WINNEMUCCA - As a team, your goal is always wanting to make it to a regional or state championship game. That dream came up one game short for the McDermitt High School girls basketball team, but head coach Jaimi Wilkinson could not be more proud of her team of seven girls.
The Bulldogs (16-6) opened the Northern 1A Regional Tournament in Elko on Thursday, Feb. 16, with a 62-37 win over Smith Valley. However, McDermitt's season came to an end the following night with a 57-48 loss to Eastern 1A rival Wells. It was the third win of the season for the Leopards over the Lady Bulldogs.
"We only took seven to regionals and Staheli (Wilkinson) sprained her knee Thursday night, Debra (McKee) twisted an ankle and so did Cheyenne (Urban), so we were a bit banged up going into Friday's game," said Wilkinson.
McDermitt finally fended off Smith Valley with a 24-9 run in the fourth quarter, which broke open a 10-point game. The Lady Bulldogs held a 31-18 advantage at halftime but were outscored 10-7 out of the break. However that was as close as Smith Valley got the rest of the night.
McKee caught fire from behind the 3-point line with five long-distance shots to finish with a game-high 28 points. The senior also had 10 rebounds to complete the double-double. Sharon Sherburn picked up 15 points, 15 rebounds and three steals, while Wilkinson collected 14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Torri Hinkey and Chandra Catches had three and two points, respectively.
Friday's semifinal may have looked more like a football game than a basketball matchup. The two schools were whistled for 42 fouls, 27 of those by the Lady Bulldogs. Wilkinson and Sherburn fouled out during the game, leaving McDermitt with just five players. Wells had one player foul out, while being called for two technical fouls. McDermitt was also called for a technical foul, as the Leopards shot 33 free throws, making just 16.
"Wells spent a lot of time at the free throw line and it was a very physical game," Wilkinson said.
Behind a 3-point field goal from Deryan Smith, Wells jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Trailing 13-5 near the end of the opening period, the Bulldogs took advantage of a handful of Leopard turnovers. Wilkinson converted two layups and McKee followed with her first 3-point shot of the game to make the score 15-12.
In the beginning moments of the second quarter, McKee hit a shot from 17 feet away and later a free throw to tie the game at 17-17, but McDermitt was never able to take the lead. Shorthanded to start, the Lady Bulldogs ran into foul trouble late in the first half, with Sherburn and McKee picking up their third fouls before the break. Wilkinson collected two fouls in the third quarter, adding further foul trouble.
Wells opened the second half with an 8-3 run to lead 34-26 and built a 41-30 lead near the end of the third period. Wilkinson made a 3-point shot with 52 seconds to play to bring the score within six points at 54-48, but the Lady Bulldogs did not score again. Wells made four free throws down the stretch to clinch its second straight trip to the state tournament.
McKee led all scorers with 23 points, which included four 3-point field goals. Wilkinson poured in 18, Hinkey four and Sherburn two.
"I can't say I have ever lost a regional game and left the gym feeling like my kids had given me every last thing they had, until Friday night," Wilkinson said. "They fought and clawed to keep themselves in the game and gave me all they had. They lost the game but they gained some pride in their performance. I now call them the magnificent seven."
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