Staff Reports
The Yerington boys basketball team did something to Rite of Passage that no one else has done this year - Hold the Rams in check.
Yerington held ROP to a season-low 45 points in a 48-45 win on Friday in front of a packed gym at home. ROP has been a high-octane team all season, which has scored more than 100 points in a game this year. While the Rams were playing without star point guard Kevin Deshields, it was still a big win for the Lions as they solidified they're playoff position.
"They're still pretty good," said Yerington coach Daron Wildermuth about ROP without Deshields.
Yerington (13-7) improved to 5-4 in the Northern 3A and into third place, one-half game ahead of Dayton and Lowry, who are each 5-5. ROP fell to 8-3. The top six teams make the playoffs.
"Our defense played well," Wildermuth said. "We just had better offensive execution than we've had in the past. We were just very patient. We got great looks."
ROP outscored Yerington 13-6 in the second quarter to take a 23-16 halftime lead. The Rams led most of the game until Dylan Johnson, who scored 16 points, hit a three-point and made two free throws to give Yerington the lead for good. The Lions outscored ROP 18-9 in the fourth quarter.
"We lost the second quarter and won the fourth and that was the ball game," Wildermuth said. "Our kids just played with heart and compassion.
"Our kids just showed a lot of heart like they always do. It was a great ball game, a battle all the way."
Tom Menesini scored 15 points for Yerington, which was 11-of-16 from the foul line. Johnson was 6-of-6 from the line. ROP was 7-of-20 from the line. "That's where we won it," Wildermuth said.
