DAYTON - It wasn't hard to figure out the key to this game, at least according to Yerington High boys basketball coach Daron Wildermuth.
"Big players make big plays," he said. "And that's what this game today was going to come down to, making big plays."
The Yerington Lions made some big plays on both defense and offense on their way to a 57-42 victory against Lowry Friday afternoon in the Northern 3A Regional Tournament semifinals before a packed house at Dayton High.
Yerington (22-6) now advances to the regional tournament finals today at 5 p.m. at Dayton and is assured of a berth in the 3A state tournament next week in Las Vegas. This marks the first state trip for a Yerington boys basketball team in 10 years.
"Absolutely, we're excited," Wildermuth said after the Lions' players and fans celebrated on the court. "You always come into a season with the goal of playing in the state tournament, but you've got to take it one game at a time, and we did that."
Dylan Johnson led the way, as the senior guard scored a game-high 24 points and delivered some big plays at both ends of the court in the second half when the Buckaroos from Winnemucca were trying to make things interesting.
Lowry trailed 25-12 at halftime, but cut the deficit to 29-22 when Matt Dennis sank three straight free throws with 4:07 left in the third quarter.
After the Buckaroos missed a shot to get within five, Scott Veil grabbed the rebound for Yerington and Johnson delivered on the offensive end as he drove into the lane, hit his shot and drew a foul in the process. Johnson converted the free throw to push Yerington lead's back to double digits.
Kyle Johnson's three-point play extended the lead to 37-26 with 1:32 left in the period, then with time winding out, Dylan Johnson set himself for a shot from well beyond the arc at the top of the key and buried the trey at the buzzer to make it 40-28.
Dylan Johnson added a pair of free throws at the outset of the fourth quarter, then his defense forced Lowry into a backcourt violation. The Buckaroos never got any closer than 12 points again.
Wildermuth felt defense was a major key, especially in the first half when the Lions surged to a 25-12 lead. Lowry only scored four points in the second quarter and only had three field goals in the first half.
"Our defense has really stepped up the last month," Wildermuth said. "That's all about playing with heart and doing what you're supposed to do."
Howard Ceballos scored 12 points and Dennis had 11 to lead Lowry (12-18).
Ryan Rife also had 13 points and Jeremy Means seven for Yerington.
"We came focused and ready to play today," Wildermuth said. "But we have another big one tomorrow (in the finals). We're going to have to step up again."
GIRLSLowry 61, Fernley 47
Lowry (21-7) broke out to a 20-point halftime lead en route to its semifinal victory against Fernley. The Buckaroos led 35-15 at halftime, but Fernley (14-11) did manage to come back to make it a single digit game in the fourth quarter.
"We got back to within nine, and that's reachable, but then we had to put them at the line and they made their free throws at the end," Fernley coach Ralph Dunn said.
Lowry shot 9-for-14 from the free throw line in the final period.
Elisa Leader scored a game-high 17 points, while Kylie Owsley and Alisha Echevarria added 10 each for Lowry. Becky Murphy scored 17 and Lysana Davis 12 for Fernley and they combined to score 10 in the fourth quarter.
