Lowry's Brent Kenison drives to the basket during a home game against Battle Mountain on Dec. 17.
As the Lowry High School boys basketball team headed into the Christmas break, the Buckaroos faced three teams that you normally do not see on the schedule.
All three contests were non-conference, with Lowry hosting Battle Mountain for the first time in more than a decade on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
The Buckaroos overcame a six-point halftime deficit to beat the Longhorns 65-53.
This past weekend, Lowry took US 95 into Oregon to play Burns and Crane. Burns defeated Lowry 55-41 on Friday and Crane hung on for a 74-71 win on Saturday.
Lowry 65, BMHS 53
The match-up of the schools separated by just 52 miles resembled more of a track meet than a basketball game. Even though the contest was play with a shot clock that goes into full affect next year, it was not needed as both squads raced down the floor, quickly taking 3-point shots.
Lowry’s Matthew Casalez knocked a 3-pointer to start the night, as the Buckaroos scored eight of the first nine points. Battle Mountain came back to cut the deficit to a basket, when Conner Nelson, Jaden Jimenez and Byron Jimenez countered with seven straight points.
The Buckaroos saw that lead evaporate, as the Longhorns hit three 3-pointers to tie the game at 22. Battle Mountain scored the final five points of the first half to lead 30-24 at the break.
The Longhorns extended the advantage to six points at the start of the third quarter, when a 3-pointer by Txema Bengochea lit a fire under his squad. Nelson followed with a bucket, Byron Jimenez had an old-fashioned 3-point play and Casalez nailed a 3-pointer and Lowry was back up 37-35.
Lowry slowly pulled away in the final eight minutes to secure the win.
Jaden Jimemez paced Lowry with 20 points and Casalez joined him in double figures with 14. Byron Jimenez added nine points, Bengochea eight, Nelson seven, Brent Kenison three and Angus Boyles and Kayd Garner two each.
This past weekend, Lowry made the trip up to Oregon and lost 55-51 to Burns on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday afternoon, it was another fast-paced contest against Crane, as the Mustangs rallied for a three-point at Burns High School. The game was tied 9-9 halfway through the first quarter, when Crane reeled off nine straight points. Byron Jimenez ended the run with a 3-pointer and at the buzzer, Garner tip in a ball off the rim, with Crane leading 18-14.
Late in the second quarter, Bengochea knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and the Buckaroos led 31-30 with 41 seconds left in the half a long-distance shot from Nelson. Lowry led 33-30 at halftime, after Casalez converted a layup as time expired.
Lowry pushed the lead to 49-38 after scoring eight straight points off a 3-pointer by Jaden Jimenez, a layup by Casalez and a 3-pointer by Casalez, as Crane called at timeout with five minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Mustangs erased the double-digit deficit and were within three points at 57-54 at the start of the fourth quarter. Trailing 66-58 with six minutes of play, Crane connected on a 3-pointer but still trailed 71-61 with 4:01 to play.
The Buckaroos did not score the rest of the way, as the Mustangs knocked down two free throws with 11 seconds to play and complete the comeback with the final 13 points. A last-second shot by Jaden Jimenez to tie the game bounced off the rim.
Lowry is 2-6 overall headed into the Rail City Classic this weekend in Sparks. The Buckaroos are scheduled to play McQueen and Sparks on Thursday. The tournament runs through Saturday.
Lowry opens Northern 3A East play on Friday, Jan. 3, at Spring Creek at 7:30 p.m. The road trip concludes on Saturday, Jan. 4, in Elko with a 2:30 p.m. tip.