The Yerington boys basketball team, coming off a season in which it advanced to the NIAA 3A State semifinals, got off to an impressive start on Tuesday with a 58-50 win over 2A power Rite of Passage.
The effort was made more impressive by the fact that the Lions were missing two key seniors.
"It was a good win for us," Yerington coach Daron Wildermuth said. "It was a good way to start the year out.
"They're (ROP) going to be a good ball team. They're going to be OK. They have some kids that can obviously shoot."
ROP jumped out to a 19-13 lead after one quarter before Yerington came back to close to within 26-25 at halftime and take a 40-39 lead after three periods.
"It was back and forth," Wildermuth said. "It was definitely anybody's ball game. We played better down the stretch. I was happy. I was really happy."
Scott Veil scored 14 points and Ryan Rife added 12 points for Yerington, who had nine players score.
"That's pretty good distribution of the ball," Wildermuth said. "That's a pretty balanced attack."
Yerington played without Jeremy Means, who had the flu, and Jeff Emm, who still hasn't been released from a leg injury sustained during football.