By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

Last week the Lady Pirates basketball team participated in the Las Vegas invitational where they did some wonderful playing; and then had a game where they completely came apart.

On the first day of the tournament, and with two games on the day, the Ladies played like Jeckle and Hyde.

They beat a team from Fairmont Prep 55- 46. Chanel Lacroix scored 17 points and Frie added 11 to lead the Pirates to their victory. It was the second quarter in which the ladies scored 21 to Fairmont’s 8 that opened up the lead at the half to 30-20 and a 14 point lead after the third quarter. Still, Fairmont didn’t give up as they outscored the Pirates 16-11 in the 4th.

But the worst was yet to come. It was the second game of the day which saw a complete Pirate melt down. That game was against Chadwick from California.

The game’s 1st quarter ended with a 3-2 Pirate led. That’s right 3-2. And it didn’t get much better for Moapa as they scored 3 points in the 2nd while Chadwick took a nine point led at the half 14-5.

In this hair-puller Moapa couldn’t get anything going as they scored only 5 points in the 3rd quarter and 6 points in the fourth for a grand total of 16 for the game.

Chadwick scored a total of 41 for the game in the blow out.

Moapa shot 1-2 from the line while Chadwick shot 4-8.

On Wednesday the Pirates returned to Vegas and lost in a heart-breaker to the Needles Mustangs 48-46. The free throw line was the determining factor for Moapa who shot 10-20. Needles only shot 6-26 and could have blown the Pirates out.

Maybe no one cares enough to spend the time needed on the free bees. Too bad.

Moapa took a five point lead at the half after being tied after the first. A Moapa 4 point third quarter brought back memories of the previous day’s disaster. But it still wasn’t enough to give the Mustangs the lead after the third as Needles scored 8 and was only 1 point behind.

Noto led the team with 14 followed by Lacriox with 13. Needles outscored the Pirates 14-11 in the 4th for the difference in the final. Chandler scored 20 for the Mustangs.

Thursday’s final game of the tourney for the Pirates was a first quarter lead that they built and never relinquished to Calvary Chapel in route to their 57-45 win. Lacroix nailed three “3” pointers and finished with a team leading 15 followed by 14 by Noto and 13 by Hanna Leavitt.

Moapa was 2-11 from the line. Calvary was 1-9.

Calvary outscored the Pirates 12-8 in the second quarter as Moapa held on to the lead and got the victory.

The Pirates will be competing in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic at Centennial High School this week. Sure hope Santa gave them something to help with the free throws.