After playing eight games in an eight-day stretch, the McDermitt High School boys basketball team will get a bit of a breather for the next couple of weeks.
The Bulldogs were in Virginia City this past weekend for the Comstock Classic for four games.
McDermitt opened with what was thought to be a 60-57 victory over Smith Valley. Diego Navarro, who scored 16 points for the Bulldogs, made a 25-foot shot at the buzzer for the win.
However, McDermitt was informed after the game that they had used an ineligible player. The Bulldogs had to forfeit the contest.
McDermitt jumped out to a 22-11 advantage in the first quarter and led for much of the contest. Smith Valley rallied in the second half to tie the game.
In its first game on Friday, Dec. 8, McDermitt took on Battle Mountain of the Northern 2A. The Longhorns pulled away in the second and third quarters for a 68-34 win.
“They were a pretty good team,” said MHS coach Jack Smith. “We had a tough time matching up with them. They made a lot of 3-point shots.”
Battle Mountain led 17-11 after eight minutes of play but slowly pulled away in the second quarter to lead 34-19 at halftime. The Longhorns broke the game open with a 22-8 spurt in the third quarter.
Cauy Crutcher led McDermitt with 13 points and Diego Navarro had 11 points.
McDermitt took on host Virginia City in its second game on Friday, Dec. 8, and lost 46-43.
The Bulldogs controlled the action for most of the first half, racing out to a 12-4 lead. The advantage grew to double figures at halftime, with McDermitt leading 26-12.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter, as the Muckers went on an 18-9 run to close the gap to five. McDermitt was holding on to a slim lead in the fourth quarter, when a charging foul changed the game.
“We were up by three points and were running our spread offense,” Smith said. “We got the look we wanted and went to the basket for a layup. We made the basket but was called for a charging foul. We had a chance for a six-point lead, but that play changed everything.”
Virginia City went on to outscore McDermitt 16-8 in the final eight minutes of play. Crutcher and Duane Masters paced McDermitt with 20 and 10 points, respectively.
“We were just gassed at the end,” Smith said. “We got into foul trouble and our rotation was short players.”
McDermitt finished the tournament on Saturday, Dec. 9, with a 62-24 win over Coleville, Calif.
“We put on our press and overwhelmed early,” Smith said. “It was a god way to end the weekend for us.”
McDermitt used a 28-7 run in the second quarter to lead 46-17 at halftime. Crutcher outscored the Wolves by himself with 27 points and Navarro added 18.
McDermitt is off until Wednesday, Dec. 27, when they start play in the Rail City Classic in Sparks.
