WINNEMUCCA - The McDermitt High School girls basketball team took a big step in its season with a 60-46 road win at Eureka on Friday, Jan. 15.
The two rival schools were battling for second place in the Division IV East, while Wells sits atop the standings. The victory gives the Lady Bulldogs the upper hand when it comes to playoff seeding in February.
"It was the single best game my kids have played all year," said MHS head coach Jaimi Wilkinson. "They worked their tails off on defense and really did a nice job of disrupting Eureka's offense. We rebounded well and shot extremely well."
Each team made runs in the first half with McDermitt jumping out to a 17-11 advantage in the first quarter. Eureka climbed back into the game and tied the contest at 25-25 at halftime after outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 14-8 in the second period.
McDermitt found itself in foul trouble in the third period as three starters had four fouls apiece. That allowed Eureka to take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
"At that point I started to worry but the kids responded and played with confidence and maturity above their years and none of the three in foul trouble fouled out," Wilkinson said.
McDermitt changed up its defense at the start of the fourth quarter, which led to a 23-7 outburst by the Lady Bulldogs, who handed the Vandals their second league loss of the season.
"We came out in our match-up zone and pressured Eureka's guards, causing much havoc," Wilkinson said. "Late in the game, we sucked back into a tight zone and Eureka could not make the adjustment."
Sharon Sherburn proved to be a thorn in the side of Eureka with 15 points and 14 rebounds. The freshmen duo of Andrea Smart and Lydia Northrup scored 14 and 12 points, respectively. Smart added five rebounds and two steals and Northrup had four rebounds and three assists.
Staheli Wilkinson netted eight points to go with six assists and five steals and Va Draunidalo had seven points and eight rebounds. Deandra Dave finished with four points and four rebounds.
McDermitt stepped out of league play on Saturday afternoon and made the trek across Nevada to Smith Valley. The Lady Bulldogs used a big second quarter to pull out the 46-37 win.
McDermitt led by four points at the end of the first quarter, but gave itself breathing room with an 18-4 run in the second period to lead 32-16 at halftime.
Smith Valley closed the gap to single digits in the second half, but McDermitt's lead was never threatened.
"The girls played a fantastic first half and had Smith Valley on the ropes at halftime," added the coach. "We lost focus and intensity in the second half and let Smith Valley back in the game. I will say that when things got tough and close late in the game, my girls stepped up and finished strong."
Smart scored 12 points to pace McDermitt, while Dave and Wilkinson added nine points apiece. Sherburn netted eight, Northrup five and Draunidalo three."
McDermitt was scheduled to play Virginia City on Thursday, Jan. 17, but the game was cancelled. The Lady Bulldogs were to host Crane, Ore., on Wednesday in McDermitt but that game was postponed due to illness and injury for Crane.
The battle for the top spot in the Division IV East is at stake tonight as McDermitt hosts Wells at 6 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs are back at home on Saturday afternoon to play Jackpot at 1:30 p.m.
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