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Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 5:30 AM

Vaqueros bounce back from tournament loss with win in league opener

Vaqueros bounce back from tournament loss with win in league opener
Fernley’s Bryce Dunagan-Stephens drives to the basket during the Jan. 2 game against Lowry in
Fernley. Photo by John Baker

While his team was warming up on the floor before their game against Lowry last Friday night, Fernley boys basketball coach Cade Knutson was anxious to see how they would react to what he considered their first poor outing of the season their last time on the floor.

The Vaqueros were preparing for their first league game, but also just three days removed from a 78-40 loss to Huntington Beach (CA) Edison in the last game of the Holiday Classic in San Diego. The Vaqueros had made it to the fifth-place game of the tournament, but were blasted by the Chargers.

“I told these guys, if they’re anything like me, they can’t wait to get back out there and get that taste out of their mouth,” Knutson said.

Dominating the middle two quarters, the Vaqueros left savoring the taste of victory for the 11th time this season, starting league play with a 67-36 win over the Buckaroos.

Bryce Dunagan-Stephens led the Vaqueros with 25 points, including a flurry in the second quarter where he hit three 3-pointers while Fernley was outscoring Lowry 21-9. Stephens had seven more points in the third quarter, where Fernley outscored Lowry 20-7 to extend its lead to 57-26.

A basket by Stephens with 5:56 left in the game put the game into a running clock the rest of the way with a 51-26 lead, and the Vaqueros led by as much as 67-30 before Lowry scored the last six points of the game.

Sheldon Jacobson added nine points for Fernley, Mike Fitzgerald and Skyler Ledesma-James both had six points and Nolan Berreman, Keland Ketelaar and Bodie Parsons each scored five.

The Vaqueros were 11-4 overall, 1-0 in the Northern 3A entering Tuesday’s game against Fallon. They finish the week with their eastern road trip, facing Elko at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Spring Creek at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.


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Comment author: Alan ReederComment text: Great guy, laughed easily, had fun with his students, enjoyed our time together at FHS!Comment publication date: 4/23/26, 10:23 PMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving Dinner
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