By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Girls Basketball team had just one game last week. But it was an important one. Not only was it the first game of the regular season, but it also came as their first meeting with the rival Virgin Valley Bulldogs. With a New Year’s resolution to take care of the visiting Bulldogs, the Pirates got off to a hot start on the court.
In reflection, head coach Brandon Jones noted the anticipation for the game. “We were pretty excited going into it,” he said. “It’s our first league game and it was the seniors’ last time playing Virgin Valley at home.”
After the first quarter, it became noticeable who was in charge of the rivalry in 2019. Moapa Valley led by twelve points with a score of 18-6, and weren’t prepared to let up in the second period. By halftime, the score had already extended to 28-14.
In the second half, the Pirates continued their use of a full court press to harass Virgin Valley ball handlers into turnovers and easy points on the opposite end. Freshman Emma Humes and sophomore Kaitlyn Anderson capitalized at every opportunity. All in all, the Pirates would ride a 50-26 lead into the final quarter.
With much of the starting lineup taking it easy, Moapa Valley coasted to a 57-41 victory.
The Pirates had three players in double figures for points scored. Lainey Cornwall led the way with 18, Anderson added 13, and freshman Emma Humes made it an even 10. Not far behind Humes was senior Peyton Schraft, who tallied seven points for the game.
Kaitlyn Anderson finished with a balanced scoresheet including 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, eight steals, and three blocks. Anderson’s defensive development has been one to note as this season progresses, and it was proven in the Pirates’ first regular season matchup.
Meanwhile, Cornwall struck a personal achievement of her own over the winter break. Cornwall notched her thousandth point scored in a Moapa Valley High School uniform. Her total now stands at 1,071 points going into this week, when she’ll play her 100th game as a Pirate.
Coach Jones researched the statistic and found that, to the best of his knowledge, only two other Pirates have reached that benchmark: Kim Ortega and Jordan Adams. Cornwall will surely build on that total as the season goes along, but has now firmly etched her name among the greats of Pirate history.
“It’s honestly a little surreal because I don’t feel like I’ve scored so much,” Cornwall said of the accomplishment.
Looking ahead, Coach Jones says he knows the team understands their position atop the division. “We know we have the targets on our back and everyone is going to be gunning for us, so we’re trying to take it one game at a time,” he said.
With threats like Sunrise Mountain and Boulder City on Moapa’s side of the league, the team must be sure to take every step with care.
Last season, when the Pirates were the frontrunner to make the state tournament, a postseason slip-up against Mojave derailed an otherwise spectacular season. When asked if there is any cause for similar concern this season, Jones reassured, “Because of that result, I don’t think it’s going to happen this year.
It still leaves a bad taste in everybody’s mouth and they’re determined to not let it happen, so I believe them. They’re a bunch of fighters.”
The Pirates will take on Lincoln County this weekend and look to keep their momentum rolling.
