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Mesquite Desert Dogs Start Season With A Win

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

Tyron Criswell takes to the court on Thursday night for the Mesquite Desert Dogs first game of the season played at the Rising Star Pavilion. PHOTO COURTESY OF MESQUITE DESERT DOGS.

Moapa Valley is closer than ever to professional basketball these days. Thanks to the Mesquite Desert Dogs of The Basketball League (TBL), minor league professional basketball is just a short drive up the road for local residents.

The Desert Dogs, now in their second year of play, began their season on Thursday night, January 10, against the reigning TBL champions, the Yakima Sun Kings.
The Desert Dogs finished last season with a 14-15 record. But a chance to host the defending champs provided huge opportunity.

At the Rising Star Pavilion in Mesquite, a live DJ, concessions, and a team that seemed as close with the fans as they were with one another, paved the way for a welcoming atmosphere.

Getting the Desert Dogs on the board first was Johnathan Loyd, whose assertiveness on the court much outweighs his small stature. At just 5’8”, Loyd, a Las Vegas native, played point guard for the University of Oregon from 2011-2014, before deciding to play football for the Ducks the next season. Loyd made two NCAA tournament runs with Oregon and played for a national title game on the gridiron as well.

Tyron Criswell, of the University of Nevada, helped get the Desert Dogs rolling in the first half. The score would be 25-25 after one period. After the first half, Mesquite trailed 51-54.

In the third, an alley-oop from guard Jamal Peterson to forward Don Muepo gave the Desert Dogs their first lead since the first quarter. Beginning to break away, it was Mesquite’s Stephen McCall Jr. who solidified the lead with back-to-back defensive plays to end the quarter. McCall stripped a Yakima guard of the ball and laid it in as the buzzer sounded to put a cap on it. The Desert Dogs led 84-74 going into the final 12 minutes.

The defending champion Sun Kings weren’t going out quietly, though. They chipped away at the lead until it was just a point difference with under three minutes.

The Sun Kings were able to cut the deficit to 96-95 after a technical foul called against Mesquite’s Johnathan Loyd. He’d respond with two foul shots of his own seconds later to make it 98-95.

Ultimately, Yakima had one possession to tie it with under twenty seconds left. Tony Farmer of the Sun Kings sunk a remarkable step-back three pointer with four seconds left to tie up the game at 98.

On the other end, Coach Wiley relied on his point guard Loyd to make the play in the final moments. Loyd drew a shooting foul with under two seconds remaining, echoing cheers from the Mesquite fanbase. Loyd made both shots and the Desert Dogs went on to start the season 1-0 with a 102-98 victory.

Carlnel Wiley spoke on Loyd’s role with the team. “His leadership is very key,” Wiley said. “From day one, I’ve seen his loyalty off the court for me and this program. We’re right behind Johnathan. He’s special.”

Loyd finished with a team-high 22 points, while Criswell and Muepo stood just behind with 17 and 15, respectively.

Looking ahead, Wiley has high hopes for what’s to come of this squad, adding, “We’re looking good. Coming after training camps, they’re a little tired but they’re feisty. What a great first game for us to have to learn from.”

Following the final buzzer, the Desert Dogs coaching staff and players walked a lap around the arena, shaking the hand of each fan in attendance on the sideline. This gesture capped off the unique and intimate experience that the Desert Dogs bring to the table.

A rare combination of professional caliber performance and a close team to fan relationship lies in the pavilion at the Rising Star in Mesquite. Wiley, Loyd, and co. are hoping to turn this season of Desert Dogs basketball into a thrilling one for the fans in Southern Nevada.

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