2A GIRLS: Needles, Lincoln County bow out in semifinals

RENO — Only a week ago, Needles’ girls basketball team had a 26-0 record and looked like the favorite to win its third-straight Class 2A state championship.

And it all came crashing down in the postseason.

Pershing County built a 15-point lead entering the fourth quarter and held on to end Needles’ season Friday with a 70-61 win in a state semifinal at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center. Pershing County (27-2) will meet Battle Mountain, a 50-43 winner over Lincoln County in the other semifinal, in Saturday's championship game.

The only losses of the season for Needles (26-2) came in the 2A Southern League final and Friday’s state semifinal.

“It’s been a great season, 26-2,” Needles coach Manuel Calderon said. “Unfortunately, the two losses came at the wrong part.”

Needles trailed 51-36 entering the fourth quarter, but scored the first nine points of the final period as part of an 18-5 run.

Freshman Abby Chandler’s 3-pointer capped the surge, which left Needles trailing 56-54 with 3:42 remaining.

But Pershing County (27-2) responded with a 10-0 run to pull away.

“I’m very proud of the way the girls came back and battled in the second half,” Calderon said. “It’s a hard loss after all they’ve been through as a team. I’m very proud of them tonight.”

The Mustangs’ postseason prospects took a dent when starting wing Gena Chavira suffered a knee injury during a league semifinal win over West Wendover on Feb. 19.

Chavira missed the league final. She played Friday, but didn’t start and was limited to four points — less than one-third of her season average.

“It’s been very tough,” Calderon said of playing without Chavira at full strength. “Gena’s been a big part of our offense and defense.”

Alex Chandler led Needles with 29 points. Miranda Brackett had 11 rebounds for the Mustangs, who will lose nine seniors to graduation, including Chandler and Brackett.

“These nine seniors, they’re multi-sport athletes,” Calderon said. “Just the impact they’ve made on our school and athletic department has been tremendous.”

Freshman Saita Jo Condie scored 25 points for Pershing County.

Battle Mountain 50, Lincoln County 43 — The Longhorns used a 12-4 fourth-quarter run to pull away and eliminate the Lynx (21-8).

Lincoln County closed the deficit to 37-35 with 5:21 remaining on Marissa Smerek’s three-point play, but the Lynx got no closer.

Jordan Waugh led Battle Mountain (18-7) with 20 points and seven rebounds, and teammate Alexis Johnson added 14 points.

Smerek paced Lincoln County with 16 points. Melanie Florence added 11 points for the Lynx.

Lincoln County fell one game short in its bid to reach the state title game for the third season in a row. The Lynx were gunning for their first state crown since 2000.