Wins keep Eureka boys in playoff contention

By Dave Maxwell

The Vandal boys took two needed league wins last weekend to stay in the hunt for a regional playoff spot in a couple of weeks.

Coach Fred Minoletti said the 52-29 win over Carlin and a 46-34 win over Owyhee were most helpful.

Stats were not posted for either game.

He said, “Both nights we played pretty well as a team, offensively and defensively. We’re getting better at the important things, like cutting down on turnovers, controlling the game a little better and playing our tempo instead of falling into the other guys tempo.”

Eureka had lost at Owyhee 63-42 Jan. 12. The Braves just scalped the Vandals 46-16 in the second half of that game.

In this game, Minoletti said poor play by the Vandals in the third quarter let Owyhee draw within one point, “but we rebounded and pulled out the win.”

The boys (9-9, 4-3) are on the road to the league-leaders, Jackpot (15-5, 6-0) and Wells (13-9, 5-1) this weekend.

“We really do have a chance with both of them, if we can keep playing our style, and not get into the run-and-gun game,” Minoletti said. “Those teams want us to play their tempo, but if we are patient, take care of the ball, etc., I think we can have a chance.”

The Vandals will close out the regular season with a home game against McDermitt Feb. 15.

The four team boys and girls Eest-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.