Despite some tense moments in the past week, the McDermitt High School boys basketball team went into its regular season finale atop the standings in the Eastern 1A.
The Bulldogs collected three wins in a five-day stretch, starting with a 56-55 victory at Carlin on Friday, Feb. 3.
McDermitt continued the winning ways on Saturday, Feb. 4, notching a 56-43 decision over Owyhee. The Bulldogs completed the season-sweep of Independence 64-33 on Tuesday in Elko.
McDermitt holds off
Carlin rally
When it comes down to the end of the season, any win on the road is a good one and McDermitt accomplished that at Carlin. Despite having a down year, the Railroaders made the Bulldogs work for the victory.
The game was tied at 17 after eight minutes of play, when it appeared McDermitt was set to pull away. The Bulldogs outscored the Railroaders 18-5 in the second quarter to build a 13-point advantage at halftime.
The third quarter was a carbon-copy of the first quarter, with each squad scoring 17 points. McDermitt held the same 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, but saw that disappear in the final quarter. Carlin rallied with a 16-4 run to close within a point, but could not pull the upset.
Cauy Crutcher had a team-high 20 points to go with five assists, four steals and four rebounds. Troy McKee joined him in double figures with 17 points. The senior added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Edgar Reyes netted nine points, Duane Horse eight and Diego Navarro two. Navarro also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
McDermitt sweeps Owyhee
McDermitt found itself in another close contest as it closed out the road trip last Saturday in Owyhee. The games tied 9-9 after a quarter of play, when the Bulldogs took over in the next 16 minutes.
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McDermitt outscored Owyhee 20-14 in the second quarter to lead
by six points at halftime, and was able to extend the margin to double figures by the fourth quarter.
Crutcher reached 20 points on the weekend for the second time, and led the team with 25 points. The junior added eight rebounds and six assists. Reyes knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Navarro had nine points and seven rebounds and McKee had eight points and 14 rebounds.
Bulldogs crush Colts
McDermitt got off to a slow start playing its third game in five days at Independence on Tuesday. Both teams scored nine points in the first quarter, but it was all Bulldogs after that. McDermitt went into halftime with a seven-point lead and put the game away in the third quarter with a 25-7 run.
Crutcher (25) and Reyes (21) combined for 45 of the 64 points. Reyes also had 10 rebounds. McKee had eight points, Ben Draunidalo and Navarro four each and Horse three. Horse also grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds.
McDermitt closed out the regular season on Friday at Eureka. Results were not available at press time.
If the Bulldogs (10-1) beat the Vandals (8-2), they would secure the top seed in the Eastern 1A for the regional tournament. A win by Eureka gives them the league title. Jackpot (6-4) and Owyhee (6-4) are tied for third and fourth.
Mineral County leads the Western 1A with a 12-0 record, while Whittell is second at 11-2. Virginia City (9-2) sits in third and Sierra Lutheran (7-5) holds the final playoff berth.
