By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
Throw them out! The records that is. Because in this war they just don’t matter. The defending State champion versus last year’s favorite. Until, of course the region championship game when the Pirates upended the Dawgs and were the lone representative in the state tournament.
In remembrance of that occasion, the Bulldogs were fired up on Friday night and ready for a rematch of sorts. On the line, a win and another chapter in the history of Moapa Valley versus Virgin Valley.
This game was a classic. The play was intense as the players were aggressive from start to finish. The first point was scored by Moapa’s McConell with a free throw in the first minutes. Nerves were tight as each team saw their share of turn overs.
Conner Mortensen tied the score at three with a put back and in a period of 30 seconds Virgin Valley went to the line for six free throw attempts. Mesquite converted only one of them.
Moapa took a 5-4 lead with a nice side step layup by McConell. Tanner then scored a layup for Virgin Valley followed by one from Shane Terrill for Moapa.
Through the first quarter Kasen Hughes struggled to make his put backs as he worked hard inside the paint grabbing rebounds.
Jackson Mortenson put the Pirates up three with two free throw at 58 seconds left in the first.
Moapa had another chance to have the lead at the end of the 1st but Rebman missed a layup and Virgin Valley had an 11-12 lead after the 1st quarter.
In the second quarter Virgin Valley slowed the pace spreading the floor and passing around the perimeter. They were looking to bring the Pirates out of their zone and into a man. But the Pirates were content to stay in their zone.
Virgin Valley buried a three ball and Moapa turned the ball over 5 of their next 6 possessions. Moapa’s only points in the 2nd quarter came with Jackson Mortensen’s layup after a steal. The Bulldogs led 22-13 at the half.
With 6 minutes to go in the third quarter Conner Mortensen hit a three pointer and McConnell hit one a minute later. Prisbrey got a steal and was fouled on his shot. He converted one of two bring the Pirates to within 4 with 4:28 to go.
Bowler converted the old school three with a layup and free throw after the foul. Another Bulldog layup followed by a Terrill 10 footer and Virgin Valley was up 7 with 2:17 to play.
Dakota Watters got the final shot of the quarter as he split the defenders and put up an off balance shot that went down to spin out to end the 3rd quarter.
Dee Bowler came to life in that quarter for the Dawgs as he drove the lane and pushed the ball up the floor. He scored 9 of the Bulldog 13 points for the quarter.
At that point, Virgin Valley lead by 9 points, 35-26.
In the fourth quarter the Pirates came to life. It started with Dakota Watters hitting a 3 pointer; nothing but net! Jackson Mortenson who left everything on the floor that night dived on a loose ball, passed it to Conner Mortensen who hit Watters on top. Watters buried another nothing but net 3 pointer.
Urias scored on a layup for the Dawgs and was fouled but missed the free throw. Then on the Pirates next possession, Terrill hit a three and brought the Pirate crowd to their feet cutting the Bulldogs lead to only two points with 5:30 to go.
Virgin Valley made two free throws to stay on top then Kasen Hughes was fouled under the basket and made 1 of 2 from the line. A three point Bulldog lead.
A Bulldog layup then a Conner Mortensen layup off the inbound pass under the basket. Urias missed the front end of a one and one then, in frustration, he fouled Watters. Watters buries his two shots and the Pirates were now down 1.
Bowler hit two free throws with 2:41 to play and brought the Bulldogs to a three point lead.
Then the Bulldogs turned the ball over and Terrill hit a jumper from the free throw line cutting the lead to 1 point again.
Urias then drove the lane for the Dawgs and was fouled by Hughes. With a chance to push the led to 3 with 1:30 to play, Urias misses both free throws! Ten seconds later McConnell knocks down a three and puts Moapa up by two.
Urias drives the base line where Watters blocks the shot into the air straight up. Watters out jumps everyone and lands on his rear. He was called for traveling. The gym echoed as the boo birds came out from the Moapa side and a roar of approval on the Virgin Valley side.
After all that, Virgin Valley missed a short jumper. On the next Bulldogs possession they make two free throws to tie it up at 45’s with 21 seconds left.
Urias tried to steal the ball and fouled Hughes on the inbound. With 19 seconds remaining in the game Kasen Hughes scores the first shot for a one point lead. Stone cold he knocks down the second shot for a 2 point lead.
Virgin Valley inbounded the ball and ten seconds later the ball was lofted into the air. It missed! Watters again out-jumped everyone and came down with the rebound. He was immediately fouled with 5 seconds on the clock.
Watters put up the first, no good. Still a 2 point Pirate lead. The second, perfect; and Moapa is up by three.
There was a little Pirate confusion when the ball was inbounded as Bowler took the ball up the floor to the top and got an open look at the basket from behind the line. The ball was off the back of the rim and somewhere during the fight for the rebound the horn ended the game. It wasn’t heard. PIRATES WIN!
Moapa was 12-20 from the free throw line while the Bulldogs shot 14-29.
Watters lead the Pirates in scoring with 13 while Bowler led the Dawgs with 13. This was Moapa’s second win of the season. No better time or place. It ended a 10 game losing streak and put them 2nd place in the league. Their record is 2-16.
Virgin Valley is 9-9 and is now the cellar dweller in the 3A south.
