Pershing County's Trenton Rhodes shoots past a Battle Mountain defender.
The PCHS boys basketball team played three games this past week.
On Tuesday they beat CASR (66-26) on the road. Friday night they hosted Battle Mountain, losing 60-49. Saturday, they fell to visiting West Wendover (57-39).
Pershing County is currently sixth in the 2A (7-6) and stands at 8-13, overall, and 7-7 in the 2A Northern League.
Trenton Rhodes and Travis Donaldson led the scoring against CASR with 17 and 16 points respectively. Amare Rosas scored 7 points.
Luis Sanchez, Efrain Aceves, Marshall Happy and Aaron Kienbaum each scored six.
It was Pershing County's second win against CASR this season.
The rivalry between Pershing County and Battle Mountain kept both student sections on their feet Friday night. Pershing County lost to the visiting Longhorns (60-49) but the final score did not reflect the closeness of the game.
Michael Reitz scores against Battle Mountain for the Mustangs on Friday night in Pershing County.
"The kids played their hearts out. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way but we feel good about our chances if we see them again," said coach Jesse Canchola.
The color guard and spirit squad added spark to the Winterfest evening. So did the posters and balloons but the real drama unfolded on the court between the Mustangs and Longhorns.
The Mustangs jumped out to early lead. The Longhorns caught up and the battle was on. Every time one team scored, the other answered. The game looked headed for overtime.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 44. Battle Mountain executed their game plan, scoring 16 points to Pershing County's five.
The Mustangs lost by 11. Just a few weeks ago, Battle Mountain beat them by almost 30 points (79-50).
Rhodes led the scoring against Battle Mountain with 17 points. Kienbaum scored 15. Michael Reitz added eight. Donaldson scored five.
On Saturday, Pershing County hosted undefeated West Wendover (12-0).
The Mustangs lost 57-39. On Dec. 22, 2023, the Wolverines scored 71 points against Pershing County.
Rhodes and Kienbaum each scored eight points against the Wolverines. Luis Sanchez and Donaldson each scored six.
"Saturday showed how much work we have ahead as a program. The summers will be very important," said Canchola.
Now the team heads into the final games of the regular season. They hosted Yerington on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Results were not available at press time.
Friday, Feb. 2, the Mustangs travel to Tahoe City to play the Lakers (7-5). Pershing defeated them in Pershing County on Jan. 5, ushering in a 5-game Mustang winning streak against Tahoe, Oasis, Silver Stage, CASR and SLHS.
The Mustangs host Silver Stage (0-13) on Feb. 6, for the last home game of the year.
Traditionally, the team celebrates by saying goodbye to its seniors. This year that includes Kienbaum, Conner Fecht and Marshall Happy.
The Mustangs finish up the regular season on the road against Oasis (4-8) on Feb. 9.
"We got knocked down, but not out," said Canchola.