Angela Sikora passes the ball in this file photo.
DAYTON — Lowry put on the defensive pressure, and the Dayton Dust Devils wilted like an unwatered plant.
The Dust Devils, coming off a close win over Sparks, turned the ball over 24 times and shot just 29 percent from the field in dropping a 62-38 decision to the visiting Buckaroos Saturday afternoon in a Division IA boys contest.
Lowry improved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in league, while Dayton is 7-2 and 1-1.
Dayton coach Jason Santos said the turnovers which led to 25 points was the difference in the game.
“I think we had 25 turnovers and 15 were in the first half,” Santos said. “It was bad decisions and their pressure. It was just a 2-2-1. If you can’t handle that something is wrong. We were holding the ball, staring at our pass or trying to force passes. The turnovers (often) led to layups.
“They are the top team in our league and maybe in all of northern Division I. They won the Rail City Classic. As early as it is in the season, we’re not ready to play a team of the caliber.”
Lowry coach Chad Peters was just happy to see his team shake off a lethargic effort against South Tahoe. The Buckaroos were down by double digits in the first half and fought back to win.
“The pressure did bother them (early),” Peters said. “I think we stayed in it too long. There were five or six possessions where they were unable to get off a shot.
“Our intensity picked up in the second half.”
Lowry used an 8-0 run to grab a 15-4 first-quarter lead, as Dayton went 0-2 and turned the ball over five times in the final half of the first quarter.
The Dust Devils had two good runs in the second quarter. An 8-0 run led by Jon Joyner’s four points cut Lowry’s lead to 17-12 with 5:35 left in the half. Lowry came back with a 10-0 run on the strength of six points by all-state football star Calvin Connors for a 25-12 lead. Dayton scored the final five points of the quarter to make it a 25-17 lead at the half.
The Dust Devils went cold in the first five minutes of the third quarter, making just 1-for-9 from the field and turning the ball over four times. Lowry went on an 18-2 tear for a 43-19 lead with 1:43 left in the third. Forward Josh Watterson scored nine of his 12 in that stretch.
Varsity girls
Lowry 38, Dayton 33
DAYTON — The Dust Devils played hard throughout the game, but couldn’t overcome 32 turnovers which led to 16 points against the Buckaroos, who trailed just once and were tied twice, in the game.
Dayton dropped to 0-2 in league play and are 0-3 overall. The Dust Devils are playing in the McQueen Lancer Invitational starting on Dec. 26.
“We’re making progress,” said first-year head coach Ben Halverson, whose team played without starter Cheyenne Strong, who is out of town. “The girls played hard.”
Dayton, which got 20 points from Angela Sikora, shot 40 percent. However, the Dust Devils’ inability to maintain control of the ball was critical.
The Dust Devils led 9-7 after one period thanks to a 6-0 run led by Sikora (two buckets) and Lettie Lynch (a basket). During that run, Lowry turned the ball over on eight straight possessions. Lowry also had a tough time dealing with 6-foot-4 Taylor Ingersoll, who unofficially had 11 blocked shots in the contest. Ingersoll altered shots throughout the game, but was especially effective in the opening 16 minutes.
An 8-5 surge to end the half gave Lowry an 18-15 lead. Joann Marchand had two inside hoops to lead the way. Dayton played the final seven minutes of th half without Lynch, who picked up her fourth foul before Halverson could get her off the floor. Lynch didn’t return until six minutes remained in the game.
A 3-pointer by Sikora tied the game at 18 49 seconds into the third quarter. Lowry went on a 9-2 run to take a 27-20 edge with 1:20 left in the quarter. Alysa Dendary scored back-to-back hoops to sparks the Buckaroos. An Ingersoll bucket made it 27-22, but Taylor Schwartz scored to make it 29-22 after three.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Shelby McKinnon and Dendary made it 35-22 early in the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer by Sikora and a putback by Muranda Fowler made it 35-27 with 3:28 remaining. Lowry led by 10, 37-27 with 54.8 left. Sikora nailed two 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to make it close.
Dendary led Lowry with 12 and Marchand added 10. Ingersoll finished with eight for Dayton.
JV GIRLS
Lowry 54, Dayton 14
DAYTON — Patricia Ledezma scored seven points to lead Dayton in its lopsided loss to the Buckaroos.
FROSH BOYS
Sparks 35, Dayton 15
Lowry 56, Dayton 15
Dayton’s defense forced more than 20 turnovers, but the Railroaders still had enough firepower to win on Friday night. Jason Sanborn led the offense with four points, while Korey Combs, Carson Crosby, Spenser Underwood and Asa McGill-Howe led the defense.
On Saturday, Crosby led Dayton with seven points
