It's crazy to think, but the postseason for winter sports is creeping up for McDermitt and Lowry high schools. With just three weeks left in the regular season, both Humboldt County schools look to be in good shape come playoff time.
The McDermitt girls basketballteam finished the first half of the Division IV East schedule undefeated, which included a 55-48 win at Eureka this past Friday. The Vandals have played in the last two state championship games.
If you look at the roster of the Lady Bulldogs, there are no seniors, as this group has started as freshmen to get to their ultimate goal of winning a state championship. The last time McDermitt won a state championship in girls basketball was 1988.
McDermitt still has a tough game with Wells this Friday and the Lady Bulldogs host Eureka to close out the regular season. If McDermitt continues its play, they have a solid chance at being the No. 1 seed from the East Division at the regional tournament in Elko.
The McDermitt boys are tied for first in the Division IV East at 4-1 with Eureka. However, the Vandals defeated the Bulldogs 71-52 this past Friday. Despite the first loss in league play, McDermitt still has an excellent shot at making the playoffs.
McDermitt still has a handful of tough games left on the schedule, beginning Friday at home against Wells. The Leopards are just a game behind the Vandals and Bulldogs. McDermitt must make a trip to Owyhee and it gets a rematch with Eureka at home to close out the season. The next three weeks will be important for seeding purposes for McDermitt.
After a rough week on its home floor, the Lowry High School boys basketball team bounced back this past weekend with a pair of impressive wins over South Tahoe (58-48) and Dayton (64-41). If you remember, Lowry did not lose a home game in 2014.
The wins were important confidence wise, but also in terms of seeding in the postseason. Unless Elko forgets to find its way to the gym, the Indians are going to be the top seed for the postseason tournament at Churchill County High School in Fallon.
Currently, Lowry is tied with Spring Creek for second place in the Division I-A North at 8-2, with the Spartans holding the tiebreaker. The two schools play on Friday, Feb. 13, in Spring Creek. Of course, the Buckaroos would like to avenge that defeat, but the two squads look like they are on a path to play each other in the playoffs, when it really counts. That is OK, because no one wants that No. 4 seed to play Elko.
Lowry and Spring Creek have a three-game lead over Churchill County and South Tahoe for that final playoff spot. However, either the Greenwave or Vikings will be looking on the outside when it comes to the playoffs. The Buckaroos have played in the last six state tournaments.
The Lowry High School girls basketball team finds itself atop the Division I-A North by two games after this past weekend. The Lady Bucks improved to 10-0 in league and have won 10 games in a row as well. Lowry defeated South Tahoe 40-21 and Dayton 53-17 over the weekend.
The defending Division I-A state champs are looking for that same spark that led them on their run last year. The Lady Bucks picked up some help from Churchill County, who beat Elko 51-48 on Saturday in Fallon. That leaves the Indians and Greenwave tied for second in the Division I-A North at 8-2.
If Lowry can hold on to the top spot, Elko would likely have to play Churchill County on its home floor in the regional championships for a shot at the state tournament.
Spring Creek and South Tahoe share the fourth spot at 5-5 and Fernley is 4-6. Those three schools will battle it out for the final transfer spot.
The path for the No. 1 seed for the Lady Bucks is still a bumpy one, with Churchill County coming to Winnemucca on Friday, Feb. 7, and Lowry closes out the regular season on the road at Elko and Spring Creek.
In essence, the playoffs start for the Lowry High School wrestling team this weekend in Winnemucca. The Buckaroos host the Division I-A North Duals.
It's just not any ordinary weekend, as Lowry will attempt to break a record that dates back to 1979. Yerington won 107 consecutive duals from 1971-79. Lowry has won 101 in a row and has eight duals this weekend. That is a lot to put on the shoulders of the coaches and wrestlers. Action gets under way at 1 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Once the duals are over, Lowry will look to win its seventh straight regional and state championship and a record 17th title. The road to this championship looks to be tougher than the past with the likes of Spring Creek, Churchill County, Virgin Valley and Pahrump Valley wanting nothing more than to beat Lowry in its hometown. The final three weeks of the wrestling season should be fun.
Winnemucca Publishing Sports Editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.
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