By Dave Belcher
Moapa Valley Progress
Last night the Pirates basketball program inducted two of its own into the Pirate Basketball Wall of fame. Larry Shurtliff and Rex Jensen were on hand to be recognized for the outstanding athletic achievements.
Larry Richard Shurtliff was born in Moapa Valley June 28 1942 to Carl and Ellen Shurtliff. He played in three sports at Moapa Valley and was the student body President. After graduation he attended Dixie Jr. College on an athletic scholarship in track and field. He was fast enough that he raced and beat a thoroughbred horse in the 100 yard dash. He married Leona Brooks in 1962 in the LDS St George Temple. He transferred to Utah State University as he continued to run track. He graduated from U.S.U. with his bachelor’s degree. His coaching career started at West Side High School in Dayton Idaho where he coached three sports basketball, football and track.
For the next few years he moved around and coached at a few more high schools. Lincoln County, Lehi High School and Spanish Fork High School.
He earned his masters from U.S.U. and worked on his Doctorate at BYU between his stint with Lehi and Spanish Fork. Coach Shurtliff then took over the Enterprise High School boys’ basketball, cross country and track programs. His teams won the state title three years in a row the same three years. During those years he coached three of his sons; both coaches at Enterprise now.
After the boys were raised he switched from boys to girls basketball and coached 2 of his daughters. In all, the Shurtliff’s had twelve children, eight boys and four girls.
After his high school coaching career was over he took over the Southern Utah University women’s program for five years where his teams won two American West Conference Championships and he was named coach of the year twice. From there he went to Snow Jr College for two years.
The Shurtliff’s have completed two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have forty four grandchildren. They are retired and living in Enterprise Utah.
“Larry is forever a Moapa Valley Pirate even the years that he was successful in beating them in basketball,” Leona said. “He is grateful for the schooling and opportunities he had at Moapa Valley in forming his ideals and helping him get grounded in life”.
Rex Jensen started playing basketball at an early age. He played on the Logandale Elementary school team in the 6th grade. He played on the Jr. High team in eighth grade. He made the varsity high school team as a sophomore and was a starter for that team.
During that time the Moapa Valley High School team played in the old Overton gym with three rows of bleachers on each side. The gym being so small was loaded with Pirate fans standing under the baskets and packed into corners because there wasn’t enough seating. This made for a very loud building and the games were always very exciting.
As a junior Rex missed the first month of the season due to a broken leg he sustained in the football game against Las Vegas High School. Rex was the starting quarterback on the varsity squad. The broken leg didn’t stop him as he would play pick-up games while hobbling on one leg.
It was during his senior year that Rex made a name for himself. Everyone heard the name Rex Jensen of Moapa Valley as he took southern Nevada by storm. His senior year was the first year the Pirates began playing in the new gym. In fact Rex was the first one to score points in that gym.
Not only was there the new gym but a new coach. Gary Earnest coached his only season at Moapa Valley before moving on the coach the freshman at BYU.
That team took second in the state tournament but got a victory that surprised everyone. The Pirates went to Bishop Gorman and pulled off the upset with a win on the Gaels home court. Rex scored 26 points in that game.
Gorman returned the favor when the Pirates were 11-0 as they came to Overton and beat the Pirates 78-75. Rex scored 28 in that one.
Before the zone tournament Moapa Valley went to Mesquite and played the Bulldogs. With the league title already won by the Pirates and nothing to lose, Rex did something no one in the state in any league had ever done before. He score 41 points; 22 in the first half and 19 in the second; beating the Bulldogs 98-49. He sat the final four minutes of the game.
The first game of the state tournament Rex scored 40 more against Stewart Indian School. Rex was named the MVP of the zone and state tournaments. He averaged 24 points a game and was a 70% free throw shooter. He developed his famous hook shot which made him hard to defend.
Rex was named to the All American team by Coach and Athletic Director magazine where they came out and presented a certificate and plaque to him. Later Moapa Valley High School retired the number 12 never to be worn again on a Moapa Valley basketball player. Rex played college ball at UNR on the freshman team and has enjoyed the game ever since.
