The 2023-2024 PCHS girls basketball team starts the new season. From left to right: Taylor Garland, Anna Happy, Aaliyah Allen, Raegan Burrows, Riley Harvey, Kyra Cerini, Mady Grenz, Yasmine McKinney and Kaylah Hanley.
The returners for the Pershing County High School girls basketball team are hungry to win, says coach Lee Houston.
And with players like Taylor Garland, Anna Happy, Yasmine Mckinney, Kaylah Hanley and Mady Grenz there are plenty of wins ahead.
The five seniors are joined by juniors Aaliyah Allen and Raegan Burrows and sophomores Kyra Cerini and Riley Harvey. Several of the girls showed their competitive spirit during the recent volleyball season.
They finished near the top of the 2A pack and walked away with multiple league and state awards, the top ring just out of their grasp.
Preseason is about gelling as a basketball team. The Mustangs got off to a brilliant start in Hawthorne last week with wins against Bishop Union (44-34), Virginia City (54-22), Hawthorne (55-8), Smith Valley (51-27) and Coleville (33-15).
Last year the Mustangs made it to the state tournament for the first time in six years.
They lost (61-42) to Democracy Prep at the Cox Pavilion (UNLV) in the first round. Democracy Prep went on to win the title.
This year the Mustangs are determined to play to their considerable potential.
“These girls show up every day for practice, eager to work hard and get better. I’m also blessed to have the best coaching staff anyone could ask for. Damien McKinney, Jason Allen, Sarah Haynie, and we are so lucky to have Sarita (Condie) Gordon with us for this season,” said Houston.
“Sarita (PCHS Class of 2013) brings so much experience and wisdom. She’s an amazing teacher of the game and an even better mentor,” he added.
Many in Lovelock remember Sarita’s standout basketball career at PCHS.
She helped the Mustangs win three state basketball championships and was the state Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.
On Monday, the Mustangs traveled to Dayton. Results were not available at press time.
On Saturday, they host Carson City at 12:30 p.m. for their first home basketball game of the year.
Tuesday, Dec. 12, they host Sierra Lutheran for a league game at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, they travel to Incline to play the Highlanders.