The McDermitt High School boys basketball team started the Northern 1A East season on a high note, with a 41-34 win at Jackpot on Friday afternoon. It was the first win over the Jaguars for the Bulldogs since the 2017 season.
“It was a good way to start the league season,” said MHS coach Jack Smith. “It had been a while since we beat these guys. It was good for our confidence to make that long trip and to get a win.”
Enrique Villalobos had a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds to go with five assists and three steals. Braden Ramsey added 14 points on two 3-point field goals and contributed five rebounds, four steals and an assist.
“They both played really well,” Smith said. “Braden did some good things on defense too that you won’t see on the stat sheet.”
Tristan Bitt finished with 10 points, nine steals, three assists and two rebounds. Lane Barnett had the other two points, along with four rebounds. Senior Kess Hinkey added six rebounds and one assist.
“It was nice to see us get balanced scoring from three guys,” Smith said. “If we can get one more guy around that 10-point level, we are going to be okay.”
Following a couple week break for Christmas break, McDermitt was back on the floor on Tuesday, Jan. 4, for a non-conference meeting at Pyramid Lake.
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished, beating the Bulldogs 67-44, as McDermitt dropped to 1-10 on the season.
Pyramid Lake held an eight-point lead after eight minutes of play and extended the advantage to double figures at 30-19 at halftime.
The Lakers broke the game open with a 25-15 run out of the break and the Bulldogs couldn’t erase the deficit.
Bitt, a senior, paced McDermitt with 18 points, two rebounds and two steals. Ramsey, also a senior, knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 14 points. He added seven rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore Jeremiah Horn netted six points and Villalobos and Hinkey added six and four points, respectively. Villalobos had a team-high 11 rebounds to go with four assists and two steals.
McDermitt’s scheduled game against Wells in McDermitt on Saturday was postponed and will be made up on Jan. 20.
The Bulldogs travel to Owyhee on Friday and Carlin on Saturday. McDermitt is back to on Friday, Jan. 21, to play Eureka
