Lowry's Maite Avalos dribbles down the floor on a fast break during Saturday's preseason game with Pyramid Lake in Winnemucca.
#There was a ton of hardware and success on Pat Hart Court on Saturday afternoon, as the three-time reigning 3A state champion, Lowry Buckaroos hit the floor for the first time this season.
#On the other side, Pyramid Lake made the trip to Winnemucca for the second time in three years.
#The Lakers have dominant on the court as well, winning the last two 1A state championships.
#Lowry has a different look this season in many ways, as five girls — including four starters — graduated in June.
#In addition, even though the Lady Bucks have won the last three 3A state titles, the squad begins the 204-25 season with a third coach in four years.
#Alyssa Jones, who coached the Lowry JV team, has taken over for Chelsea Cabatbat, who coached the last two seasons.
Lowry's Britain Backus grabs a loose ball under the basket in Saturday's match-up against Pyramid Lake.
#Lowry started hot in the first quarter, as senior Natalee Formby knocked down three straight 3-pointers to give the Lady Bucks a five-point lead but the Lakers rallied late in the second quarter with a run and went on to win 52-45.
#Formby and Britain Backus, a University of Nevada commit, scored all 14 of the Lady Bucks’ points in the opening eight minutes of play, as Lowry led 14-12.
#Backus began the second quarter with a bucket to push the advantage to four, when the Buckaroo offense went quiet.
#Pyramid Lake rallied with a 9-0 run to lead 21-16, when Backus stopped the run with a 3-pointer.
#Backus scored all seven of Lowry’s points in the second quarter, as the Lakers led 26-21 at the break.
#Khlloe Shorey tried to give Lowry the early momentum in the third quarter, with a steal and layup in the opening seconds but Pyramid Lake quickly pushed the advantage back to 32-25.
#The advantage grew to as many as nine points at 37-28, when the Lady Bucks got buckets from Backus, Audry Mason and Formby to cut the deficit to 39-35 with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Lowry's Matti DeLong defends a Pyramid Lake player.
#That was as close as Lowry got, as Pyramid Lake held the lead for the final eight minutes of the contest.
#Backus and Formby paced Lowry with 25 and 11 points, respectfully. Natalya Guizar added three points and Allison Green, Shorey and Mason each had two points.
#The schedule stays tough, as Lowry faces three of the top teams in the Northern 4A this weekend at the Spanish Springs Tournament in Sparks.
#Lowry is scheduled to play Douglas on Thursday at 6 p.m.; Bishop Manogue on Friday at 6 p.m. and Spanish Springs on Saturday at 5 p.m.
#Bishop Manogue beat Spanish Springs in the 4A state championship this past February and Douglas was in the semifinals of the Northern 4A Regional Tournament.
