WINNEMUCCA - After a mediocre showing at Spring Creek at the beginning of last week, the Lowry High School varsity boys basketball team decided to take the intensity level up a few notches in its next two practices before closing out the regular season at home this past weekend.
A pair of Division III schools had the tough task of coming to Winnemucca, and the Buckaroos were able to overwhelm White Pine 74-26 on Friday and West Wendover 84-46 on Saturday.
"We got after it in practice for a couple of days," said LHS head coach Chad Peters. "I thought our defensive intensity was great and we need to keep it that way. Offensively, we were swinging the ball quickly around the floor and this demoralizes your opponent. They stop chasing you on defense and it almost becomes a game of keep away."
An alley-oop dunk by Josh Watterson off the opening tip set the tone Friday night against White Pine. The Buckaroos led 20-12 after eight minutes of play and the Bobcats' offense was non-existent after that.
White Pine managed just 14 points in the final three quarters and trailed by 29 points at halftime after Lowry went on a 25-4 run in the second quarter.
"We have been waiting to have the chance to do that dunk," Peters said. "We got the opening tip just the way we needed to do. It was a fun weekend for us and it was a good way to send our seniors off."
The rout continued into the second half as the Buckaroos scored 20 points for the third consecutive quarter to push the margin to 65-13 and start the running clock under the NIAA 40-point mercy rule.
The Buckaroos (19-5 overall, 8-2 Division I-A, 8-2 Ruby Mountain) pushed the advantage to 50 points in the fourth quarter.
Everyone on the roster scored for Lowry, with Watterson leading the way with 16 points. Jesse Studebaker and Garrett Naveran added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Tyler Brumm had seven, Dusty Bryan six, Tytus Millikan and Josh Shaver five each, Calvin Connors four and Tanner Lecumberry, Nate Eldodt, Justin Albright and Chris Dendary had two points apiece.
Lowry had 17 steals on the night with Watterson collecting five. Connors and Shaver had five and four, respectively.
"Josh is playing very well right now," added the coach. "We are still trying to get Tytus healthy after being sick. But I like where we are at. Calvin, Jesse and Garrett are looking good. We are getting more focused and getting back to our routine."
Lowry made quick work of West Wendover, the defending Division III state champion, with 31 points in the first quarter. The Buckaroos held a 23-point advantage after the first eight minutes of play and never looked back.
The Wolverines cut the deficit to 21 points at halftime, only to see the Buckaroos come out of the break on a 24-12 run to lead 71-38.
"It was good to get everyone a lot of playing time," Peters said. "It's all about getting ready for this week and the playoffs."
In his final regular season game of the season at Lowry, Studebaker finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Watterson finished with a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go with four steals. Naveran was the third Buckaroos in double figures with 13 points. The sophomore added five rebounds.
Dendary had six points, Shaver five, Connors, Bryan, Eldodt and Albright four each, Brumm three and Millikan two.
Lowry begins its defense of its state title when it hosts Truckee tonight at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the Division I-A North Regional Championships. The Buckaroos have played in the last three state championship games.
If the Buckaroos win they will play either Sparks or Fernley on Friday at 4:40 p.m. at Wooster High School in Reno. The title matchup is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, also at Wooster.
The top two teams advance to the NIAA State Championships at Del Sol High School and the Orleans Arena on Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, in Las Vegas.
"It's win or go home now," Peters said. "There is now tomorrow if we don't beat Truckee. We have to take care of business tonight and then we can worry about this weekend."
[[In-content Ad]]
