Eureka girls remain perfect in league play

Eureka’s girls basketball team battled the Wells Leopards in Eureka Jan. 18 and came away with a hard fought, but a low scoring 36-31 win.

It moved the girls into a first place tie with McDermitt and dropped Wells (12-5, 0-2) to fourth place. Wells had an earlier loss to McDermitt.

An all important match happens this Friday as Eureka (12-3, 3-0) plays at co-league leader McDermitt (11-3, 3-0).

Against Wells, Coach Travis Gallagher said Gracie Garrett led the team with 14 points. But it was not a barn burner in any sense of the word rather frustrating Gallagher thought, “because nobody seemed to be able to make a basket most of the first half.”

The first quarter score was just 4-3 in Eureka’s favor. The second quarter was nearly just as dry with Eureka taking a 12-11 lead to the halftime break.

The third quarter was again much of the same, although now Wells had a 21-20 lead. Gallagher noted it wasn’t that defenses were so good, but rather than the offenses just weren’t very good.

Finally, Eureka managed to outscore Wells 15-10 in the fourth quarter to win the game 36-31.

Looking at past history, after a string of six straight Eureka wins over Wells [2013-2015], since 2016 the teams have battled each other back and forth with the Lady Vandals now holding a 5-4 advantage.

Gallagher said that Angelica Townsend “really helped out in the game.” She tallied nine points. Four other players, Carlie Wells, Breyanna Miller, Gina Minoletti and Ilyhia Greely all contributed four points each.

Stats were not posted for the Leopards.

Eureka is on the road this weekend, first at McDermitt, then at Oasis Academy in Fallon on Saturday. Gallagher expects the Bulldogs will be “a very tough challenge.” It’s the first meeting of the season between the two, the next one will be in Eureka Feb. 15.

McDermitt won both league games last year by close margins, but the Lady Vandals won the game in the regional playoffs.