presence we have with Lydia, Andrea and Va, who is becoming more comfortable taking a pull up jump shot, its tough to defend the inside out game."
Before heading out on winter break, McDermitt traveled to Crane, Ore., for a two-day tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs played Prairie City on Friday, Dec. 20, and were defeated 54-45. The Panthers jumped out to an early four-point advantage, but the Lady Bulldogs came back with 19-point second quarter to tie the game at 30-30 at the break.
Prairie City held McDermitt to single digits in each of the third and fourth quarters, to pull out the nine-point win.
Northrup caught fire from the field, making five 3-point field goals on her way to a team-high 19 points. Smart was one rebound short of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. The sophomore also added two assists and two steals.
Dave netted seven points and grabbed five rebounds, Long had four points, seven rebounds and three steals and Draunidalo had three points.
After a slow start on Saturday, Dec. 21, to close out the tournament, McDermitt ran away from Trinity Lutheran (Bend, Ore.) for a 62-27 victory.
The Lady Bulldogs held the Saints to single figures in each quarter. After leading by four points after the first eight minutes of play, McDermitt broke the game open with 40-14 run in the second and third quarters.
The Lady Bulldogs had a balanced scoring attack with four girls in double figures. Northrup led the way with 16 points, Long added 15, Dave 11 and Smart 10. Draunidalo and Alcaraz each scored four and Horn had two.
"This bunch of girls understand spacing better than any group I have ever had before," Wilkinson said. "They know where each other are and are learning to attack the basket first and then kick out for an open outside shots which is making them deadly. We are adding things daily and I am reminded how young they are. They are growing and progressing and I think we will take a few less lumps than I originally expected. We still aren't were we need to be defensively, but the girls are learning and at this point and that's all I can ask for."
McDermitt begins Division IV East play at home this weekend against Wells at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Jackpot on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
