It was built up as the game of the year in northern Nevada and it did not disappoint.
Elko and Lowry got together for a second time this year Saturday in Winnemucca and put on a state championship-like performance in front of a standing room-only crowd.
The Indians won the first meeting by 13 points in mid-January with a strong fourth-quarter run. The Buckaroos found themselves trailing by six points in the fourth quarter Saturday but used a pair of 3-point field goals to tie the game. Lowry closed out the contest on a 13-5 run to win 46-41 and claim the regular season championship at 15-1. The Buckaroos (24-2) overall have won 10 games in a row. It was the first win over Elko since the 2012 state title game.
"It was a great game between two good rivals," said LHS coach Chad Peters. "I am proud of our community, us and Elko. I am proud of our student body. You won't find a better one out there."
If you are a fan of offense, you needed to pick another gym. Lowry held Elko scoreless for six minutes in the first half and scored the final six points of the first quarter. Calvin Connors, Josh Watterson and Tanner Lecumberry had buckets in that stretch. The Buckaroos were without the services of Garrett Naveran for much of the first half, as he picked up his second foul with 2:22 left in the first quarter.
"I was very happy with the way we came and got after it defensively," Peters said. "Every guy we had on the floor worked hard. Not many teams hold Elko to four points in the first nine minutes of the game."
Tytus Millikan and Delane Black hit a pair of jumpers to push the advantage to 12-7, when Elko's Brandon Jenkins ended an eight-minute field goal drought with a 3-pointer. The Indians tied the game at 12 when Christian Gray put back a shot. The junior followed with a crucial 3-point field goal off an offensive rebound by Lecumberry to put Lowry up 17-14.
Elko answered with five consecutive points to go in front 19-17 but head coach Chris Klekas was called for a technical foul right after a personal foul was called on the Indians with 5.9 seconds left in the half. Josh Watterson made 1-of-2 shots on the personal foul and Connors did the same on the technical to tie the game at 19 at halftime.
Lowry came out of the break with seven of the first nine points, getting baskets by Shaver, Connors and Watterson to lead 26-21. A second basket by Watterson kept the margin at 28-23 when the Indians went on a 7-0 run to go back ahead 30-28. The Buckaroos used free throws by Dusty Bryan and Watterson to net the final three points of the period, giving Lowry a 31-30 advantage.
Elko started hot in the fourth quarter with nine of the first 11 points for a 39-33 lead with five minutes to play. However, the Buckaroos picked up 3-point field goals from Millikan and Shaver in a 35-second stretch to tie the game.
"Tytus and Josh hit nice 3-pointers because of our patience and drive and kick," Peters said. "Also we were getting some big boards when we needed to. Both teams had guys in foul trouble and it was a battle. It was physical and it was a great high school game. When we got down by six, we didn't panic like we did last time. We were patient and got some good looks. The 3-pointers got us back in the game. There are a lot of positives and good to come out of this. I am proud of our guys."
The 3-point field goal was the last for Lowry, which didn't hit a shot from the field in the final 4:13 of the game. The Buckaroos, however, were 7-of-10 from the foul line in that time. Connors and Black each made two to give Lowry a 43-41 lead with 2:03 to play. Millikan added a foul shot with 30.1 to play and Black sealed the win with a steal with less than 10 seconds to play. The senior was fouled on his way for a layup and made one shot to seal the win.
"Delane came up big with some rebounds and that last steal was the game winner," Peters said. "Dusty (Bryan) played some great defense on (Brian) Pearson. Those two were going at it all night. It was just amazing how our team reacted. It was a great win and I am excited. It was a great day for Lowry."
Watterson paced Lowry with 13 points, Connors added seven and Shaver and Millikan had six each. Black and Gray had five points apiece and Lecumberry and Bryan had two each.
Lowry began the weekend Friday with a 64-51 win over Spring Creek on senior night. The game was tied at 30 at halftime but the Buckaroos used an 18-4 run in the third quarter to pull away.
"We weren't in sync to start," Peters said. "It was Winterfest and senior night and all of the emotions. Once again, we came out in the third quarter and did what we needed to do."
Lowry had four players in double figures, with Naveran leading the way with 15. Watterson added 13 and Connors and Bryan had 10 each. Millikan scored five, Justin Albright four, Black three and Gray and Shaver two each.
Lowry takes the top seed into this weekend's Division I-A Regional Championship in Elko and will play Churchill County on Friday at 8 p.m. while Spring Creek and Elko meet at 4:40 p.m. The winners qualify for the state tournament in Reno on Feb. 28-March 1. The Buckaroos are looking to advance to the state semifinals for the sixth straight season.
"I told my kids after the (Elko) game, 'Can you picture your Lowry High School career in this building ending any better way with that crowd and that game on a Saturday afternoon?'
"What we did is phenomenal. I am very proud of them. It is a whole new season now. We have accomplished are first two goals. We still have a couple of more to do. It begins with Fallon on Friday. All we want to do is get to state and give it our best run."[[In-content Ad]]
