WINNEMUCCA - If history plays out as it has in the past, the Lowry High School varsity boys basketball team may be looking at its 11th state championship next week in Reno.
The Buckaroos (20-6) won state titles in 1992 and 2002. And as the 2012 tournament gets underway this weekend, they will have their chance to win again after beating Dayton 44-29 in a strong defensive effort Friday night on the Dust Devils' home floor.
Jordan Rinas, who led Lowry with 11 points, made two 3-point field goals to start the game as Dayton attempted to slow the game up.
"It was a very good win for us," said LHS head coach Chad Peters. "Dayton really wanted to slow the game down, packed in a zone and was looking to take Jesse (Studebaker) out of the game. Our first six points of the game came off the 3-point shots by Jordan. We actually played a little tight on the night and were not getting up and down the floor like we usually do. But now that we are in the state tournament, we can be loose and go play."
Lowry held Dayton to eight points or less in every period, earning its second win over the Lyon County school this season. The Buckaroos scored 10 points in each of the first three quarters to build a 30-21 advantage after 24 minutes of play.
"We were having trouble scoring and were settling for 3-point shots after Jordan made those first two," Peters said. "We are not that kind of team. We didn't score a lot, but if you are holding your opponent to fewer points you are doing something right."
The Buckaroos looked as if they were going to hold the Dust Devils to under 10 points in the first half, until a basket with about two minutes to go. That shot brought Dayton within four points before Josh Watterson connected on a 3-point shot near the end of the half.
"They did this thing where the crowd was very quiet until they hit 10 points," said the coach. "Well we hold them to under 10 points for much of the half until that shot and they all go crazy. I didn't know what was going on. Josh then came down and hit that 3-point shot and quieted the gym again. It was a good atmosphere. I would say we had just as many fans as they did."
The Buckaroos held a comfortable lead throughout the second half until midway through the fourth quarter. Lowry committed four consecutive turnovers (two traveling calls, a five-second call and a double dribble), allowing the Dust Devils to cut the deficit to five points.
However, it was two plays from Chris Dendary that changed the momentum, helping Lowry to the win. The junior was left all alone in the key for a jump shot that he made and moments later, he stepped in the key and took a charge against Dayton's Adan Gomez.
"That was huge," added the coach. "We turn the ball over four times in a row and Dayton scores all four times. Chris comes up with a big shot and steps in an open space and takes a charge. That just shows you we are a team and don't rely on just one person. He changed the momentum around with those two plays."
After grabbing the momentum back, Lowry went on to outscore Dayton 14-7 in the fourth quarter. Studebaker added nine points for the Buckaroos and Brandon Eastman and Watterson contributed seven each. Calvin Connors cored five, Tytus
Millikan three and Dendary two.
Lowry will face Boulder City in the opening round of the NIAA 3A State Championships presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Farmers Insurance Group on Friday at Reno High School at 4:40 p.m.
The Eagles beat the Buckaroos 63-48 at the beginning of the season in Boulder City. Lowry trailed by six points in the third quarter before getting outscored 13-4 in the fourth quarter.
Elko will play Fernley, an overtime upset winner over Sparks, in the other semifinal at 8 p.m., also at Reno High School. The two winners will play for the state championship on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center on the campus of the University of Nevada.
"Right now we don't care who we play," Peters said. "You have to win two games and that is all that matters. At this time of the year in order to get here you have to have a good team, play good defense and have a little luck. We are really excited for what we have coming up at the state tournament. We have the ability to do something very special this weekend."
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