The Fernley Vaqueros had a score to settle, and with a 61-50 victory over the North Valleys Panthers on Friday, they proved that payback is best in the postseason. The last time these two squads met, in January, the Panthers snatched a 51-48 win. But when it mattered most, the Vaqueros turned the tables.
The night belonged to Taylor Tollestrup, who put up a performance of 28 points and 13 rebounds, a career-high for the rising star. Jaelece Wasson added 13 more to the tally, while Fernley’s relentless work on the offensive glass ensured that North Valleys never got too comfortable. The Vaqueros pulled down ten offensive rebounds, marking their eighth straight game with at least eight second-chance opportunities.
On the other side of the scoreboard, Ivy Williams did everything in her power to keep North Valleys afloat, nearly logging a double-double with 22 points and nine boards. She also extended her streak of two or more steals per game to 21 contests. Annika Hester chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds, but their efforts weren’t enough to hold off the surging Vaqueros.
North Valleys may have dominated the offensive boards with 14 rebounds, but their postseason dreams came crashing down anyway. With the loss, they dropped to 22-5 and have no more games scheduled.
As for Fernley, it was their fifth win in their last six games, boosting their record to 21-6. However, their playoff run hit a wall shortly after, as they fell 63-31 to Churchill County on February 15.
For now, the Vaqueros can take pride in knowing they got their revenge when it counted most.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
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