| MVHS | 62 |
| VVHS | 72 |
By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
In the beginning this game looked as if it was going to the Dawgs real quick. In the end the Lady Pirates found they can compete and gained a lot of confidence in their abilities.
Virgin Valley needed the win to keep the #1 seed into next week’s tournament at Durango High School. If they did, they would play the winner of Moapa and Boulder City game (to be played Thursday night) on Saturday.
But if Moapa could pull the upset, Virgin Valley would have to play Moapa on Thursday and Boulder City would get the bye.
And so, at Friday’s game held in Mesquite, the motivation carried the Dawgs to a 10 point lead right out of the gate and it was looking much like the previous meeting: a blowout early.
It was in the final 5:18 of the first quarter that the Moapa girls gathered themselves together and seemed to decide they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
From that point, the Lady Pirates stayed even with their foe. Shaylynn Gifford scored the first hoop for Moapa. Kim Sprague followed with a layup and Moapa out-scored Virgin Valley 15-9 during the rest of the first quarter.
Moapa was down 15 – 19 after the first. In the second quarter Shelby Gray started the Pirate scoring with a lay-up. Rachelle Morris a minute later followed with her own lay-up then a missed free throw. Ashley Noto connected on her second of four “3” balls for the game to bring Moapa within one point of the Dawgs at 20 – 21. Virgin Valley tried to pull away, but Moapa stayed within striking distance scoring 15 in the quarter and trailing by seven at the half 30-37. Noto scored eight followed by Campbell’s 7 and Gray’s 5.
In the third quarter Hanna Leavitt came to life as she scored 7 points in the third. She started to dribble drive and make things happen for her team.
“Tonight Hanna became a point guard,” commented Coach Swanson.
The Dawgs were up eleven before Hanna knocked down a “3”.
Noto went a 4 for 4 from the line which was a breath of fresh air. On two occasions the lead dropped to six, but when the quarter ended Virgin Valley was up 10 at 43 -53.
In the fourth Virgin Valley led by as much as 16 points. But with under two minutes to play, it would have been easy for the Pirates to concede the victory, instead they continued to fight. Under a minute Noto Hit two “3’s” , but in the long run Virgin Valley won 72 – 62.
This was the best game of the season for the Pirates. Noto led Moapa with 18 points. She had four “3’s” and was 4 for 4 from the line. Shelby Gray had 13 points followed by Hanna Leavitt’s 12. Amanda Campbell scored 9. Shaylynn Gifford had 4, Kim Sprague 2 and Paige Leavitt had 1.
It was that first 2:42 that was one of the reasons for the loss. The other, free throws. Moapa was 10 of 25 for the game. Virgin Valley was 13 of 25.
The Lady Pirates begin tournament play against the Eagles of Boulder City Thursday night at Durango High School. The tip is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
The winner will get Virgin Valley on Saturday night for a chance at the league title and a chance for the State title next week in the Orleans arena in Las Vegas.
