Lowry High School senior Emily Backus is staying in Nevada to continue her college education and basketball career.
However, it will be a few hundred miles south of Winnemucca at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. Backus recently signed a letter of intent with the Coyotes to join the basketball team next year.
Backus is one of four Lowry players to sign with college programs.
She was part of the Lady Buckaroos’ squad from this year to go 27-3 and win the 3A state championship for the first time since 2014. Lowry defeated Spring Creek 52-29 in Las Vegas to cap off the title run.
This past season, Backus was named to the Northern 3A first-team and was a first-team, all-state selection as well.
She averaged 12.5 points a game for the Lady Bucks, which was second on the team. Backus added two rebounds a game to go with 2.5 assists and 2.8 steals a game.
With the high school basketball season shutdown for the 2020-21 season, Backus moved to Utah and played basketball her junior year.
As a member of Lowry in the 2019-20 season, as a sophomore, Backus averaged 8.5 points, 2.6 steals, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game.
In addition, Backus played with Lowry as a freshman and averaged 5.7 points and 2.1 rebounds a game in 28 games with the Lady Bucks.
Backus, a three-sport athlete at Lowry just won the 3A long jump state championship at Reed High School in May.
In addition, she part of 3 4x100 relay that also won the state title in Sparks in May.
She easily outdistanced the field and missed a personal best by half an inch.
Backus also played for the Lowry girls soccer team.
College of Southern Nevada plays in the Scenic West Athletic Conference and went 14-17 this past season, in just their second year of existence.
Their league sees them play in Idaho, Utah, California and Colorado. The league includes Community Christian College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Salt Lake Community College, Utah State University Eastern and College of Southern Idaho.
The Coyotes were fifth in the league this past season at 9-9.
The roster includes a handful of players from Las Vegas and one from Carson City. There are also a couple players from Los Angeles.
