By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

Southern 3A Boys

The championship game at Durango last Saturday will go down as a classic. Boulder City almost let slip a 19 point lead in the final minute, then held off Virgin Valley for the only southern berth in the state tournament next week in Reno.

Boulder City is 19-9 (3-1 in the league) this season. The Eagles avenged last week’s loss to Virgin Valley 53-47.

The Eagles started the game and took control in the 1st quarter by building up a 15-7 lead. The lead increased to 9 by half time 25-16.

Boulder City came out of the locker room at half time and put together a 12 to 2 run. They looked like they were going to run away with the southern title. But then they started to loosen up on defense and the Dawgs started filling up the peach basket. Virgin Valley ended the 3rd on a 12 to 4 run and cut the lead to eleven, 40-29.

During the 4th quarter Virgin Valley found their touch from the 3 point line as they hit 5 of 10 including Nolan Tanner’s shot which brought the Bulldogs to within one point (46-45) with 2:41 left to go in the game.

Bailey drove the baseline and scored to build a 6 point lead. Virgin Valley wouldn’t score again until the clock read 11 seconds. The Boulder City defense shut the perimeter down and wouldn’t allow another three point shot.

Free throws played a huge role in the game. Virgin Valley was 6-14. Bet they wish they made them now. Boulder City was 14-21. The Eagles made as many as Virgin Valley shot.

Bailey scored 15 to lead the Eagles with Michael Walker contributing 11. Nate Hafen scored 6 but pulled down 13 rebounds including 8 on the offensive side.

Virgin Valley finishes the season 12-15.

Boulder City will play second seeded Lowry in the semi-final game on Friday at Reno High School

Northern 3A Boys

The Sparks Railroaders came into the State qualifier with a 19-5 regular season record and the top seed from the Mount Rose Region. Sparks hosted Fernley the 2nd seed from the Lahontan with a 13-13 record.

In their previous meeting the Railroaders blew out Fernley 64-35. Sparks is the #2 rated team in the state behind Elko and barely ahead of Boulder City. But Sparks LOST to Fernley 60-59 in overtime. Fernley becomes Cinderella for the Ball in Reno this week.

With the game tied at 58 Cade Knutson banked home a three pointer for a three point lead. With 1:18 remaining Spark’s Brian Morgan got a layup to bring the Railroaders within 1 point. And that is how it ended. For the second year in a row Sparks was upset in the qualifier for state.

In Elko the Indians hosted the Truckee Wolverines and beat Truckee 42-34. Elko earning a spot in the state tournament for the first time since 2004 as a member of the 4A.

On that Friday night neither team shot the ball well. Elko lead after the first quarter 14-8. Truckee kept the game close as the defensive intensity forced the easy shots to become more difficult. Elko lead after the 1st quarter 14-9. Truckee trailed at the half 23-19 after a buzzer beater by Trent McMullen. Truckee scored only one basket in the final 2:30 of the game and it was at the final buzzer.

Nathan Klekas was high scorer for the tribe with 13 points. Trent McMullen had 12 for Truckee who is finished for the season.

Southern 3A Girls

Virgin Valley upset Boulder City the week before the regionals. So you’d figure that this would motivate the Eagles last week to avenge the loss and win a chance at the state tournament. Wrong! 50-39 Bulldogs.

The Eagles came into the game with a 22-5 record the only twenty win team on the girl’s side in the 3A state. They end it at 22-6. Nikkie Arquette led the Bulldogs to the state tournament as she scored 18 points, 10 in the 4th quarter. She hit jumpers that kept giving the Bulldogs the lead in a back and forth 4th quarter before the Dawgs pulled away.

Arquette also had 5 steals which were part of the 11 for the Dawgs in the final quarter and resulted in 9 points stunning the Eagles as they faded away.

Barnard had 13 for the Bulldogs. Koopman led Boulder City with 13 while Bird finished with 10.

Northern 3A Girls

In Spring Creek the Spartans crushed South Tahoe 72-36. They outscored them 18-3 in the first quarter putting a huge cushion between them and added 16 more in the second quarter for a 34-15 half time lead. In the 3rd quarter the Spartans scored another 25 before finishing with 13 in the 4th for the lopsided victory. Spring Creek is 18-9 on the season and will be the favorites to win it all this week.

In Truckee the Wolverines were 10-0 in the Mount Rose league and were the top seed from that league with a record of 16-5 on the season and twelve straight wins. Fernley was 5-5 in the Lahontan League and the 2nd seed with a 15-9 overall record on the season.

But Fernley upset the top seed earning a ride in the pumpkin to Reno for the Ball. Fernley used a 16 point burst including 8 straight from a press and four straight turnovers to separate themselves from the Wolverines in the first half for a lead they would not lose. The final score was 57-51.

Jordan King finished the game with 15 points. Brook Mattice finished with 25 for Fernley.

In Fallon the Green Wave of alfalfa was hoping to bale the Indians from Elko and ride the wagon to Reno. The baler broke and the tribe won 57-47. Elko won and will play Virgin Valley Friday at 3:00 PM.