STATE ROUNDUP: Sparks boys end 70-year drought

When you’ve waited 70 years, what’s another four minutes?

Sparks needed overtime Saturday to break a seven-decade-long drought and capture the Class 3A boys basketball state title with a 53-50 win over Lowry in UNR’s Lawlor Events Center. It’s the Railroaders’ first state title in boys basketball since 1940.

Angel Guillen’s drive with 24 seconds to play in regulation allowed the Railroaders to force overtime, and Sparks (20-8) started the extra period on a 6-2 run to take a 50-46 lead.

After a basket by the Buckaroos, Bryan Orellana hit 1 of 2 free throws and Andrew Garcia sank both ends of a 1-and-1 to up the margin to 53-48. Lowry (15-12) hit a stick-back jumper at the buzzer.

Guillen had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Sparks. Martin Jordan added 12 points, and teammate Henry Banks had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Railroaders.

Danny Westfall led the Buckaroos with 14 points.

3A GIRLS

Lowry 35, Spring Creek 34 — Baskets by Julia Dufurrena and Skylar Estes just seconds apart in the final minute of overtime lifted the Buckaroos (19-7) to their first state title since 2002.

Dufurrena, who led Lowry with 13 points and 13 rebounds, put the Buckaroos ahead 33-32 with a short jumper. After a steal, Estes’ stick-back basket upped the margin to three with 42 seconds left.

Spring Creek hit 2 of 4 free throws to pull within 35-34 with 32 seconds to play and missed a 6-footer at the buzzer that would have allowed the Spartans (22-4) to claim their fourth title in five years. Stacey Kerr led Spring Creek with 12 points.

 

Battle Mountain 52, Pershing County 49 — Jordan Waugh poured in 26 points, and Battle Mountain (19-7) rallied from a 29-19 halftime deficit to claim its fourth state title in seven years.

Abra Snow added 12 points for the Miners, who limited Pershing County to just 6 of 25 shooting in the second half.

Kendra Mitchell paced the Mustangs (27-3) with 12 points, and teammate Michelle Montes scored 10.

1A GIRLS

Virginia City 49, McDermitt 28 — Gigi Glogovac scored 18 points, and Virginia City held McDermitt to just 11-of-43 shooting as the Muckers won their first girls basketball state title.

Jill Dupre added 14 points, and Taylor Parsons scored 11 for the Muckers, who expanded their 15-5 first-quarter lead to 27-13 at the half and 43-17 after three quarters.

Becky Hershner had six points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs.