The Sierra Vista Mountain Lions encountered a formidable challenge from the Reno Huskies in the 4A boys state basketball tournament semifinal, held on Wednesday night. Ultimately, the Reno High players and fans fell short as Sierra Vista secured a 52-49 victory over the North Region champions at the University of Nevada’s Lawlor Events Center.
The pivotal moment of the game occurred in the third quarter, as the Huskies (23-6) underwent a scoring drought. Despite both teams being tied at 26 points each at halftime, Reno struggled to score for the first six minutes of the third period. This allowed Sierra Vista to take the lead at 34-26 before Aiden Casey finally broke the scoreless streak for the Huskies. With a driving scoop shot from Elijah Aurelio seconds before the end of the third quarter, Sierra Vista extended their lead to 41-30, the only double-digit lead in the entire game.
According to Reno coach Matt Ochs, the team’s shot selection was commendable, despite the difficulties in the third quarter. Ochs mentioned that they had discussed in practice the consequences of soft attacks on the opponent’s center, resulting in a high number of blocks.
Similar to their performance in the regional final, where they rallied from a double-digit deficit to claim victory over Damonte Ranch, Reno once again displayed resilience. The Huskies quickly scored eight points at the start of the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to 41-38 with 5:32 left in the game. The momentum continued as Casey, finishing with a game-high 18 points, scored two free throws, giving the Huskies the lead at 49-48 with 1:45 remaining.
However, Sierra Vista managed to secure the win with a final score of 52-49 as Reno could not hold onto their lead. Coach Ochs expressed pride in the defensive performance of the team, emphasizing their goal of limiting the opponent to 55 points. He noted that their solid defensive record throughout the year deserved recognition, despite the outcome of the game.
Aurelio and Kamari Taylor both contributed 15 points for the Mountain Lions, ultimately guiding Sierra Vista to victory.
In conclusion, the game was a hard-fought battle, and while the outcome may not have been in their favor, the efforts of the Reno High team were commendable.