The Battle Mountain High School girls basketball team has had to go through some adjustments in the first month of the season.
The Lady Longhorns received bad news before the season even started when they found Isabella DeAllah would not play due to a knee injury suffered on the last day of the volleyball season. Battle Mountain made it through the first couple weeks of the season without another injury, until sophomore Brooke Ripley injured her knee against Incline a couple weeks ago and is now out for the season.
The Lady Longhorns were back on the floor at home this past weekend, as winter break came to a close. After picking up a 46-23 win over Silver Stage on Friday night, Battle Mountain fell behind double-digits to Yerington in the third quarter, only to rally to take the lead. However, the rally was short-lived and the Lions held on for a 53-47 win.
“The injuries are making us do some different things,” said BMHS coach Paul Tremayne. “Teams can plays us different now. You have to give credit to Yerington, they made some free throws at the end.”
Yerington scored 10 of the first 12 points of the contest before Battle Mountain settled down and picked up back-to-back baskets from Sruti Bhakta and Grace Melver to cut the gap to 12-7. The Lady Longhorns eventually trimmed the lead to 15-11 after eight minutes of play.
Yerington stretched out the advantage to nine points, 23-14, in the middle of the second quarter, when Bhakta came back with five straight points, including a 3-point field goal. The Lions countered back with five straight points to go back up by eight points and eventually led 30-24 at halftime.
Yerington scored the first five points of the third quarter to take its largest lead of the night at 35-24, but the Lions did not score in the final five minutes of the third quarter.
With 3:52 left in the third quarter, Melver knocked down a 3-pointer to start a 13-2 run, in which Battle Mountain would tie the game at 37-37 in the fourth quarter. Melver added four more points in the run, while Sheradyn Slaybaugh had four points and Bhakta two.
Yerington regained its composure for a moment and netted the next five points to lead 42-37 with 4:53 to play. The Lady Longhorns had a chance to cut into the deficit but missed two free throws. However, Slaybaugh started a 6-0 with a pair of baskets and after a steal and layup by Melver, Battle Mountain took its first lead at 43-42 with 3:27 to go in the contest.
But, the next time down the floor, Yerington hit a 3-point field goal and didn’t trail again. The Lions made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.
Battle Mountain cruises past Silver Stage
Battle Mountain had little trouble with Silver Stage on Friday night, doubling up the Nighthawks 46-23.
Melver paced the Lady Longhorns with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Slaybaugh joined her in double figures with 12 points and eight rebounds. Isabella Guzman had seven points and five rebounds and Addie Slaybuagh had five points.
“The girls played very well,” Tremayne said. “We have had to make some adjustments due to injury. We Went on a 22-6 run in the second quarter and put the game away.”
Battle Mountain traveled to Lovelock on Tuesday to play Pershing County and results were not available at press time. The Lady Longhorns are back home Friday to play Excel Christian and hit the road Saturday to take on Coral Academy.
