RENO -- Virginia City and its dream season ended on Friday with a 56-52 overtime loss to Lake Mead in the semifinals of the NIAA/1A State Championships at Lawlor Events Center.
The Muckers were chasing their first state title since 1986 and 18th overall. But the Eagles, who have won more games in the past two seasons than their prevoius six, had other ideas for Virginia City.
Lake Mead made only one field goal in overtime but was 9-of-13 from the free throw line to help put itself into today's championship game against Mountain View, which beat Pahranagat Valley 47-45 in Friday's other semifinal.
Curry Lynch's 25-footer with under a minute left in the game got the Muckers within three, 53-50. But the 6-foot-1 guard missed another from the same distance on the following posession and then fouled out with 16 seconds left.
Lynch, who established himself as one of Northern Nevada's best players this season, led Virginia City with 19 points.
"They got a lot of heart. They just kept going," coach Tyler Clarke said of his team, which finished the season 27-4. "Both teams played to the buzzer. Neither team was going to quit. Only one team is going to win the championship and the other three are going to walk away with hope for next year."
Lynch scored 23 points in Virginia City's 61-43 first round win over Spring Mountain on Thursday. But he was only 3-of-20 in the state tournament from behind the 3-point line, the place where he's so accurate from that it forced Nevada coach Trent Johnson to start recruiting him. Friday, though, wasn't his day. It wasn't a lot of Muckers' days, either.
"Walking out in this gym can be a little intimidating," Clarke said. "I felt really good about it and I think he did as well. It just didn't seem to go down for him. It wasn't for everybody, not just him. We can't rely just on him. It would be wrong as a coach to just rely on one kid."
The Muckers went up 21-14 in the third quarter after Kevin Lynch's basket at the 6:42 mark. Then it happened, the part of the game that has been problematic all season for Virginia City.
"The third quarter has always been our achilles tendon," Clarke said. "All season, I haven't been able to figure out why and it's no secret to anyone. Every team knows it and tries to and capitalize on that."
Lake Mead (21-9) certainly did. The Eagles went on a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 31-28 lead with just over two minutes left in the third. When Nate Perry drilled a 3-pointer that made it 29-28, it was Lake Mead's first lead since the first quarter, when it led 9-7.
But the Muckers came back and led most of the fourth quarter, going up 45-41 with 45 seconds left in the game after a pair of free throws from Kevin Lynch. With 30 seconds left in regulation, Perry made a 23-footer to make it 45-44, then Mike Elles hit 1-of-2 free throws with 13 seconds remaining to tie at 45. Curry Lynch's baseline drive and shot at the buzzer hit the front iron and missed.
Perry finished with 11 points and Elles and A.J. Johnson had 13 for the Eagles, who have lost three times to Mountain View this season. Virginia City wanted just one shot at Mountain View (28-3).
"It's been a hell of a season," Clarke said. "They worked hard and a regional championship came out of it. The kids have nothing to be ashamed about."
MOUNTAIN VIEW 47, PAHRANAGAT VALLEY 45
Greg Anderson scored 15 points and Scott Swingle had 14 to get Mountain View, the top seed from the south, into today's 1:40 p.m. championship game at Lawlor.
The only Alamo player in double figures was Justin Bode, who had 11 in the loss.
1A GIRLS ROUNDUP
PYRAMID LAKE 47, LUND 41
Arena Tapija scored a game high 26 points and Jen Villarain had 11 in the Lakers' semifinal win on Friday. Pyramid Lake will play for only its second state title ever when it takes on Pahranagat Valley today at noon at Lawlor.
PAHRANAGAT VALLEY 52, CALVARY CHAPEL 33
Sisters Amy Higbee and Angie Higbee each scored 13 points to lead defending state champion Alamo into this year's title game. Christi Carano led Calvary Chapel with 17 points.
1A BOYS SEMIFINALS
LAKE MEAD 56, VIRGINIA CITY 52, OT
Virginia City91111147--52
Lake Mead95171411--56
Virginia City (27-4)
Kyle Lynch 3 2-4 8, Day 1 0-0 2, Kevin Lynch 4 4-6 12, Curry Lynch 7 2-7 19, Rogers 3 0-0 6, Turman 1 2-2 5. Totals 19 10-19 52.
Lake Mead (21-9)
Perry 4 0-2 11, Elles 3 4-6 13, Morton 1 0-0 2, Dean 0 4-5 4, Weaver 1 5-8 7, Bolton 2 0-0 6. Totals 16 16-27 56.
3-point goals: Virginia City 4 (C. Lynch 3, Turman 1), Lake Mead 8 (Perry 3, Elles 3, Bolton 2).
