John Anguiano hit a runner in the lane to give Sparks an early 2-0 lead at home over Lowry on Saturday afternoon.
From that point on, it was all Buckaroos.
Lowry went on to humble Sparks’ torrid start to DI-A North play with a 60-37 road win.
The Railroaders dropped to 4-8, 3-2 in the DI-A North. The Buckaroos improved to 8-7, 4-1.
Following Anguiano’s early bucket, Lowry responded with a 13-0 run. Anguiano then sunk a pair of free throws late in the first quarter to get Sparks within 16-7 but Lowry went on another big run, 22-0. Ricky Guadron finally stopped the bleeding with a triple with 30 seconds left in the half.
Guadron’s shot from behind the arc, Sparks’ first and only bucket of the second quarter, left the Railroaders down 38-10 at the half.
The only drama left in the second half was whether or not the difference would get big enough (40 or more points) to enact the running clock mercy rule.
Twice Lowry led by 38 in the third quarter, at 52-14 and 56-18, before Jacob Hernandez hit a layup one minute into the fourth to prevent the clock from stopping the rest of the way. His bucket made the difference 62-22—the largest margin of the afternoon.
Jesus Nava scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter to lead the Railroaders. Anguiano, Bruce Hicks and Justin Gomez all had four points.
Jared Taylor led Lowry with 16 points. Omar Guerrero had 14 and Christian Riddle had 12.
The Railroaders will attempt to get back on track on Tuesday night at Fallon, which started Saturday at 4-10, 1-4.
Lowry girls put hurt on Sparks
Sparks’ rough start to the season didn’t get any smoother on Saturday morning.
Lowry entered the Brickhouse and left with a dominating 60-5 win over the Railroaders that featured running clock (40-point or greater margin) for all but one minute of the second half.
“Well, you know, we’re green,” Sparks coach Frank Avilla said. “We’re working towards success. Part of is it they’re not understanding the game and also their unwillingness to be disciplined in their assignments.
“Look, we never said we’re going to barn down. I would expect them to be at a little more effort as far as defensive switches (is concerned).”
Sparks remained winless on the season, dropping to 0-7, 0-5 in the DI-A North. Lowry improved to 7-6, 3-2.
Lowry led 41-3 at the half and got to the 40-point running-clock threshold right off the bat in the third quarter.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier on Tuesday night for the Railroaders, who go to Fallon. The Greenwave has not lost this year and sits at 15-0, 6-0.
“(We) just want to get better,” Avilla said. “What do we have but to work on fundamentals?”
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