MCDERMITT — If there was one thing that concerned the McDermitt High School boys basketball team a season ago, it was its offense — or the lack of it.
In the few first games of this year, scoring is way for the Bulldogs, who improved to 3-3 on the season with a 67-49 win over Crane on Tuesday night in McDermitt.
“Crane is down a bit this year, but I like where we are so far,” said MHS coach Jack Smith. When we played teams like last year, we had trouble beating them. Now, we are hitting some buckets.”
McDermitt got off to a slow start, as senior Edgar Reyes was in foul trouble, picking up three in the first eight minutes. He had just two points in the first quarter, after sitting the final couple minutes.
The Mustangs used a 5-0 run to lead 9-4, but the Bulldogs climbed back with two points at 10-8, when Crane hit a shot at the buzzer to go up 12-8.
McDermitt hit the first of its six 3-point field goals, as Cauy Crutcher and Reyes hit back-to-back long distance shots to tie the game at 16 in the second quarter. The Mustangs countered with the next four points, but the Bulldogs tied the game back at 20 after baskets by Diego Navarro and Duane Horse. McDermitt battled back to take a 25-24 lead at halftime.
Crutcher took over in the second half, as the junior scored 12 points in the third quarter. The Bulldogs pulled away with a 19-11 run in the third quarter to go in front 44-35. Crutcher finished with a team-high 26 points.
“He was on tonight,” Smith said. “He was coming off those picks and knocking down shots. It makes the game easier when you can do that. It covers up when we are not playing so well on defense.”
McDermitt ended the contest on a 23-14 run and led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Reyes added 18 points on three 3-point field goals and Troy McKee and Horse added eight and six points, respectively. Navarro had four points and Dominique Finley and Jagger Hinkey two each.
We didn’t play too bad on defense,” Smith said. “We had way too fouls. We need to stop reaching so much. We get beat on defense and then have to foul. We are getting better as a team, but have to play at a higher level if we want to be a higher-end playoff team.”
MHS falls to Jordan Valley
McDermitt opened its season in Jordan Valley, Ore., and lost 56-30. The Bulldogs were outscored 14-5 inn the opening eight minutes and we held to single digits in each of the first three quarters.
Reyes and McKee led McDermitt with nine and eight points, respectively. Navarro scored four and Hinkey, Crutcher and Horse had three each.
Bulldogs finish fourth at Damonte Ranch
McDermitt traveled to Reno last weekend for the Damonte Ranch JV Tournament and finished fourth. McDermitt beat Damonte Ranch 50-38 in the first round and Wooster 54-38 in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs lost 75-55 to Reno in the semifinals and North Valleys 81-65 in the third-place game.
McDermitt concluded play on Saturday in the Comstock Classic in Virginia City and are scheduled to host Pyramid Lake on Tuesday.
