Despite a breakout game from post player Jorey Scott, the playoff picture got a little smaller and more complicated for the Douglas boys' basketball team Friday night.
After a close first half that saw the lead change hands nine times, Damonte Ranch put together 9-2 and 6-0 runs to open the final two quarters on its way to a 76-65 win in Reno.
The loss dropped Douglas to 3-7 in Sierra League play and took away any control the Tigers had over their own destiny concerning the playoffs.
The two closest teams above the Tigers in the league standings, Galena and Damonte Ranch (5-5 each), each gained the tiebreaker advantage this week with wins over Douglas.
Either the Grizzlies, the Mustangs or the Carson Senators (currently standing at 6-5) would have to lose three of their last four games and Douglas would need to win all of its remaining games to sneak in to the playoffs.
Damonte Ranch came out Friday night pushing the ball up the floor with an up-tempo offense and built a 10-4 lead over the first four minutes of the game.
Douglas started to run with the Mustangs and Scott, a 6-4 post player, thrived in the adjusment as he scored six points in the next minute of play, all of which came on on the run in transition.
The Tigers put up a 10-2 run during that stretch, which would prove to be one of their best of the night as they took a 14-12 lead.
Damonte reclaimed the lead at 16-14 on a 4-0 run of its own but Tyler Hoelzen tied it up with a basket and Scott closed out the quarter with a conventional three-point play with 11 seconds left.
Scott finished the game with a career-high 13 points, nine of which came in the first quarter.
The game stayed close through the second with neither team building a lead of any more than four points.
Damonte came out of the locker room strong off the boards and smooth in transition, running up a quick 9-2 jaunt over two minutes coming up with stops on five of Douglas' first six possessions of the half.
Douglas struggled to get any closer until a pair of James McLaughlin free throws cut the deficit to five at 65-60 with 2:37 left in the game.
Damonte Ranch's Josh Butler, who led all scorers with 23 points, answeredquickly with a jarring slam dunk 12 seconds later. The basket ended up being the Mustangs' final field goal of the night, but they were able to close the game out on free throws, converting 9-of-13 down the stretch.
McLaughlin led the Tigers with 22 points, followed by Scott, Luis Pina-Duarte at nine, Nick Hales with eight, Hoelzen with seven and Cale Pete with six.
Douglas' leading scorer on the season, TIm Rudnick, missed the game after having his wisdom teeth pulled Friday morning. It is unknown if he'll be available for Tuesday's home game against Wooster.
