Taylor Garland and Raegan Burrows defend against Incline at PCHS last Saturday afternoon.
Thomas Edison said, "Genius is ten percent inspiration and 90% perspiration."
However, ten percent can make a huge difference in tight basketball competitions.
That's why Lee Houston took the Pershing County girls basketball team to Fernley last Friday night.
He hoped the upper level game between Fernley and Lowry would open the Mustang's eyes to their possibilities.
"The atmosphere was amazing and they had a good time," he says. "The girls played inspired against Incline the next day, putting up a 41-1 first half score."
With a final score of 57-7, it did not get much better for the visiting Highlanders (0-10).
Pershing County fans had fun watching the Mustangs create turnovers for easy layups.
"This is what we strive for every game," said Houston.
Raegan Burrows scored a career-high 27 points with 21 of those points in the first half. Anna Happy added six points. Kyra Cerini and Aaliyah Allen each had five.
Earlier in the week Pershing County beat Sierra Lutheran (5-5) on the road 39-27.
The coach says Aaliyah Allen, a junior, stood out controlling the paint.
"We played a good first half," he added. "But we forgot we needed to play two halves and the second half was a little rough." Nonetheless, the Mustangs pulled off the win.
Burrows led the scoring with 14 points. Yasmine McKinney added nine. Allen scored six points.
Pershing County now stands at 10-1 in the 2A Northern league, undefeated except for their three-point loss to North Tahoe earlier this month.
On Jan 23 Pershing County traveled to CASR for the second time this year.
The first time, the Mustangs defeated CASR 41-23 at PCHS. Results of Tuesday's game were not available at press time.
On Friday, Pershing County hosts rival school Battle Mountain (4-5), always a heated atmosphere.
It will be the second match-up between the Mustangs and Longhorns. On Dec. 21,
Pershing County knocked off Battle Mountain 50-34 in Longhorn country.
Saturday Jan. 27 the Mustangs host West Wendover (6-4) at 2 p.m.
On Dec. 22 Pershing County beat the Wolverines 49-27 at WWHS.
The Mustangs will draw on the inspiration they gained in Fernley in their future games.
"We need to continue to clean things up and improve. The girls played unselfish ball on the breaks with Raegan (Burrows) benefiting on most of them. We love how unselfishly the team is playing," said Houston.