WELLS — The McDermitt High School boys basketball team finished its last regular season road trip with a mixed bag of results.
The Bulldogs had an easy time on Friday night, beating Wells 71-40 but lost 74-45 to league-leading Jackpot on Saturday afternoon. McDermitt remained in second place in the Eastern 1A at 5-2 and 8-13 overall.
McDermitt rolls past Wells
McDermitt overcame a slow start on Friday night to complete the season-sweep of Wells. Senior Cauy Crutcher outscored the Leopards by himself in the first quarter with 11 points. The Bulldogs also picked up baskets from Diego Navarro and Ben Draunidalo to take a 15-9 lead.
Duane Masters and Crutcher combined for all 15 points in the second quarter, as Masters knocked down three 3-point field goals to help increase the lead to 30-16 at halftime.
The teams traded baskets in the early portion of the third quarter, when Draunidalo and Masters helped the Bulldogs pull away. Masters added two more 3-point field goals and Draunidalo contributed eight points in the final four minutes of the third quarter to push the advantage to 52-30.
Draunidalo collected eight more points in the fourth quarter, as McDermitt outscored Wells 19-10 in the final eight minutes.
Draunidalo finished with 20 points, as did Crutcher. Masters was the third player in double figures for McDermitt with 18 points. Navarro netted six points and Bruno Rincon had four points.
Jaguars knock
off Bulldogs
McDermitt would have moved into a tie for first place with a win at Jackpot. The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance of the Jaguars after eight minutes of play.
Jackpot led 20-18 but slowly pulled away from there. The Jaguars claimed a 37-30 advantage at halftime and held the Bulldogs to 15 points in the second half.
Jackpot built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and finished the game on a 22-9 run, to take a two-game lead in the Eastern 1A.
McDermitt and Eureka are tied for second at 5-2 but the Bulldogs hold the tiebreaker over the Vandals. Owyhee has the fourth and final playoff spot at 3-4.
Draunidalo paced McDermitt with 16 points and Crutcher added 13. Masters scored five points, Navarro four and Rincon and Duane Horse three each.
McDermitt hosts Carlin on Friday and Owyhee on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs conclude the regular season on Friday, Feb. 9, at home against Eureka. The winner of that game will likely clinch the No. 2 seed in the regional tournament to be held in Reno.
