RENO — They were not supposed to win last year but at the right time the Lowry High School girls basketball team came through to win a second straight state championship.
With a relatively large turnover in the roster to begin the 2023-24 season, many thought the same fate for the latest edition of the Lady Bucks.
The Lowry High School girls basketball team erupts with joy after Autum Sanchez knocked the down the game winner at the buzzer to beat Pahrump Valley 50-48 in the 3A state semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
Just as it was a season ago, Lowry lost both regular season games to Fernley. However, the Lady Bucks turned the tables on the Vaqueros to win the regional title in Elko this season.
The quest for a third straight state title and ninth overall, proved to be a bumpy one last week at Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
Lowry High School’s Savannah Stoker gives assistant coach Alyssa Jones a hug, as head coach Chelsea Cabatbat awaits her hug after the semifinal win against Pahrump Valley.
Lowry trailed by 10 points in its state semifinal game against Pahrump Valley, but rallied for a 50-48 win, as senior Autum Sanchez knocked down a 17-foot shot at buzzer to send the arena into a frenzy.
In the state championship game, Lowry jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first quarter, only to see Fernley use a 26-6 run to build a double-digit lead of its own.
The Lowry girls basketball team salutes the fans in the stands at Lawlor Events Center.
Once again, the Lady Bucks rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Vaqueros 61-56 and collect that third consecutive state title.
“I am at a loss for words right now,” said LHS coach Chelsea Cababat. “I am so proud of the girls. The girls preserved all year and were not going to lose. Every year is different and the girls put their own stamp on this season. We heard people talking this team wasn’t better than the last two. We took that to heart and wanted to prove how good of a team we were.”
Lowry High School’s Britain Backus drives the through the lane for a one-handed shot against Pahrump Valley in the state semifinals.
Lowry 50, Pahrump Valley 48
Lowry appeared set to run away with the victory in the 3A state semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
The Lady Bucks led 18-11 late in the first quarter but struggled with the Trojans until the fourth quarter.
Pahrump Valley turned a seven-point deficit into a 10-point lead (45-35) at the start of the fourth quarter.
“That game was all on me,” Cabatbat said. “We did not prepare for them well at all. It was a gameplan we did not expect.”
Senior Bryce Brinkerhoff began the 15-3 rally in the final eight minutes, with a 3-pointer. Moments later the Lady Bucks were hit — literally — with another blow, as Savannah Stoker took an elbow to the face and left with a bloody nose and jersey.
A couple possessions later, junior Britain Backus added two free throws to make the score 45-40, as she was fouled driving to the basket.
On the first possession back on the floor, Stoker collected a loose ball caused by the Lowry defense and converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to cut the Pahrump Valley advantage to 45-43 with 4:09 to play.
Pahrump Valley stopped the 8-0 Lowry run with a free throw, when Lowry cut the gap to 46-45 after a Stoker layup caused by a Backus turnover.
With 2:30 to play Khlloe Shorey made 1-of-2 free throws to tie at the game at 46. Pahrump Valley made its first and lone field goal of the fourth quarter with 1:45 to play to lead 48-46.
Backus came right back down the floor and tied the game at 48 on a one-handed runner.
With 24 seconds to go, Sanchez had a 3-pointer bounce off the rim and out of bounds.
With just over 10 seconds to play, the Lady Bucks were called for a foul but the Trojans missed both free throws. Lowry got the rebound and went quickly up the floor, where Backus found an open Sanchez and the senior delivered with the buzzer-beating shot, as Lawlor Events Center erupted.
That was the only basket for Sanchez.
Stoker paced Lowry with 23 points and Backus added 12 and Brinkerhoff seven, Shorey four and Natalee Formby two.
“I am so happy for Autum,” added the coach. “She knocked it down when it counted. All the girls stepped up in that fourth quarter. All Pahrump did was make Savannah mad with that elbow to the face.”
Lowry 61, Fernley 56
When you start getting into part seven or eight, you are usually talking about sequels in horror movies — not in this case though.
For the eight time in the last two years, Lowry and Fernley got together on the floor. When the final stats are complete it will say Fernley 5, Lowry 3. However, the three Lady Buckaroo wins include two state titles and a regional championship.
Stoker on her quest to 2,000 career points, where she finished with 2,001, scored 12 of Lowry’s 20 points in the first quarter.
Brinkerhoff providing a boost with a 3-pointer and Backus adding three points and Natalee Formby two.
Lowry led 18-7 late in the first quarter, but went cold on offense and Fernley went on one of their familiar runs.
The Vaqueros went on a 26-6 spurt that extended into the third quarter giving them a 43-32 lead with 4:28 left in the third quarter.
After a Lowry timeout, the Lady Bucks closed the gap to 42-37 after two free throws from Backus and a 3-pointer from Sanchez.
Two more free throws from Backus put Lowry within five points at 47-42 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Just as Stoker took and elbow to the face, it was Brinkerhoff’s turn as well in the fourth quarter. Just a few seconds into the final eight minutes, the senior ran to the training table after Fernley scored a basket to go up 49-42.
With just over six minutes to play, Brinkerhoff returned and promptly made it 49-44. With 4:33 to play, Fernley landed a punch to go up 52-45.
However, it was Lowry after that, as the Lady Bucks went on a 13-0 run started by a 3-pointer from Brinkerhoff with 3:32 to go.
Followed by three free theows from Backus and Sanchez, Lowry took the lead for good at 53-52 with a putback shot from Stoker.
It got wild in the final seconds, as Lowry led 60-53 with 16 seconds to play. Sanchez was whistled for her fifth foul, taking her out of the game. Cabatbat slotted in Audry Mason into the lineup. Mason checked with the No. 21 — she started the season with No. 23.
Lowry was called for a technical foul. Fernley made 3-of-4 free throws to trim the lead to 60-56.
On the ensuing possession, Fernley had two 3-pointers bounce off the rim in an attempt to cut the lead to one point. Backus made one free throw with 3 seconds to play to clinch the win.
“Oh, my goodness, they would never let me back in Winnemucca if that cost us the game,” Cabatbat said. “We got new jerseys a couple weeks into the year and her number changed.”
Stoker (20), Backus (17) and Brinkerhoff (14) paced Lowry on the day. Sanchez scored six and Shorey and Formby two each.
“It is just an amazing feeling right now,” Brinkerhoff said. “We gave Winnemucca a little scare the day before against Pahrump. “We never let up and told ourselves we are not walking out of here without another championship. I don’t know what it was with noses but I knew I had to come back and contribute. If Savannah or Brit didn’t have a good look, I knew I needed to get open. Ever since I was little and going to the little camps, I always wanted to be a Lowry Buckaroo. Winning these last two years has been an honor.”
Backus, a junior, also hit a milestone, scoring over 1,000 points in her Lowry career this season.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” she said. “This is everything we have worked for. To be here now is just truly amazing. There is no better feeling in the world.”
NIAA Photos
The Pershing County girls basketball team looks on from the bench.
The McDermitt girls basketball team reacts after its win over Coleville, Calif., in the state semifinals.
Lowry's Bryce Brinkerhoff, Britain Backus, Savannah Stoker and Cambria Tisue walk to the free throw line in the closing seconds of the Lady Bucks' win over Fernley.
Right: Pershing County's Anna Happy drives to the basket for a shot against Needles, Calif.
The Lowry High School dance team performs during halftime at the state tournament.
The Lowry cheerleaders perform.
The Lowry High School pep band performs the National Anthem.
Fans cheer on the McDermitt girls basketball team