It was a good week to be a Lady Mustang basketball player.
Taylor Garland and Raegan Burrows guarded the opposing team’s point guards. Kylee Fuller forced multiple turnovers with her defensive pressure. Bela Rosas scored two 3-pointers when needed most.
Aaliyah Allen and Presley Burrows scored double doubles. Burrows also chased rebounds.
Throw in Kaydance and Anna Happy, Yasmine McKinney and Kairi Watson and you’ve got a force to be reckoned with. Aledda Sam also remains an integral part of the team despite the injury that keeps her off the court.
Pershing County hosted Oasis Academy, Battle Mountain and West Wendover this past week. On Tuesday, they greeted the Coral Academy Falcons. Results were not available at press time.
Bighorns fall
to Lovelock
The Mustangs’ week started on Tuesday with a lopsided win over the Oasis Academy Bighorns 65-19. Pershing County jumped out to a fast start and did not let up. Allen led the scoring with 18 points and 11 rebounds – a double-double.
“Aaliyah played a great game as she continues to get better and better,” said Houston. “I was happy as nine out of ten girls scored.”
Kaydance Happy had 11 points and six rebounds. Rosas scored eight points, five assists and five steals. Garland added eight points and three steals.
Lady Mustangs lose Battle Mountain barn-burner
The Pershing County cheerleaders encouraged the crowd to shout and stomp for the Mustangs. Announcer Steve (“I can’t hear you”) Evenson added to the general atmosphere.
One coach described the Friday night gym as ‘electric,’ as the competition intensified.
Fans packed the bleachers, especially Pershing’s student section.
The score tied up as tight as a knot most of the game. As soon as one player broke through, an opponent tied things up again. The final score was 38-35 with Pershing trailing by three points.
Garland and Raegan Burrows kept up the pressure. However, they met their match with Zarina Ceja. Coach Houston described the Battle Mountain senior as ‘a solid point guard.’
“She handled our pressure well,” he added.
Presley Burrows added 13 of the Mustang’s 48 rebounds. The Longhorns had fewer - 32. Burrows also led the scoring for Pershing County with nine points. Rosas contributed seven points, five rebounds and four assists.
“We were disappointed we didn’t pull out the win, but we’re encouraged for future games,” said Houston.
The rivals meet again in the BMHS gym on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
Pershing County traps the Wolverines
The Mustangs closed their week on Saturday with a win against West Wendover (43-30).
Fuller forced the Wolverines into turnovers. Burrows scored a double-double with 18 points, 16 rebounds and five steals.
Point guard Bela Rosas scored eight points with two 3-pointers. She helped Pershing County outscore Wendover 18-9 in the all-important third quarter. Raegan Burrows added seven points, six rebounds and five steals.
JV girls drop two
On the JV side, a couple of freshmen, four sophomores and two juniors opposed Battle Mountain and West Wendover.
Although they did not pull off a win, they impressed coach Damien McKinney with their fighting spirit.
Eudosia Mendoza-Madrid and Ayren Sam represented the freshmen. Sophomores Mady Grenz, Kaylah Hanley, Anna Happy and Yazmine McKinney and juniors Marina Corcuera Baqués completed the roster.
The JV Mustangs lost to Battle Mountain (19-26) and West Wendover (29-33). The Wendover game came down to the last second.
“The ladies came out a bit flat in the first half but picked it up in the third by playing traditional Mustang basketball and getting after it defensively,” said the coach. “I’m proud of them for fighting to the end and showing heart.”
Upcoming games
On Thursday, Jan. 20, the Mustangs host the Incline Highlanders.
The JV girls lead off at 3 p.m.
The varsity girls play at 6 p.m. Incline is undefeated (9-0, overall, 2-0 in the 2A).
The Highlanders sit at the top of the 2A with Pershing as runner-up (12-5, overall, 4-1 2A North).
“We look forward to facing Incline this week,” says Houston. “They are the team to beat. We’ll give them everything we have.”
Houston, Jason Allen, Damien McKinney and the team hope for a big Lovelock turnout.
