By Dave Belcher
Coach Gary Bachelor used to tell his players that if they shot 80% from the line and 50% from the field they would win.
Last week in Cedar City Moapa was down six points when Josh Thompson stepped up to the line. Up to this point, the Pirates had gone 7 for 17 against Grantsville High School in the Hodson Classic. Thompson hit two free throws to bring it to a 4 point game. Then with 30 seconds left, Thompson stepped up to the line again and hit two more free throws to close in a little more and make it a two point game. Finally, with seven seconds remaining Casen Lewis drained a three ball giving Moapa the win 51-50.
It was free throws keeping Grantsville in the game as they shot 75% making 18 of 24. That 80% would have given them the win. On the other end if Moapa would have made 80% it would have been a seven point victory.
Moapa finished the game at 50%, 11 for 22. Thompson lead the team with 18 points, Cooper had 14, Kincade with 7, Weiss with 2, Lewis 8 and the game winner, Sendlein also had 2.
This game was back and forth the whole way. Moapa held a one point lead after each quarter: 12-11 after one, 25-24 after two, 37-36 after three, and the final 51-50.
Grantsville was also beaten by the Virgin Valley Bulldogs 41-39.
Free throws didn’t matter much the day previous (Wednesday, December 29) as the Pirates were beaten badly by Cedar High School; a team that is now 8-1 after winning the tournament championship over Virgin Valley 56-34.
Cedar was just flat out a better team. The game was never even close.
Scoring went as follows; Cooper led the team with 9, Kincaid 4, Lewis 5, Weiss 6, Terril 6, Thompson 7, and Watters 3. Moapa scored 3 points in the second quarter and 9 in each the third and forth quarters.
The day prior to that, (Tuesday, December 28) the first nail biter of the week for the Pirates. Moapa beat Uintah. The Pirates held onto the win after an 11 point halftime lead dwindled to a three point victory.
Here the free throws were key. Uintah was 6-12 from the line and a one point win. The Pirates were 9 for 17.80% it’s an eight point victory.
Lewis was the leading scorer with 13, Thompson 7, Kincaid 9, Cooper 9, Terril 7, Weiss 7, and Sendlein 6.
The Pirates scored 21 in the first quarter to take a six point lead. Then Moapa scored 15 in the second and 11 in each of the final two quarters.
Alright you catch my drift. However it is not just a Pirate problem. The whole 3A struggles. Elko has the best free throw percentage with 73%. Boulder City is second at 65%. Moapa at 60% is tied for third with Fallon. Lowry is 58%, Fernley 59%, and Spring Creek 54%.
Then there are the ones below the Shaq line at 53%. They are Virgin Valley and Dayton at 49% and Truckee at 46%.
On the girl’s side, Spring Creek leads at 72%. Lowry is at 61%, Dayton 52%, Boulder and Truckee 50%. Fernley is at 45% and Virgin Valley is at 43%. The Lady Pirates, 41% for ten games. I couldn’t find results for the other two games.
As far as field goal percentage. The Pirates are shooting 23% from three point range. 49% from the 2 point area and 42% total field goal percentage. Something to think about. Something to work on.
The Pirates are now 8-7 on the season and start league play Friday night here at home against Boulder City: girls at 6:00 boys at 7:30.The girls are home Thursday versus Liberty High School at 6:30.
