The McDermitt High School boys basketball team went to Wells last weekend and lost 74-56 in their first conference game of the season.
The Bulldogs had a 1-14 record coming into the contest, with their only win coming against Round Mountain at the Comstock Classic. The Leopards brought a 7-8 overall record to the match.
McDermitt had the lead after the first quarter 9-7 but they gave up 25 points in the second to go down 32-21 at the half.
“We are struggling; in the Wells game it looked like it was going to be an even game in the first quarter, but Jagger (Hinkey) got three fouls and I had to pull him out and they got a nice cushion.”
The Bulldogs out-scored the Leopards 25-19 in the third quarter, but it was too little, too late, and the Leopards took the fourth 27-16.
Ben Draunidalo had 25 points and Jagger Hinkey added 21 both Bulldogs had three 3-pointers.
Andrew Villalobos added five points and Alex Navarro and Enrique Villalobos each had two points. Steele Crossley had one point for the Bulldogs.
“Jagger got 21 points in just two quarters before he fouled out. If he could have stayed in the game, it could have been an even game,” Smith said.
Bulldogs fall to Jaguars
Saturday in Jackpot did not go much better, as McDermitt fell 68-38 to the Jaguars (8-5). Draunidalo led all scorers with 17 points and Hinkey had 14; both boys grabbed eight rebounds.
Andrew Villalobos had seven points and five rebounds.
“Jackpot looks like the team to beat,” Smith said. “They don’t make mistakes and they have five people that can all score their chemistry is perfect. They look like a team that has a chance to go to state.”
The boys come back to McDermitt for their only home stand of the season starting on Friday against Carlin at 7:30 p.m.
Owyhee comes to town for a 4 p.m. rivalry game on Saturday.
“We are a turnover machine right now. "We are hoping to scratch out a playoff spot. That is what our goal is, four out of six go,” Smith said.
Eureka visits for another league game on Jan. 25; Wells is slated for Feb. 1, and Jackpot rounds out the year at home for the Bulldogs with a Feb. 2 match-up.
McDermitt finishes the year on the road with trips to Carlin on Feb. 8, Owyhee on Feb. 9, and the season finale at Eureka will be held on Feb. 15.
The Northern Regional 1A Tournament will be held Feb. 21-23 at a location TBA. The State Tournament is in Las Vegas on March 1-2.
