The Lowry High School girls basketball team clinched a playoff berth a couple weeks ago. However, the Lady Bucks are still in a fight for second place in the Northern 3A and a first-round bye in the upcoming regional tournament.
Lowry split its final two home games of the season this past weekend, beating Fernley 60-46 and losing to league-leading Churchill County 65-39. The Lady Bucks are 10-4 and in third place in the Northern 3A, one game behind Spring Creek at 11-3. The Spartans played Elko on Tuesday and host Lowry on Friday night.
Lowry defeats Fernley
At the beginning of January, Fernley upset Lowry by three points on the Vaqueros’ home floor. It would not happen again, as the Lady Bucks outscored the Vaqueros 36-18 in the second and third quarters en route to the 14-point win.
It did not look good for Lowry in the opening minutes, as Fernley raced out to a 12-2 lead and forcing the Lady Bucks to take a timeout. After six minutes without a point, Sydney Connors got Lowry going with A 3-pointer and Kyllie Sappington added a basket to close the gap to 12-7. However, Connors found herself in foul trouble with two with :15 left in the first quarter.
Fernley continued with the momentum to start the second quarter with a 3-pointer but it was all Lowry from there. The Lady Bucks picked up production from its bench as Julisa Garcia and Heather Hall made back-to-back baskets.
Alyssa Kuskie followed with her first 3-pointer of the night and after Kuskie made 1-of-2 free throws, Hall picked up the rebound and put back the shot to tie the game at 17. Lowry took the lead for good with :34 left in the second quarter after two free throws by Kuskie and last-second shot by Kyllie Sappington. The Lady Bucks closed out the first half on a 16-5 run to lead 25-22.
The Lady Bucks held a slim two-point lead midway through the third quarter, before pulling away with the last 11 points of the quarter to go in front 43-30. Sappington and Connors accounted for all 11 points.
Lowry appeared to be in control after Connors opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and Brooke Hansen followed with a basket to increase the advantage to 48-31. Fernley countered with a 10-2 run to close the deficit within single digit but the Vaqueros got no closer.
Hansen and Connors followed with consecutive field goals to increase the margin back to 14 points and 55-41 and the Lady Bucks never looked back.
Connors finished with 20 points and Kuskie and Sappington joined her in double figures with 10 each. Hall added six points, Hansen four, Kepa Bengochea two and Hailey Fernandez one.
Lady Bucks fall
to Greenwave
Lowry closed out its home schedule on Saturday afternoon against league-leading and defending state champion Churchill County. The Greenwave played spoiler on Senior Day, beating the Lady Bucks 65-39.
Churchill County jumped to an early lead and never gave it up. The Greenwave led 37-24 at halftime and outscored the Lady Bucks 16-7 in the third quarter to go in front 53-31.
Churchill County continued to pull away in the fourth quarter with a 12-8 run to account for the final score.
Second through fifth place in the Northern 3A is separated by just two games. Lowry can finish from anywhere from second to fifth in the regional tournament. Elko and Fernley are tied for fourth at 9-5. Churchill County has clinched the regular season title at 14-0.
Lowry closes out the regular season this weekend in Elko County. The Lady Bucks face Spring Creek on Friday at 6 p.m. and Elko on Saturday at 1 p.m.
