By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
| MVHS | 47 |
| Boulder City | 54 |
The Lady Pirates played their best game of the season on Thursday night against the Boulder City Eagles. Boulder City had beaten Moapa badly in the previous meetings. However, with those games well behind them, the Lady Pirates had nothing to lose.
With that attitude Moapa started the game scoring eight points before Boulder City could get on the board. Hanna Leavitt started the game with a “3” ball. The Pirate press took Boulder out of their game plan. Ashley Noto then hit a “3” ball giving Moapa an 8-0 lead with 5:47 in the 1st.
Moapa’s pressure defense seemed to take Boulder City by surprise as Boulder turned the ball over and missed shots giving Moapa a chance to run for lay ups. Ashley Noto had eight 1st quarter points. She was followed by Hanna Leavitt with 7. Moapa had an 18-8 lead after the 1st quarter. The Lady Pirates were 4-6 from the free throw line. Boulder was 2-2.
In the 2nd quarter the Eagles came to within three points of the Pirates at 19-16 with 6:00 to play. It was during this quarter that Moapa shot 2 for 9 from the line. This would turn out to be their down fall. Both teams scored ten points and the Lady Pirates led at half 28-20.
Boulder City slowly climbed back and took a 33-32 lead with 2:00 to play in the third. It was here that the Moapa girls started showing signs of fatigue.
They were reaching for balls instead of moving their feet. Shelby Gray was fouled and she made both her free throws. Then Breanna Harding scored a lay up to give Moapa the lead again at the end of the 3rd; 36-35.
Moapa’s legs were gone in the fourth. The Pirates scored two lay ups both by Noto then Boulder went on a 17-7 run to finish the game. The Lady Pirates were exhausted and had left everything on the floor.
Noto took a hit midcourt going for a ball and was knocked to the floor. She wasn’t hurt but it seemed she wasn’t the same after that. She sat out during part of the 3rd and 4th.
Still, Noto led Moapa in scoring with 14 points. Shelby Gray had her best game as she scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds. Hanna Leavitt scored 10 points while Amanda Campbell scored 7 points and had 8 rebounds.
The Boulder City girls lost to Virgin Valley Saturday. The Bulldogs advance to the state tournament with Truckee and Spring Creek who play in the first semi final. Fallon will play Virgin Valley in the second. The winners play for the title. Lowry, last years champion did not qualify.
