| MVHS | 47 |
| VVHS | 50 |
By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
This game between the Bulldogs and the Pirates promised to be a classic. It turned out to be a three point victory for the Dawgs and a bye for them in the League tournament next week. Moapa will play Boulder City on Thursday night at Durango for a chance at one more crack at Virgin Valley for the single birth from the south in the State Tournament next week.
The difference in this game was VVHS player Cameron Jensen’s 31 points and Moapa’s missed free throws. It was Jensen who started the game off with a three-ball. Hayden Cooper started the scoring for Moapa going 1 for 2 from the foul line. Thus, both major factors started off in the very beginning.
Jensen scored all 11 points for Virgin Valley while Cooper scored 5 of Moapa’s 7 in the quarter. Which means Virgin Valley led 11 – 7 after the 1st quarter.
Virgin Valley streaked out to a 13 point lead with 5:41 to go in the half before Moapa started to climb back into the game. Jensen continued to lead the Bulldog attack with two “3” balls and a lay-up.
The final four minutes saw the Moapa defense come alive as Virgin Valley went scoreless the last four minutes.
Weiss made two free throws. Cooper nailed a five footer and Lewis knocked down a three as the half ended to cut the Dawg lead to 5 going in at the half 18 – 23.
Jensen had 19 points on three “3’s”. Cooper led Moapa with 9.
In the third the Pirates defensive pressure kept Jensen from scoring a field goal. He managed six points going 6 for 6 from the line. With 3:15 Dakota Waters connected on a “3” and Moapa was within two of catching the Dawgs.
By the end of the 3rd Moapa was down by two points at 34 – 36.
Jensen continued the free throw demonstration in the fourth with two more makes. The lead then was taken to six. Josh Thompson, who was guarded real tight during this game, finally got a shot off as he connected on a “3” ball with 6:45 to go in the game. On Moapa’s next possession Weiss was fouled on a shot under the basket. He made one and missed one cutting the lead to two. Virgin Valley scored a layup then Kincade was fouled. He went 1 for 2 from the line.
Moapa’s defense held and Thompson sent the Moapa crowd through the roof as he knocked down his second three and tied the game at 42 with 5 minutes to play. Virgin Valley converted a 1 and 1 and on their next possession Jensen scored a layup to push the lead back to 4.
Jensen scored two more free throws as well as Weiss who made two of his own. Next Moapa possession Lewis went to the line and missed his two shots with a minute to go.
The 42 second mark saw the Bulldogs make 1 of two. Then Kincade had another turn and made both of his with: 32 on the clock and the score 46 – 49.
Thompson immediately fouled Urias who went 1 for 2 and a four point lead. Eleven seconds later Thompson put up another “3” it fell short with: 18 seconds left. Kincade got a rebound was fouled where he made the first then missed the second Cooper tapped the rebound out to the side where Urias picked it up and Lewis fouled him with 2.4 seconds to go.
The game ended with a Virgin Valley win 50 – 47. Weiss and Cooper each had 12 for Moapa while Jensen scored 31.
