Vaqueros host Buckaroos in 3A East girls showdown

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

It’s showdown time in the Northern 3A East, as the Fernley High School girls basketball team looks to measure itself against the defending state champions Saturday afternoon.

The Buckaroos come to town carrying a 14-1 record, having lost only to Reno, 67-40. The Vaqueros are 19-2 with their losses coming by three points to Bishop Gorman and eight points to Faith Lutheran, and they beat Reno48-47.

But aside from their record, Lowry comes in as the team to beat in the Northern 3A, and probably statewide in the 3A, until proven otherwise.

We have to play well to against Lowry,” Fernley coach Ralph Dunn said. “They are the league, zone and defending champions. Everyone has to go through them.”

The Buckaroos are led by Savannah Stoker, last year’s player of the year, a 5-foot-10 junior who is averaging 24.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game this season. The Vaqueros will counter with their balanced attack, with their top six players combining to average 50 points per game.

Fernley also comes in with an 18-game winning streak, the most recent a 53-20 win over Fallon Wednesday night in which they had a 35-point lead in the second quarter and the rest of the game was played with a running clock.

Last weekend, they beat Spring Creek 66-41 and Elko 63-51.

Against Fallon, the Vaqueros used their fullcourt press to devastating effect, opening a 40-5 advantage just before halftime.

“Defense is doing well and triggering our offense, Dunn said. “Transition on both end was great. What a great atmosphere for the girls to play in, really good crowd, lots of support. Have to thank the community for getting behind these girls.”

Tia Otuafi led the Vaqueros with 13 points, Jasmyne Torres had 12, Jaelese Wasson scored 11 and Taylor Tollestrup also had double figures with 10.

In Spring Creek, Torres had the hottest hand with 18 points, Nadia Velazquez added 13 and Wasson scored 12.

Wasson and Torres both had 14 in the win over Elko, with Kensy Kreller adding 12 and Otuafi scoring 11.