The Lowry High School girls basketball teams walks towards the student body and band after its 76-39 win over Churchill County on Friday night in Winnemucca.
With her leg wrapped and knee still black and blue, Britain Backus returned to the Lowry High School basketball team lineup after missing the Elko game and did not miss a beat.
The junior came out on fire against Churchill County on Friday night in Winnemucca and the Greenwave could not put the flames out.
Backus knocked down three of her six 3-point field goals in the first quarter and Bryce Brinkerhoff and Savannah Stoker added their contributions to allow Lowry to a 29-13 lead in the first quarter.
Lowry’s Bryce Brinkerhoff shoots from the free throw line against Churchill County.
The Lady Bucks led by as many as 19 points in the opening eight minutes of play, when Greenwave sophomore Jada Anastasio knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
She had eight of Churchill County’s 13 points in the quarter and paced Churchill County with 19 points, four steals and three assists.
Lowry’s Britain Backus looks for room to dribble.
Lowry scored the first seven points of the second quarter to go in front 36-13, forcing Churchill County to call timeout. The Greenwave stopped the run with two free throws, when Backus nailed two more three pointers and Stoker added three points of her own to push the lead to 46-15. Lowry eventually took a 53-24 advantage into halftime.
Freshman Kortnie Simper did her best to try to keep Churchill County in the game, scoring six of her seven points in the third quarter.
However, Backus had other ideas, making two more from long-distance to finish with 27 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line. She also contributed six steals, four rebounds, three assists and a block.
Lowry’s Allison Green fights for a rebound against Churchill County.
Autum Sanchez, Brinkerhoff and Stoker combined for 11 points in the third quarter, as Lowry led 70-34 at one time.
Stoker finished with a game-high 28 points (all coming in the first three quarters).
The senior added nine steals, six assists, five rebounds and two assists. Brinkerhoff finished with eight points, one assist and one steal.
Natalee Formby connected on two 3-pointers for six points, Sanchez added four, Mirana Draper two and Cambria Tisue one.
Janessa Bettencourt had five points, one steal, one assist and one rebound for Churchill County. Dylan Faught netted three points, Madasyn Moyle and Regan Johnson each had two points and Kylee Simper one.
Lowry improved to 13-4 overall and 3-0 in the Northern 3A.
The Lady Bucks travel to Dayton on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and to Fernley on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Lowry/Fernley contest will be the Nevada Sports Net game of the week and can be found on channel 21.
It is a rematch of the 2023 state championship, where Lowry defeated Fernley. The Vaqueros previously won the first three games the teams played.
Churchill County dropped to 14-4 on the season and 2-1 in the Northern 3A.
Churchill County travels to Fernley on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start and to Dayton on Friday at 6 p.m.