By DAVE BELCHER
Moapa Valley Progress
Boys Basketball
The recent change in the NIAA has brought new hope to the smaller schools of the 3A division for boys basketball. In looking at last year’s state championships, the four teams who competed in the 2017-18 state tournament for the boys basketball were Elko and Spring Creek from the North and Desert Pines and Cheyenne in the south. Desert Pines beat Spring Creek 60-43, then Cheyenne beat northern champion Elko, 48-44 in the state semi-finals. That made it an all southern state championship game where Desert Pines beat Cheyenne in overtime 48-44 for the state title. All that will change this year as both Desert Pines and Cheyenne have been advanced back to the 4A again.
3A Sunrise Division
Boulder City
The Eagles finished with a 20-7 record overall last year. A 10-2 league record gave them the second seed in the regionals where they lost to Mojave in overtime 92-91.
The team has lost seven to graduation including second team leading scorer Carson Balistere who averaged 10 points a game. Returning is the teams leading scorer Derrick Thomas averaging 13-points a game; and Karson Bailey with 10-points a game.
The Eagles will look to contend for the league title this year.
Chaparral
The Cowboys’ football team returned to the 4A this year. But their winter sports will continue to play in the 3A.
Chaparral was last year’s Sunrise league champions. But they were eliminated from the region tournament after being beaten by State runner-up Cheyenne in the regional semi-final. They finished with a 11-1 league record.
The team returns eight from last years team including four starters. Dejonte Allen was the leading scorer with 8-points a game. Elijah Briggs and Meshach Hawkins also return with 7-point averages each.
With Desert Pines and Cheyenne out of the mix, Chaparral will compete for the Sunrise title and the regional title as well.
Sky Pointe
Last year was the first season for Sky Pointe in the 3A. They finished with a 3-19 record overall and were winless in league play at 0-12. On the positive side, they return nearly everyone from last years team which had six sophomores, three juniors and a freshman. They can do nothing but improve this year.
Sunrise Mountain
The Miners were the fourth place team in the Sunset last year. They were eliminated from the regional tournament by Chaparral in the first round.
They return three from last years team including two starters,
The Miners will be a competing for a playoff spot this year but will rely on inexperience if they will contend for the league title.
Virgin Valley
The 2017-18 team was the worst the Dawgs have seen in over a decade. The Dawgs finished the season with a 5-21 record overall and 2-10 in league. Mark Barnum in his first season last year lost to Moapa Valley both times by double digits. It had been awhile since that happened.
The team lost Perkins from last year but they return six including four starters: Daxon Toone, a senior; Koden Tietjen, a junior; Riley Waite, a junior; and Will Barnum, a Sophomore. Virgin Valley is still in a rebuilding year and will battle for a playoff spot.
3A Sunset Division
Del Sol
The Dragons finished third in the Sunrise with a 8-4 league record. They return four from last year including two starters. Nati Asfaw scored 10 points a game last year and will lead the team again this year. Tyrell Hampton was the other starter and averaged 5-points a game last year. Del Sol will be right in the hunt for a Sunrise league title.
Democracy Prep
The Blue Knights competed last year in the 2A. They have dominated there for the past two years winning the state title in both seasons.
Trevor Diggs has been the head coach there for six seasons. His record is an amazing 119-15. Last year the Blue Knights finished with a 16-0 record in 2A league play.
They return six from last seasons team including two starters. Najeeb Muhammed a senior who averaged 19 points and 8 assists a game last year. The other starters returning is Daniel Plummer who averaged 14 points a game and 4 rebounds.
The team has won five state championships and were state runner-ups twice. They will be contenders for the state title this year.
Mojave
The Rattlers finished last season with a 5-5 league record finishing third in the Sunset. This year’s Rattlers team is currently ranked fourth in the south by Nevadapreps.
They return seven from last years team including four starters. Chris Jackson a senior averaged 15-points a game last year and 8 rebounds. Isaiah Harper, DeSaun Smith and Saquevian Williams are all seniors. This team might be one of the two teams qualifying for the state tournament.
Pahrump Valley
The Trojans were under first year coach Daniel Cliff last season. They posted just one win in league play finishing 1-9 and sixth in the Sunset.
They return just four from that team last year including two starters. Brayden Severt who averaged 10 points a game last year and led the team in rebounds with 5 a game. Grant Odegard returns after averaging 8 points a game as a sophomore. The Trojans have never won a state title in their basketball program.
Valley
The Vikings moved to the 3A this year. They finished last season 6-20 overall and 1-7 in the northeast 4A league. Over the last four seasons the Vikings have a record of 18-58.
They return two from last year’s team including just one starter Bryce Jones who averaged 9 points a game. Just five years ago they were a consistent 20 game a year winner. Their last state title was in 1998.
Western
The Warriors last season finished fifth in the 3A Sunset with a league record of 4-6. They return four from last years team including three starters. James Wade, senior, scored 8 points a game last year with 5 rebounds and 3 assists each game. Robert Taylor scored 6 points a game while Keanu McGee scored 6 points. Western last won a state title in 2001.
Girls Basketball
Last year’s the state tournament included Fallon and Lowry from the north and Mojave and Virgin Valley from the south. Neither southern school could compete with the northern schools. Virgin Valley was destroyed by Fallon 52-19. Mojave was beaten 73-38 by Lowry in the state semi-finals. Fallon ended up with the state title winning 60-45 over Lowry. Desert Pines and Cheyenne both returned to the 4A this year.
3A Sunrise Division
Boulder City
The Eagles return a lot of experience with six coming back including four starters.
The biggest change is Head Coach Kirk Estes who is replacing Paul Dosch. Dosch died of cancer on July 7, after a long battle.
Madison Manns, Keely Alexander, Ellie Howard, Hannah Estes, Setia Cox and Kailee Fisher will all contribute to this year’s team.
The Eagles finished third in the Sunrise with a 9-3 record in league play and 15-11 overall. Boulder City is the third ranked team this year by Nevadapreps.
Chaparral
The Cowboys return nine seniors to their team. Last year the Cowboys finished 6-6 in the Sunrise and in fourth place. They beat Pahrump Valley in the first round of the regional tournament then were beaten by Virgin Valley in the semi-final 56-50.
The Cowboys started their season last weekend with three losses. A 63-54 loss to Desert Pines, a 73-41 loss to Bonanza and a forfeit loss to Rancho.
Sky Pointe
Last year the Eagles finished at 0-12 in the Sunrise. This will be their second season in the 3A. They lost five seniors from last year but had six freshman and three sophomores who will return to that team as well. They will be young again and looking to improve upon the record from last year.
Sunrise Mountain
The Miners were 0-10 in league play in the Sunset last year. They have a new head coach this year in Brian Sexton. The Miners will be returning three from last years team including one starter.
Virgin Valley
The Bulldogs finished in second place last year with a 15-13 overall record and 9-3 in league play. Virgin Valley graduated five seniors last year but will return Sydney Ludvigson, Betsy Orozco and Jaylee Whipple who are seniors this year. The Bulldogs start the season as the fourth ranked team in the southern 3A.
3A Sunset Division
Del Sol
Del Sol finished fifth in the league last year with a 5-17 overall record. They were 3-9 in league play. The Dragons return two from last years team: Markay Merchant and Charleyanse Howard, both were starters.
Democracy Prep
Last year in the 2A, Democracy Prep finished with a 16-6 overall record and were 14-2 in league play. Sharmayne Finley was the leading scorer last year with 29 points a game in 14 games. She was a junior.
Mojave
The Rattlers beat Moapa Valley in the regional semi-finals last year, then won the regional title to qualify for their first ever state tournament.
They switched their head coach midway through the season last year. Jessica Harrison turned the program around finishing 7-3 in the Sunset and 15-8 overall.
The Rattlers return five from last year’s team. Three were starters. Alecia Kelly returns with her 13 points a game. Chania Scott had an averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds a game.
Mojave is ranked fifth in the preseason poll in the southern 3A.
Pahrump Valley
The Trojans won the Sunset last year with a 8-2 league record. They return eleven from last year’s team and are the favorite to win the Sunset again. Three of the eleven were starters. Strittenberger returns with her 8 points a game average and 6 rebounds.Kate Duffer also returns with 6 points and 6 rebound a game average. The Trojans are ranked 2nd in the Nevadapreps preseason poll.
Valley
The Vikings were 9-19 last year in the 4A with a league record of 4-4. They lost Jeuzel Pollins to graduation last year who averaged 15 points a game.
Western
The Warriors were 9-11 overall and 6-4 in league play. They return eight from last years team.
