Fallon’s Zoey Jarrett shoots against Elko on Friday.
Anthony Mori | Elko Daily Free Press
The Churchill County High School girls basketball team swept Elko and Spring Creek on the road to clinch one of the four 3A regional playoff spots with two weeks to go in the season.
Fallon won in Elko County for the first time in the Kevin Wickware era after his team completed the season sweep of both schools to cement its hold on third place in the 3A East. Fallon (5-2) defeated Elko, 45-32, on Friday before turning around to beat Spring Creek, 46-25, on Saturday to increase its lead to three games in the standings.
The punched ticket marks Fallon’s return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
Fernley (6-0) leads the division by a half game over Lowry (6-1), which visits Fallon on Friday for a three-game homestand. The Wave host Dayton next Wednesday before welcoming their cross-valley rival Fernley on Friday for Senior Night.
The regional tournament begins Feb. 12 at the top seeds before the semifinals and championship move to Elko High School later in the week. Fallon cannot finish any lower than third but if it were able to spring an upset or two over last year’s state finalists, the Wave could host the first round. However, if the season were to end now, Fallon would be traveling to South Tahoe (5-1, 3A West).
In Friday’s win over Elko, sophomore Jada Anastasio led the team with 25 points, including four 3-pointers, and senior Zoey Jarrett added nine points and a team-high six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Sophomore Janessa Bettencourt scored five points and senior Madasyn Moyle had three. Junior Vernita Fillmore, sophomore Dylan Faught and Anastasio each had four rebounds.
Theft was the theme the next day as Fallon had 34 steals against the Spartans.
Jarrett led the team with 10 steals, Anastasio had six and Fillmore added five. Anastasio led the team in scoring with 21 points while Bettencourt had eight and Moyle added seven. Bettencourt also had a team-high six rebounds and Anastasio added five.
FALLON BOYS NEED ONE WIN
The Greenwave boys fell short on the road and will need to win one of their final three to qualify for the postseason.
Fallon (3-4) sits in fourth after falling to Elko, 63-37, on Friday and Spring Creek, 70-51, on Saturday. The Greenwave, who defeated Spring Creek in overtime in the first meeting, face winless Lowry (0-7) on Friday before hosting Dayton (1-5) next Wednesday. Fernley (6-0) visits Fallon next Friday for Senior Night.
A win against Lowry or Dayton will punch one of four playoff tickets for Fallon as the top-four teams from the 3A East and 3A West advance. Fallon can still jump above Spring Creek (4-3) to finish third. As of this week, Fallon would be traveling to either Hug or Wooster, which are both 5-0.