After missing out on the regional playoff a season ago on a tie-breaker, the McDermitt High School boys basketball team is going to do its best to avoid that situation this year.
The Bulldogs got off to an impressive start in the Eastern 1A last weekend, with a pair of road wins. McDermitt knocked off Wells 56-43 on Friday, Jan. 6, and followed that with a 71-66 overtime win on Saturday, Jan. 7, at Jackpot. The Jaguars were the team t keep the Bulldogs out of the playoffs in 2016. McDermitt, 9-6 overall, is tied for first in the league with Eureka at 2-0.
McDermitt knocks off Wells
This has been a budding rivalry in the past few years on the football field and basketball floor. The McDermitt duo of Edgar Reyes and Cauy Crutcher outscored the Leopards by themselves.
Each player connected on three 3-point field goals. Reyes had 23 points to go with eight rebounds. Crutcher finished with 21 points, seven assists, two steals and one rebound.
McDermitt jumped ahead 13-8 in the first quarter and did not trail the rest of the way. The Bulldogs built a 28-20 advantage at halftime. McDermitt increased the margin to double figures with a 14-8 run in the third quarter to go in front 42-28.
The Leopards did outscore the Bulldogs 15-14 in the final eight minutes, but it was not nearly enough to make a comeback.
Troy McKee added six points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Diego Navarro had four points and Ben Draunidalo two.
Despite not scoring, Dominique Finley had four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Duane Horse added three rebounds and an assist and Trenton Crutcher had two rebounds and two assists.
McDermitt rallies to beat Jackpot
McDermitt closed out one of its longest road trips of the year, by rallying in the fourth quarter and overtime to beat Jackpot by five points.
The contest went back and forth throughout the first half, with tied at 10 after eight minutes of play. McDermitt slowly pulled ahead in the second quarter and grabbed a 22-18 advantage at the halftime break.
After scoring just 18 points in the first half, the Jaguars found its way on offense in the third quarter and outscored the Bulldogs 19-12 to go ahead 37-34.
McDermitt saved its best offensive quarter of the day for the final eight minutes, where it came back to outscore Jackpot 21-18 to tie game at 55 and send it to overtime,
The extra four minutes saw plenty of scoring, with the Bulldogs pulling away in the final minute to secure the victory and the sweep on the weekend.
McKee, a senior, has given McDermitt the inside post presence it missed last year. He finished with a double-double that included 19 points and 13 rebounds. He also had four assists.
Cauy Crutcher joined him in double figures with 18 points, The junior was one assist shy of a double-double with nine. He grabbed five rebounds to go with two steals.
Reyes was the third Bulldog in double figures with 16 points. He finished with six rebounds and three assists and three steals.
Finley netted seven points, along with three rebounds and three assists. Horse and Navarro each had four points and Trenton Crutcher three.
McDermitt hosted Carlin on Friday and results were not available at press time. The Bulldogs are home today (Saturday) to take on rival Owyhee. McDermitt is back on its home floor to play Independence at 6 p.m.
