By Brandon Eastman & Harley Long Posted December 14, 2011
Last year the team was 12-13 and was one game away from going to the playoffs. Tough losses to Battle Mountain (47-42) and Elko (36-33) cost them a return trip to the playoffs. The previous year the girls surprised everyone by beating Spring Creek for the state title.
One sentiment on the team is that they need to come together as a team.
Julia Dufurrena said, “I expect us to be strong and come together as a team and in the end hopefully get into the playoffs and make it farther than we did last year.”
That opinion was echoed by sophomore guard Ere Higbee.
“I expect us to be a strong team, we’re all friends and I think we have a good chance of going to state,” Higbee said.
Head coach Jack Smith said, “I hope we can get enough wins this year to go to state. Also to have to the team come together and be stronger.”
The Lowry varsity girl’s basketball team traveled to Reno to participate in the Sierra Nevada Classic this past weekend.
They started the tournament off on Thursday, December 8 against the Galena Grizzlies. The Bucks held off their competition to pull off the 60-51 victory. Senior post, Julia Dufurrena led the Lady Bucks with 23 points. Madison Gonzalez and Carli Evatz also scored in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. The Bucks only led 28-25 at halftime but outscored the Grizzlies by six in the second half to secure the win. The Lady Bucks came back on Friday to pick up a win against Faith Lutheran, 46-42. The Lady Bucks held a 10-point halftime lead, and after a lapse in the second half, held on for the 4-point victory. Dufurrena and Gonzalez led the team with 11 points each.
In their final game of the weekend, the Lady Bucks came out on fire, eventually routing their opponent, the Damonte Ranch Mustangs, 47-29. Damonte was held to just 15 points through the third quarter, as Lowry ran away with the easy victory.
“It’s been a great start to the season. We played really well and our defense was great. We just need to work on rotations and getting our offense going more,” said senior guard Angie Herrera.
The 2011-2012 Varsity girls’ basketball team is made up of the following players: Ereanna Higbee, Angie Herrera, Madison Gonzalez, Carli Evatz, Taylor Johnson, Alyssa Dendary, Julia Dufurrena, Betsy Guerrero, Charlotte Bernard, Kylee McClellan, Taylor Schwartz, and the manager of the team is Jordan Mecham. The head coach is Jack Smith and the assistant coaches are Katy Schwartz and Jo McClellan.
Charlotte Bernard said, “Well we have a pretty gnarly team this year, so I hope we do our best to help the seniors have a great and successful season. It won’t be the same without them.”
The Bucks are now 7-0 on the season and will next tip-off at home on Friday, December 16 at 6 p.m.
