Playoff chase

It’s a big weekend for the Fallon boys basketball team.

What is perhaps two must-win games, the Greenwave host Sparks and South Tahoe today and Saturday, respectively.

Fallon enters a critical stretch of its season and quest to reach the postseason. The Wave sit at 3-3 in the Northern Division I-A and 6-9 overall.

Sparks (0-6, 4-10) is in the midst of a six-game losing streak.

The Railroaders’ streak started with a one-point loss to Yerington followed by losses to Fernley (71-61) and Lowry (58-54).

Since the close defeat to the Buckaroos, Sparks has been drilled in its past three matchups against Elko (83-35), Spring Creek (74-45) and South Tahoe (65-44) on Tuesday.

Adrian Garcia leads the Railroaders with 9.6 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game, while Ataloanui Tuikolongahau averages 8.9 points and 5.2 boards.

South Tahoe, meanwhile, is proving to be a legitimate threat in league play. The Vikings crushed Sparks to move to 5-2 in league play and 9-7 overall.

The Vikings, along with Spring Creek, are 5-2 in league and hold a two-game over Fallon for fourth place as the first round of league games fro Fallon comes to a close Saturday.

Lowry (6-1, 11-6), meanwhile, suffered its first loss of the season with a 30-point (60-30) shellacking at the hands of Elko (8-0, 13-2) on Tuesday.

South Tahoe is riding a five-game winning streak and use a balanced offensive attack. Six players are averaging at least six points per game and no one more than 12.

Point guard Chase Waterman controls the pace for South Tahoe, while Harry Moses-Chakmakis and Denzel Perez create with their shot and driving ability.

Forwards Stone Merkley and Tyler Hobgin play inside but both have range.

The Vikings like to run and press, but can slow it down if necessary.

Fallon, meanwhile, counters with forward Jeff Evett, one of the league’s best players and the Wave’s best scoring threat.

He has poured in more than 10 points in his last four games.

Also providing a scoring boost is guard Connor Richardson, who has been solid since league play began. He has scored more than 15 points twice in the past nine games and can slash to basket or pull up to hit the outside shot.

Fallon’s guard rotation also consists of senior Ettore Neiderauer, junior Marshall Coverston and sophomore Dylan Ridenour.

Up front, Fallon also relies on 6-foot-6 forward Clay Davision, who provides range in addition to a rebounding presence.