Basketball Recap: Tonopah Takes a Loss

Muckers

Previous 5 Games

12/07/24 vs Jackpot	33-35
12/06/24 vs Lund	33-26
12/06/24 vs Owyhee	54-29
12/05/24 @ Carlin	29-15
12/05/24 @ Wells	25-37

Tonopah was the 35-18 winner over Jackpot when they last played one another back in December of 2016, but their luck changed this time around. The Tonopah Muckers fell just short of the Jackpot Jaguars by a score of 35-33 on Saturday. The Muckers' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, Tonopah saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Landen Blackburn almost dropped a double-double on 20 points and nine rebounds. That was a full 60.6% of Tonopah's points, marking the fifth time in a row he's posted more than a third of the team's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Daniel Villa, who earned four points and nine rebounds.

Even though they lost, Tonopah smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Jackpot to victory, but perhaps none more so than Angel Martinez, who went 6 of 7 on his way to 12 points and four steals. Martinez is crushing it when it comes to steals: he's grabbed at least two every time he's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Jorge Avila, who had eight points along with six rebounds and three steals.

Tonopah's defeat dropped their record down to 3-2. As for Jackpot, their record is now 4-1.

Tonopah didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next match, a 36-27 loss against Liberty Baptist Academy on the 13th. As for Jackpot, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next contest, a 57-55 defeat against Independence on the 12th.