Lady Longhorns’ bid for return trip to state falls short

INCLINE VILLAGE — The Battle Mountain High School girls basketball team bid for a second straight bid to the state tournament came up short on Thursday afternoon at Incline High School with a 32-27 loss to Yerington in the opening round of the Northern 2A Regional Championships.

The Lady Longhorns scored the first 10 points of the contest and the Lions did not lead until there was 90 seconds to play, as Battle Mountain finished the season at 13-11.

Lilliana Haney began the game with a 3-pointer and Christina Holley added a pair of baskets as the senior duo combined for nine of Battle Mountain’s 10 points in the opening eight minutes of play.

Yerington did not score until there was 95 seconds left in the first quarter.

In a game of runs and switch in momentum, the Lions scored the next eight points to cut the Lady Longhorns’ lead to two points at 10-8.

Sophomore Thalia Gonzalez ended the Yerington run with a steal and layup with 2:32 left in the first half and Lindsey Bleak added a free throw to give Battle Mountain a 13-8 advantage at halftime.

Yerington cut the deficit to 13-10 with the first basket of the second half, only to see Battle Mountain stretch the advantage to 19-10 after free throws by Aylea Ramos and a basket by Haney.

However, that nine-point advantage disappeared as Yerington finished the third quarter on a 7-0 run to trail 19-17.

Yerington tied the game at 19 with 6:10 to play in the contest, with Battle Mountain retaking the lead at 22-19, as Bleak, Ramos and Shea Jones each made one-of two free throws.

Yerington cut the deficit to 22-21 with 2:49 to play, as Holley fouled out.

The Lions missed the ensuing free throw but tied the game moments later with a free throw.

Yerington took its first lead a 24-22 with 1:30 to play and stretched the advantage to 27-23 with 1:15 to go. A basket by Bleak trimmed the lead to 27-25 with 55 seconds to go.

After one made free throw by the Lions, the Lady Longhorns stayed within striking distance, as Ramos made two free throws to make the score 28-27.

Forced to foul, Yerington converted two free throws to extend the margin to 30-27 with 28 seconds to go.

Following two timeouts, Battle Mountain got a look at a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim and Yerington made two free throws in the final 18 seconds to secure the win.

Haney finished with eight points, Ramos six, Bleak and Holley four each and Gonzalez and Jones two each.

Battle Mountain graduates seven seniors.