By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
The MVHS Girls Basketball Team started the week out by hosting the Chaparral Cowboys on Monday night, December 6. Those Cowboys rode out of town with a victory stolen from the Pirates.
Hanna Leavitt scored six of Moapa’s 11 points in the first quarter.
The Lady Pirates came out of the block in a dead sprint as they pressured the Cowboys with full court man-to-man, forcing turnovers and confusion. This forced Chap to use two of their time-outs trying to figure it all out.
The beginning of the third quarter saw Chap turn up their own pressure and score the first four points of the quarter.
The biggest problem for both teams was making their free throws. Moapa made just 9 of 21 from the line. Chap wasn’t much better as they were 6 of 19.
At 6:30 of the third quarter the Lady Pirates went on a 12- 4 run to have a 34-25 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Then the bottom fell out from under Moapa. The Cowboys began double-teaming the ball as Moapa crossed half court. Turnover after turnover caused the Pirates confusion and grief.
Noto scored 4 of the Pirates 6 for the quarter. Campbell made the other 2 on free throws.
Chap came all the way back and tied the score at 40’s with 16 seconds left. They won the game with two free throws with eleven seconds left to go.
Moapa’s attempt to tie went out of bounds when Noto fell to the ground on the in-bound pass. Heart breaking loss 42-40.
Tuesday night, December 7, the Pirates were beaten by a much better Silverado team who matched the Pirates’ intensity. The Skyhawks won 61-43. It was 14-6 after the 1st. A 22-13 3rd quarter run was Moapa’s downfall. Noto scored 11 while Lacroix added 9. Campbell had 7.
