Battle Mountain’s Blake Stuart shoot from the 3-point line during a home game earlier in the season. Battle Mountain traveled to Incline this past Friday and lost 65-59.
The Battle Mountain High School boys basketball team nearly pulled off the upset of the year in the Northern 2A, only to see Incline rally on its home floor for a 65-59 win in Lake Tahoe.
The Highlanders came into the contest with just two losses to Spring Creek and Reno in non-conference play.
The Longhorns managed to make their way through the mountains and winter storm to get the game in.
Battle Mountain came out on fire in the first quarter, taking its fast-paced offense to Incline.
The Longhorns led by double digits throughout the opening quarter and led 25-15.
The Incline defense clamped down in the second quarter and used a 15-5 run to tie game at 30 at halftime.
The game was close throughout the second half, with Incline taking a small two-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Highlanders held on from there to prevent the upset.
Blake Stuart paced Battle Mountain with 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Freshmen Geovanni Ruvalcaba and Adan Nevarez joined him in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Ruvalcaba added six assists and two steals and Nevarez had three assists and two rebounds.
Fello freshman Brodie Smith netted nine points, Zayne Hall scored six and Chase Lutz two.
Battle Mountain knocked down 14, 3-point field goals and were 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
BMHS/North Tahoe postponed
While Battle Mountain weas able to get the Incline game completed, it could not finish the road trip to Tahoe City, Calif., on Saturday to play North Tahoe. The game will be made up at a future date.
Battle Mountain (10-7 overall, 5-3 Northern 2A) begins the second half of the Northern 2A season at home on Friday against Oasis Academy at 7:30 p.m.
The Longhorns host Yerington on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.