The Humboldt County Rural Basketball League held its tournament championship in McDermitt at the end of February.
In Division 1 (6,7,8 grades), Paradise Valley opened with an 18-4 win over Kings River to move on to the next round against No. 1 seed Orovada.
Orovada won that game 32-15 to move into the championship. McDermitt beat Denio/Fields 31-13 in the other semifinal contest. Orovada defeated McDermitt 38-36 in a thriller. The game was tied at 24, 26 and 29.
Orovada’s Enrique Villalobos was named the MVP. The all-tournament team included Villalobos, Daniel Carrillo (Kings River), Tristan Butt and Braeden Ramsey (McDermitt) and Logan Defenbuagh (Denio/Fields).
The group of most improved players included Esmeralda Gomez (Kings River), Walker Smith (Orovada), Paris Collins (Paradise Valley), Eli Northrup (McDermitt) and Blake Powers (Denio/Fields).
In Division 2 (3,4,5 grades), Orovada progressed to the next round with a 25-15 win over Paradise Valley. McDermitt Blue knocked off Denio/Fields 15-12.
In the semifinals, McDermitt White beat McDermitt Blue 19-12 and Kings River, the No. 1 seed, knocked off Orovada 28-17. In another nail-biting championship game, Kings River held on to the ball for the final 17 seconds to win 15-13.
Kings River’s Cody Allen was named the MVP.
The all-tournament team included Allen, Natalie Mori (Paradise Valley), Jacob Miller (Orovada), Warrick Crutcher and Lealoni Toby (McDermitt White), Clay Harney (McDermitt Blue) and Cleo Fowler (Denio/Fields).
The most improved players were Natalia Meza (Kings River), Walker Smith (Orovada), Evan Keller (Paradise Valley), AJ Farmer (McDermitt Blue), Brianna Sherburn (McDermitt White) and Madison Norris (Denio/Fields).
