With help from Mother Nature, the Battle Mountain High School junior varsity boys basketball team had a stretch of two weeks without a contest.
The Longhorns were able to get back on the floor last Saturday in Yerington and made the best of it. Battle Mountain extended its winning streak to eight games and improved to 18-2 overall with a 40-34 victory.
“It was a solid game overall for us, after having a two week period with now games,” said BMHS coach Tyler Samuelson. “We could have come out a little rusty but we didn’t. Down the stretch, we turned the ball over about three times in a row that led to lay ups or free throws.”
Battle Mountain grabbed a 12-9 lead after eight minutes of play, and used a strong defensive effort in the second quarter to leas 20-12 at halftime. The Lions scored just three points in the second quarter.
The Longhorns continued to enjoys a comfortable double-digit lead in the second half, when the Lions made things interesting. Yerington cut the deficit to 35-32 with four minutes to play.
However, on the next Battle Mountain possession, Danny Diaz hits a 3-pointer to give the Longhorns some breathing room.
“Our defense struggled a bit in the fourth quarter,” Samuelson said. “Yerington scored as many points in the fourth quarter as they did the other three combined. But. we know how to win close games, and this one was no different.”
Mason Fuller scored a game-high 24 points to go with four rebounds.
Diaz added seven points, five assists and four steals and Gabe Naveran contributed four points and four rebounds. Reese Artz had two points and six rebounds and Erik Martinez one point and five rebounds.
Battle Mountain’s season comes to end this weekend at home. The Longhorns take on Silver Stage on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and Pershing County on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
