Vandal teams return

School will start up again next week and with that the Eureka High School sports teams will be anxious to return to action following the Christmas-New Year’s break.

But even before that, the boys team has a meeting Jan. 4 with the Tonopah Muckers. The teams have played twice already this season, and just like they did last year, they have split the games going into this third meeting. Overall though in the series between Eureka and Tonopah since 2005, Eureka holds a 14-7 advantage.

The Vandals lost the first meeting at the Wells Rural Electric tournament just after Thanksgiving 41-31,as Kobe Bunker paced the Muckers with 14 points. In the second meeting, in Tonopah, Dec. 14 , Bunker still got his points, but Eureka outscored the Muckers 28-15 in the second half to come away with a close 42-37 win.

So this time, is the rubber game in the series this year, except maybe tournament time. However, the teams would not meet until the state tournament because according to the new NIAA regional playoff schedule it will be the North east vs. North west and the Central vs. South. Tonopah is now in the new Central League.

The state tournament is set for Mar. 1-2 at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

On the girls side, coach Travis Gallagher will do his best to regroup the Lady Vandals after the season ending ACL injury to Morgan Thomas before Christmas.

Gallagher said he has been getting very good play from sophomores Gracie Garrett and Ilyhia Greely in place of Thomas before the holiday break.

The girls also return to action at Tonopah Jan. 4. They have two wins over the Muckers in their earlier games, and now have a 22-game win streak over Tonopah since 2006.

For the wrestlers, coach Jerry Auch and his small group are participating in a tournament in Sparks Jan. 4-5.