Bighorns improve against Silver Stage

Oasis Academy’s boys’ basketball team lost 60-29 Wednesday to Silver Sage.

The Nighthawks dominated from the start ending the first quarter with a 25-6 lead. The Bighorns had baskets from Cade Johnson, Joel Mincer and Patrick Morrow.

The second and third quarters were much the same, the Nighthawks controlling the court and denying the Fallon team the ball for 42-14 at halftime and 56-23 going into the final quarter. The Bighorns had scoring from Kenyen Hicks, Joshua Mikulak, Brenden Norman-Leary, Mincer and Morrow.

In the final quarter, Mincer scored a basket, then Johnson nailed a layup and both points on a buzzer-beater free throw to end the game.

Mincer led Oasis with 10 points; Morrow and Johnson were just behind him with eight and six respectively. Hicks and Mikulak each added two and Norman-Leary scored one.

Oasis Coach Donald Schank said the Bighorns played as well as they could. He said in the second matchup against Silver Stage the Bighorns played better. The first game ended 52-15.

Schank said for many of the team’s players, this season is their first playing competitive basketball. The coach said his hope is to continue working with the team over the summer.

“That’s what we’re hoping to do, build something,” he said.

The Bighorns play again Saturday at Virginia City. They also will travel to Gabbs on Tuesday. Oasis defeated Gabbs in their first meeting, 65-43.

Schank said he knows nothing about Virginia City’s team and their strategy will be to go up and play their hardest, give everything they can to have a good game.

“It’s good building for us,” Schank said. “It’s good for us to just go up there and play.”

Next Friday, the Bighorns host Tonopah to finish out the season. The game will begin at 6 p.m. after the girls’ game.