MVHS Boys Basketball Loses Two More At Home

By DAVE BELCHER

Moapa Valley Progress

The Pirates finished the home schedule with four straight home games finishing 1-3 at home including two losses last week.
The first game was against Del Sol on Tuesday night, January 31. The Pirates were heading into the game with a need to win this week’s games for any chance to make the playoffs.

Del Sol had a record of 3-3 and were looking to solidify their chances for the same, a playoff spot.
Moapa Valley came out after the tip pushing the ball up the floor making some easy layups to build a 17 -nine lead by the end of the first quarter.

Twice the Pirates led by ten points in the quarter. Del Sol would start the second quarter with a 7-0 run and would close the quarter with a six point run. The game was tied by halftime 23-23.
Moapa Valley started the second half on a 7-2 run to rebuild a 31-26 lead. It was here that the Dragons built their lead by going on a 12-1 run to finish the quarter for a 38-32 advantage by the start of the fourth quarter. Del Sol took a 10-point 43-33 lead to start the final quarter allowing the Pirates to close the gap to 3 points a couple of times.
But Moapa Valley could not close the gap any further in the fourth quarter as both teams scored 13 points giving the Dragons a 51-45 win.

Mekhi Duncan led the Dragons with 16 points. Johnathan Spearman added 10 points in the win. Moapa Valley was led by Nathaniel Thompson scored 17 points.

In the second game of the week on Friday, the Virgin Valley Bulldogs came to Moapa Valley and returned home with a 57-44 win.
The Bulldogs used their quickness and outscored the Pirates 16-5 in the first quarter to earn a first quarter advantage which they would never relinquish again.

The only lead the Pirates would own in this game was the first two points on a layup after the tip. The pace picked up for each team in the second quarter as the Bulldogs scored increased their lead by one point to 12. They scored 21 points to the Pirates 20 for a 37-25 halftime lead.
Moapa Valley came up with 8 points in the third quarter and 8 points in the fourth as the Bulldogs coasted to an unexciting win.

Hogan Fowles and his 16 points led Virgin Valley with Andrew Memmott adding 12. Trey Jones led Moapa Valley and his 13 points, Ryan Foster scored 10.

This week the Pirates will finish the regular season on the road at SECTA and at Boulder City with a very slim chance to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win both games and get some help in order to qualify.