Vandals look to stay in playoff picture

Eureka put two road wins together last weekend. They scored a 54-37 win at McDermitt and a close 59-56 win at non-league opponent Oasis Academy in Fallon.

Coach Fred Minolett said at McDermitt, “We played better, didn’t turn the ball over as much. The two wins were much needed to boost our confidence. It was a good team win as we spread the scoring around quite a bit. We had six or seven players get in the book. Chase Green did a real good job against McDermitt’s main player [Jager Hinkey, 6-2, Jr.] who’s averaging around 20 points a game and held him to nine points.”

The Vandals had a 20-13 halftime lead and used a 26-point fourth quarter to secure the win.

Against Oasis Academy, a team in the new Central League, irt was a much closer game.

Minoletti said Oasis’ top player, Arman Brantley, scored 28 points to lead the Bighorns. Trevor Halloran added eight.

It was a strong second half for both teams, 37-35 in favor of Oasis. “We were ahead by 13 in the third quarter,” Minoletti said, “controlling things, doing pretty well, But Brantly came alive in the fourth quarter, connecting on a couple of 3-pointers from NBA range to keep them in it. They drew within one point in the final minutes, but we took it back to a five point lead in the final seconds and they got a basket at the buzzer to make the score a bit closer than it really was. It also helped that we were able to hit the free throws when needed down the stretch.”

Minoletti said the game was the back end of a two-year deal with Oasis. “They came here last year, so we went there this year.”

This weekend, the Vandals (8-9, 2-3) play their final home games of the season, Friday against Carlin (0-10, 0-5) and Saturday with Owyhee (8-8, 3-2). In mid-January, the boys beat won at Carlin but lost at Owyhee.

The Owyhee game will be crucial Minoletti said, “because a win over the Braves would have us tied for third place.” Although Eureka will still have tough games ahead, Feb. 1-2 at league-leader Jackpot and No. 2. Wells.

The four team boys and girls East-West regional playoffs, hosted by the West, will be held Feb.21-22 at Wooster and Hug High Schools in Reno.

At the same time, the South-Central League regional tournament will take place at Reed and Wooster High Schools.

The top two finalists, both boys and girls, will advance to the state tournament March 1-2 at The Orleans in Las Vegas.