The Battle Mountain High School boys basketball team traveled to Eureka County High School on Tuesday, Dec. 19, to compete against the Eureka Vandals. The non-league game showcased some skilled shooting by both sides before the Longhorns pulled out the win.
The Longhorns came out slow against the Vandals, failing to establish a lead against the smaller school. Eureka shot well at the beginning of the contest and took advantage of the Longhorns poor shooting.
In the first half, Battle Mountain was getting open shots at the basket but missed nine open lay-ups in the first half alone. Battle Mountain escaped the first quarter with a one-point lead with the score at 8-7, but could not keep the edge going into halftime.
The Vandals hit a 3-point shot against the Longhorns before the end of the half, giving Eureka a 23-20 lead at halftime.
“I don’t know if you thought you would come in here and blow these guys (Eureka) out, but you can’t underestimate them, they are probably the best team in Division A,” BMHS head coach Roger Wallock said to his team at halftime. “Small schools live for the chance to beat a bigger school. When I coached in Jackpot, we loved it, beating the bigger school was our Super Bowl. Eureka has nothing lose in this game. They aren’t supposed to beat us.”
Wallock's speech got the Longhorns going and in the second half, with Mason Fuller and Miles Piramide starting to string shots together. That led to a 24-point third quarter and a 21-point fourth quarter.
The Longhorns' strong second half lopsided the score down the stretch and helped BMHS defeat the Vandals by a final score of 65-42. The win marks the 11th in a row for the Longhorns, who will go into the Christmas break with a record of 11-2.
All four Longhorn basketball teams will go into the Christmas break with winning records and will travel to West Wendover on Jan. 5 in the new year, before meeting with the White Pine High School on Jan. 6.
*Disclaimer: Travis Masterson is the junior varsity head coach for Battle Mountain High School.
