The Pershing County High School boys basketball teams fought on their home court against Incline this past Friday. The JV boys, coached by Jason Allen, won 55-48. The varsity squad also came out on top, 58-48, upsetting the No. 2 team in the Division II North. Earlier in the season, the Highlanders beat the Mustangs 79-62 in Incline.
The next day, the teams traveled to North Tahoe to confront the Lakers. This time the Mustangs (6-7 Division III North, 16-9, overall) fell by a tight three-point margin, with a final score of 50-47. A confrontation against North Tahoe earlier in the season ended in Pershing County's favor at 48-34.
"The boys played hard against North Tahoe," said PCHS varsity coach Lance Condie. "We didn't shoot the ball very well. North Tahoe played outstanding. They hit big shots down the end. Every time we would make a play the ball would end up in their hands. It was clearly their night."
William Gattrell scored 23 points against the Lakers. Also in the double digits was Marquise Green, who added 11. Ethan Rhodes scored five, Marcus Nester four and Jake Cerini one.
Pershing County's Jared Brinkerhoff scored the first points of the Incline win moments into the game. The Highlanders responded with a 3-point shot followed by a field goal, which put them a point ahead at 5-4. A second three pointer from the Highlanders widened the gap to 8-4.
Gattrell sank a bucket bringing the score to 8-6, but Incline netted another 3- pointer putting them ahead by five points at 11-6. With three minutes left on the clock, rapid fire field goals from Jesus Cruz and Green nudged the score to 11-10, but the Highlanders were still ahead.
Incline's Alex Zissis widened the advantage with a 3-pointer. Despite down to the wire field goals from Cruz and Nester, the Highlanders carried the first quarter 17-14.
During the second quarter, the Mustangs put up a solid defense effort, which held the Highlanders down to only four points to the Mustangs' 10. Going into halftime the score was 24-21 in Pershing County's favor.
Incline came back from break with plenty of fight. Despite a field goal from Green and a 3-pointer from Gattrell the score was tied up at 29 about halfway through the quarter.
Adrian Valtierra's tie-breaking field goal was speedily met with a pair of 3-pointers from the Highlanders putting them one-point ahead at 35-34. The score remained neck to neck throughout the quarter. The final moments of the third quarter turned into a firefight with each team calling on all of its resources. A field goal from Marquis McKinney brought the Mustangs one point ahead at 39-38. With 30 seconds left on the clock Gattrell sank a field goal widening the gap to 42-38. His follow up field goal and solid Mustang foul shots left the Highlanders unable to make up the deficit. The quarter ended with Pershing County ahead 45-38.
The Mustangs' momentum continued throughout the fourth quarter with Incline unable to shift the balance back in their favor at any point although it was not for want of trying.
Joey Stranzl led off with a 3-pointer and when able to poke holes in the Mustangs' defense, the Highlanders netted an additional eight points for a total of 10 in the final quarter. But, field goals from Green and Gattrell and solid Mustang foul shots kept Incline at bay.
Gattrell contributed 24 points to the win. Green added 10, Brinkerhoff seven, Cruz six, Nester four, Ethan Rhodes three and McKinney and Valtierra each scored two points.
"The boys played outstanding against Incline," said Condie. "We were able to hit big shots when we needed them. I thought we took great care of the ball. Few turnovers is important against Incline."
Pershing County hosts Silver Stage on Friday, with the JV tipping off at 4:30 p.m.. Varsity starts at 7:30 p.,m. The Mustangs won the last game against the Nighthawks 42-41. The winner of the game advances to the playoffs and the loser sees its season end.
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