Lady Braves roll up Lady Leopards by 30
Anthony Mori
Elko Daily Free Press
January 28, 2026
WELLS — The Owyhee girls basketball team tipped off the second half of the Division 1A East slate without missing a beat.
After going 6-0 through the first half of the league schedule, the Lady Braves took to the road and rolled up Wells by 30 points.
On Friday, Owyhee swept the season series — after defeating the Lady Leopards 56-35 on Jan. 9 — with a 59-29 victory.
The Lady Braves went up 4-0 with a baseline jumper and a pair of free throws by freshman Misty Thomas.
Wells got on the board with a deuce by junior Aryanna Rodriguez on an assist from junior Marli Dahl and tied the tally with two foul shots by junior Khloe DelRio.
Owyhee regained the upper hand on a take to the cup by sophomore Anjelique Espitia, but the Lady Leopards answered with a left-handed layup by sophomore Maite Cases on an outlet pass from sophomore Jitzel Rivas.
Thomas pushed the Lady Braves to the front with a deuce on a dime by senior Aleeyah Knight, Espitia added a clean trip to the charity stripe and Thomas doubled up the lead at 12-6 with a steal.
The Lady Leopards struggled with Owyhee’s ball pressure in the backcourt and turned the ball over on consecutive possessions.
A floater by Thomas gave the Lady Braves a 14-6 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
Opening the second, she cashed two free throws and opened a 10-point lead.
Wells cut into the deficit with a bucket on the left block by senior Andreina Mercado on a dish from Rodriguez, and Mercado set up sophomore Stacia Hansen for a floater on a feed in the middle.
Owyhee grabbed an 18-10 lead on a drive down the left side by Espitia, but DelRio railed a three and brought the Lady Leopards to within five.
Thomas went 1-for-2 at the line, and DelRio’s second triple — coming on an inbound pass from Rodriguez — cut the gap to three at 19-16.
Espitia knocked down a baseline jumper, and freshman Paisley Crutcher hit 1-of-2 foul shots.
Wells trimmed the deficit back to four on a layup by freshman Reese Livingstone after a dime from Rodiguez.
But the Lady Braves closed the half on a 13-0 streak.
Thomas hammered a deep three from the left wing, scored again on a steal and splashed a deeper bomb for a 30-18 lead.
Sophomore Makayla Estevan ripped a three from the right corner on a swing pass from Thomas, and Espitia raced the rack after a takeaway.
At the break, Owyhee led by 17 with the score at 35-18.
The Lady Braves carried the momentum into the third quarter and pushed their lead to 27 with a 10-0 flurry.
Crutcher finished a putback on the offensive glass, as did Estevan.
Thomas went 1-for-2 at the stripe; Knight scored on a pass from Estevan and sophomore Carmen Atkins drained a jumper from another Estevan dime.
After a technical foul on the Wells bench, Thomas capped the 23-0 burst — which dated back to the second period — with a free throw and pushed Owyhee’s lead to 45-18.
The Lady Leopards broke their scoring drought with a layup by sophomore Alivia Smith on an assist from DelRio, but Thomas finished on a feed from Atkins on the other end.
Espitia — as she did to end the half — closed the third with a steal and a take to the tin.
Going to the fourth, Owyhee’s advantage was 29 with the score at 49-20.
Thomas turned a takeaway into a layup by Espitia, and she also set up Atkins for another deuce and a 53-20 tally for the largest lead of the game at 33 points and nearly enforced the running clock.
Rodriguez was fouled and dropped both free throws on the other side.
Thomas scored on the left baseline for Owyhee, and Smith followed a miss for a putback for Wells.
Dahl flipped in a scoop shot, but Espitia drained a shake-and-bake three.
DelRio added a deuce, and Hansen hit 1-of-2 foul shots and capped the scoring for the Lady Leopards.
Thomas also went 1-for-2 for the Lady Braves and capped a 30-point, 59-29 victory.
She nearly matched Wells by herself with a game-high 28 points, hit two 3s and was joined in double digits with 14 points from Espitia.
In defeat, DelRio led Wells with 10 points and stuck two 3s.
For Owyhee, Estevan dropped two triples and finished with eight points.
For the Lady Leopards, Rodriguez and Smith each posted four points.
Atkins added four points for the Lady Braves, Crutched closed with three and the offense was capped with two points for Knight.
Wells’ offense was rounded out with three points by Hansen and two apiece from Mercado, Casas, Livingstone and Dahl.
Carlin at Wells
On Jan. 22, Wells cruised to a 47-8 home victory over Carlin.
DelRio led the way with 13 points, and sophomore Gabby Garcia neared double figures eight points.
Dahl dropped seven, Smith finished with five and Rivas and Livingstone added three apiece.
Wells’ offense was capped with two points each for sophomore Jess Wright, freshman Josie Brodsho, Hansen and Rodriguez.
Anthony Mori
Elko Daily Free Press
WELLS — In its first action in the second half of the league season, the Owyhee boys basketball overhauled Wells.
On Friday, the Braves rode a 21-point second quarter to a commanding 31-point victory of 64-33 over the Leopards.
Wells struck first on a three from the left wing by senior Joe Dahl, but Owyhee pulled to within one after a steal by senior Takota Matsaw.
Dahl was fouled on a three and cashed all the free throws for a 6-2 lead, but sophomore Carter Smartt answered with a triple on the other side.
The Leopards went up 8-5 on a spin move by junior Olen Morrison after an assist from sophomore Tripp Spainhower, but the Braves pulled to within two after a free throw by junior Kelan Jones.
Owyhee senior Treyvyn Hanks tied the game at 8-all on an inbound pass, and Jones gave the Braves the lead for good with an inbound three.
Junior Damon Thomas put the Braves on a top 13-8 with a runner, but Dahl’s second three of the frame cut Wells’ deficit to two.
Junior Luis Martinez sliced the gap to one with a free throw, but the Braves closed the first on a 6-0 flurry with a pair of deep shots — the first by freshman Uriah Tobey and the second from Smartt at the buzzer.
Going to the second, Owyhee led by seven at 19-12.
Jones drained his second three of the contest, and Smartt scored on a dish from Hanks on the right block.
For the Leopards, freshman Gavin Martinez finished on the right side from a cross by Luis Martinez.
Owyhee sophomore Micah Phoenix dropped a floater, and Hanks added a free throw for a 27-14 lead.
Wells junior Skyler Harney buried a pair of free throws, but Smartt positioned himself for a deuce on an inbound pass.
Harney made a nice dish on a screen-roll to junior Charles Peterson for a bucket on the block, but Phoenix connected on an inbound three on the other end.
The Leopards’ final point of the half came on a free throw by Morrison, but Tobey scored on a steal by Smartt.
At the break, the Braves were up 15 by a score of 34-19.
Opening the third, Owyhee pulled away with a 6-0 spurt.
Smartt booked a putback on the offensive glass, Phoenix tacked on a free throw on two occasions and Smartt scored on a find from Tobey.
Spainhower stemmed the tide on a long runout before Hanks and Dahl traded free throws.
Phoenix drilled a triple on an assist from Smartt, and Harney was hacked and hit one foul shot.
Owyhee went up 23 with a pair of foul shots by Phoenix, but Spainhower rolled to the rim after a steal for Wells.
Harney finished on a nice reverse with his left hand along the baseline, but Jones cashed two free throws on the other side.
Going to the fourth, the Braves led by 21 with the score at 48-27.
Down the stretch, Owyhee closed the contest on a 16-6 run.
Dahl finished in the middle and brought the margin back to 19, but the Braves responded with a 6-0 personal streak by Smartt — who scored on a dime from Tobey, once on an offensive rebound and again on a jumper from the elbow.
Freshman Alex Garcia knocked down a jumper for Wells, but Smartt answered with a And-1 plus the free throw on a feed from Thomas and cashed his third three for a 5-0 personal run.
Wells’ final points of the game were recorded on a muscle finish through traffic by Gavin Martinez.
Smartt pulled up from the elbow and drained a J, and Owyhee closed the contest with a nice take against a closeout by junior Akian Black.
In the end, Owyhee was too much and overhauled Wells by 31 points in a 64-33 ballgame.
Smartt dropped a game-high 28 points and hit three 3s, he was joined in double digits with 12 points and two 3s from Phoenix and Jones neared double figures with nine points and two triples.
Dahl led Wells with two treys and 12 points.
For the Braves, Tobey turned in five points, Hanks finished with four and the offense was capped with two points apiece for Matsaw, Thomas and Black.
For the Leopards, Harney closed with five points, Gavin Martinez and Spainhower scored four apiece and Morrison mounted three.
Wells’ offense was rounded out with two points each for Alex Garcia and Peterson and a free throw by Luis Martinez.
Carlin at Wells
On Jan. 22, the Leopards leaped to a 56-11 home victory over Carlin.
Morrison led the way with 11 points, Dahl and Spainhower poured in eight apiece — Dahl connecting on two 3s — and Harney hooped in seven.
Junior Marcos Cobian and Gavin Martinez finished with five points each, Luis Martinez followed with four and Alex Garcia and junior Aron Hansen both knocked down a three.
Wells’ offense was capped with a deuce by Peterson.
For Carlin, seniors Jacob Stucki and Gage Lewis each buried a three.
Sophomore Evan Brown booked two points, and the Railroaders’ scoring was rounded off with a free throw apiece for sophomore Layne Martin, freshman Jhon Vicente and freshman Caston Stanfill.
Pictures from the Jeff Remington Chimney Rock Classic Wrestling Tournament
Wells High School and Wells Junior Wrestling Club
January 30-31, 2026
January 25, 2026
Huge shoutout to our Wells Jr. Wrestling Club athletes for a strong showing at the Chimney Rock Classic! 💪🔥
🥇 1st Place
• Jedediah O (12U Boys)
• Joanna G (12U Girls)
• Jackson G (14U Boys)
🥈 2nd Place
• Emmylou S (8U Girls)
• Gus H (10U Boys)
• Adika M (12U Girls)
🥉 3rd Place
• AJ C, Jackson B, Paisley G (8U)
• Quincy B, George “Leo” C, Kooper T, Brody B (10U)
• Nikon G (12U Boys)
• Quinn S (14U Boys)
🏅 4th Place
• Maverick O (8U Boys)
• Hesston G (10U Boys)
• Taya C (12U Girls)
• Noah C (14U Boys)
So proud of these athletes!
Wells High School Art Club Trip to Las Vegas
After arriving in Las Vegas and checking into their hotel, students enjoyed dinner at Topgolf. The next morning, they toured the UNLV campus, including a spotlight tour of the Fine Arts Department. Students had the opportunity to meet local artist Dan Hernandez (@xdan45x).
Their tour guide, Gabriella Phillips (@gabba.photography), a senior BFA photography student, shared her experience at UNLV and showed her digital photography artwork currently displayed in one of the UNLV galleries.
Following the UNLV tour, they visited the Meow Wolf Interactive Art Museum.
Jan 13: Win vs. Jackpot, 46–12
Jan 17: Loss vs. McDermitt, 37–46
Jan 22: Win vs. Carlin, 47–8
Jan 23: Loss vs. Owyhee, 29–59 🏀
Basketball Recap: Wells Comes Up Short
Basketball Recap: Wells Leopards vs. Owyhee Braves
By Team Reports
Jan 25, 2026
Wells dropped to 14-5 on Friday, ending the team's three-game streak of wins at home. They took a blow against the Owyhee Braves, falling 59-29. Unfortunately, that's the second time they've come up short against the Braves this season, as they also lost their prior matchup 56-35 two weeks ago.
As for Owyhee, they pushed their record up to 12-1 with the victory, which was their seventh straight on the road. They have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 11 contests by 21 points or more this season.
Owyhee found their leader in freshman Misty Thomas, who dropped a double-double with 28 points and 11 rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Thomas has scored all season. Anjelique Espitia was another key player, shooting 44% from the field en route to 17 points and five steals.
Looking ahead, Wells will head out to face off against Eureka at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Lady Leopards had a great run of games! They picked up a close win over Lincoln County (20–19) at the JV Jingle Jamboree, followed by a strong victory against GV Christian (21–9). After a tough matchup against Virgin Valley, the team bounced back in a big way with a dominant 56–19 win over Wendover!
Way to compete and keep improving—great job, girls! 🧡🐾
The Leopards battled through a busy January schedule, picking up big wins and valuable experience along the way!
✅ Jan 13 – Win vs. Jackpot | 50–17
❌ Jan 15 – Loss vs. Independence | 46–51
❌ Jan 17 – Loss vs. McDermitt | 41–52
✅ Jan 22 – Win vs. Carlin | 56–11
❌ Jan 23 – Loss vs. Owyhee | 33–64
🧡🖤Proud of the effort and growth this team continues to show on the court. Keep working! 🐾
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026: Wells JV fell to Carlin High School, 38–46.
Friday, Jan. 9, 2026: Wells JV dropped a close contest to Owyhee High School, 42–45.
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026: Wells JV came up short against Carlin High School, 33–48.
Proud of the effort—keep working and building, Leopards!🐾
Chimney Rock Classic – Boys Wrestling Results
🥇 1st Place
Johnny G – 132 lbs
Max D – 144 lbs
🥈 2nd Place
Ayden R – 106 lbs
🥉 3rd Place
Cade S – 113–120 lbs
Camden G – 150–157 lbs
Gage U – 165 lbs
Jayden K – 126 lbs
Marcus U – 175–190 lbs
4th Place
Brylee H – 113–120 lbs
5th Place
Michael A – 150–157 lbs
🏆 Team Finish: 3rd Place
Way to compete and represent! 💪🤼♂️🐾
CTE on the road was a little different last week. Students from Wells and West Wendover and their teachers took time out of their day off of school to visit the Elko GBC campus. These students understand that they need to do those extra things to be extraordinary.
Saturday, January 24
Team Finish: 3rd Place
Individual Placements:
🥇 Dusty U – 1st Place (114–127)
🥈 RileyJo G – 2nd Place (110–118)
🥇 Tegan R – 1st Place (110–118)
Way to go, ladies! Great performances and teamwork 🧡🐾
Wells High School senior wrestlers were honored on Saturday during the Chimney Rock Classic Tournament, along with their families and friends. Seniors Gage U, Devante M, CD H, and Max D were recognized for their dedication and hard work. Congratulations, seniors! 👏🤼♂️
7th Grade:
Berkley W. & Carlos G.
8th Grade:
Hadley D. & Rhett G.
9th Grade King & Queen:
Dalyann C. & Camden G.
Congratulations to all of our Winter Rally Royalty! 🎉👑
This week they talked about the importance of gathering information about the history of ancestors and understanding where you come from. Learning family history helps people see patterns, traditions, and strengths that have been passed down through generations—and it can help us better understand ourselves and our future.
📅 January 26th
📍 In front of the school (during lunch)
Enjoy FREE hot chocolate ☕ while you:
Download the Family Search App
Learn more about your family history
Discover fun facts about your ancestors
👀 Could you possibly be royalty? Come find out!
