WINNEMUCCA - With the season three weeks old, the Lowry High School junior varsity girls basketball team remains one of the few undefeated squads left in Nevada.
The Lady Bucks (6-0 overall, 2-0 Division I-A) ran their win streak to six games, with three road victories last week. Lowry traveled to Reno on Wednesday, Dec. 12, and picked up a 29-25 non-conference win over North Valleys. Just two days later, the Lady Bucks made the trek back west on Interstate 80 to open Division I-A play against Sparks and left with a 38-14 victory. Lowry made it three-for-three on Saturday, with a hard-fought 34-27 win at Truckee.
"It was a good three games for us," said LHS head coach Chelsea Cabatbat. "Things went really well at Sparks and everyone contributed. We really turned up the defensive energy in the second half."
In the win over North Valleys, Maddie Mayo did all the scoring for Lowry in the first quarter as the freshman picked up six points. The Lady Bucks methodically fought their way back from a five-point deficit and used a 10-5 run in the third quarter to grab a 21-19 advantage.
"We tend to get out to slow starts," Cabatbat said. "It was another tough game for us but a good win against a Division I school. North Valleys was physical with us but we stepped up our defensive effort."
Chelsea Herrera netted four points in the third period, while Dani Ricker, Jillian Albright and Sierra Thiede all contributed one basket.
Lowry used its defense in the second half to complete the comeback, holding North Valleys to 11 points in the final 16 minutes. The Lady Bucks held on for the victory despite going 1-of-9 from the free throw line.
Herrera and Thiede scored eight points apiece to lead Lowry. Mayo added six points, Albright five and Ricker two.
"North Valleys started out in a zone defense, which we haven't seen much this year," added the coach. "We made some changes at halftime and the girls listened and went out in the second half and ran the game plan. This group loves to learn and whatever you tell them they will go out and get it done."
In the Division I-A opener at Sparks, Lowry raced out to a 17-3 lead in the first quarter on the strength of six points by Albright. Five other Lady Buckaroos had two points apiece.
Leading 25-13 at halftime, Lowry pulled away in the second half after holding Sparks to one point in the last 16 minutes of the game, a free throw in the fourth quarter.
Nine different players scored for the Lady Bucks, with Jasmine Anicker leading the way with 10 points. Albright and Herrera added six points apiece, Thiede four, Brianna Behrens and Hailey Hall three each and Estefany Espinoza, Mayo and Ricker each had two points.
Lowry had trouble getting going with the early start in Truckee and had to overcome a five-point deficit the Wolverines built after eight minutes of play. Herrera provided half of the Lady Bucks eight points in the first quarter.
Lowry used four points by Thiede to go on an 8-3 run in the second quarter to tie game 16-16 at halftime. The Lady Bucks took over the league battle with an 11-5 run in the third quarter on the strength of four points each by Albright and Herrera.
"It seemed like we were still sleeping at the start of the game and made things tough for ourselves," Cabatbat said. "Truckee was one of the more physical teams we have seen this year. About three minutes into the second quarter the girls came out and started to play well. They did the little things right. Our defense was not there in the first quarter but the girls responded and played well in the final three quarters. It's always tough with overnight trips. The kids stay up late and have to get back on the floor early in the morning."
Herrera and Albright tied for game-high honors with nine points apiece. Thiede added six, Mayo four and Ricker, Hall and Anicker two each.
Lowry will attempt to keep its unbeaten streak going at McQueen on Friday with a 5:15 p.m. tipoff. It will be a short Christmas break for the Lady Bucks, who will be back in Reno for the State Farm Invitational starting on Thursday.
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