The Battle Mountain High School boys basketball team had two face two of the top teams in the Northern 2A last week and came short on both occasions.
The Longhorns made their way to Lovelock on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and lost 57-34. Battle Mountain was without two players, as Gabe Naveran is suffering through an injury and Mason Fuller was ill.
The contest was close through the first three quarters, as Pershing County built a 17-13 advantage after eight minutes of action. The Mustangs’ lead grew to double-figures at 32-22 at halftime.
Pershing County held that same five-point margin, as both teams netted five points in the third quarter. The Mustangs puled away in the fourth quarter with a 20-7 run.
Chris Figueroa led Battle Mountain with 10 points, while Reese Artz had nine points and six rebounds. Miles Piramide had four points and five rebounds and Danny Diaz and Austin Wallock had three points apiece. Sergio Diaz had two steals.
“We played pretty well against a good team for three quarters but we were shorthanded with the injury and illness,” said BMHS coach Roger Wallock. “Fatigue seem to kick in late in the game.”
Yerington holds off BMHS
After spending all of its season on the road, Battle Mountain got a taste of its home floor on Friday. The Longhorns hosted Yerington, and the Lions played the rude guest, taking a 50-45 decision.
It was a tale of two quarters in the first half, as Yerington jumped out to a 14-6 lead. Battle Mountain turned the tables in the second eight minutes with an 11-4 run to close the gap to 18-17 at halftime.
The Lions retook a comfortable lead in the second half with a 19-11 run in third quarter. The Longhorns fought its way back to a two-point deficit late in the game, but could not complete the comeback.
Piramide had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for Battle Mountain. Fuller added 13 points and Figueroa had 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
“We battled all game even though we had multiple turnovers throughout,” Wallock said. “Somehow we cut it to two points with a minute to go. But our inexperience showed and when we needed to foul, we committed an intentional foul so they got two free throws and the ball and that was the ball game.
Longhorns cruise past Nighthawks
Battle Mountain got back on the winning track, with a 52-34 victory over Silver Stage on Saturday afternoon.
The Longhorns jumped out to a 16-6 advantage in the first quarter and never trailed again. The Nighthawks kept it close in the second and third quarters, only to see Battle Mountain run away with a 22-11 spurt in the fourth quarter.
Piramide led Battle Mountain with 18 points, three assists and three steals. Fuller had 11 points and Sergio Diaz two points and five rebounds.
“We started well and finished well but didn’t play well in between,” Wallock said. “We need to start playing full games or we will continue to be the middle of the pack in the league.”
Battle Mountain hosts North Tahoe on Friday at 7 p.m. and Incline on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
