Two Losses Place Pirate Basketball Third In Sunrise

By DAVE BELCHER

Moapa Valley Progress

It started as a week that could have provided the Pirates with a couple of wins and an improved playoff seeding. It ended with two tough losses and a third seed headed into the regional tournament.

The Moapa Valley High School Boys Basketball team had a tough task as they finished the regular season going up against the top two seeds in the Sunrise last week.

On Tuesday, Feb. 12 the Pirates travelled to Chaparral High School where they were beaten 67-56. The Pirates and Cowboys played tough in the first quarter as the Cowboys held only a two point lead after the first quarter, 16-14.

The difference in this game was the second quarter. The Cowboys scored 22-points while holding the Pirates to only 11. Chaparral found some easy points capitalizing on a few Pirate turnovers to build the lead.

The Pirates could not cut the Cowboy lead in the third quarter. Rather the Cowboys added two points to their lead.
Moapa Valley outscored the Cowboys in the fourth quarter 16-12.

Moapa Valley was led by Lucas Walker who scored 16-points. Jessup Lake scored 12. The Cowboys were lead by Meshach Hawkins who scored 20-points, Sameal Anderson and Elijah Briggs each scored 11-points.

The win gave the Cowboys the second seed and a first round home game in this week’s regionals.

On Friday night the Pirates hosted Boulder City, the first place team which is undefeated in the Sunrise.

The game started with the Eagles finding easy points under the basket. Meanwhile, Moapa Valley could not buy a basket in the first quarter as they had trouble breaking the Eagle full court press. The first quarter ended with the Pirates trailing 16-4 and struggling.

In the second quarter the Pirates found the basket often. Moapa out-played the Eagles in the second quarter on offense but still could not shut the Eagles down on defense. The Pirates outscored the Eagles 25-23 for a 39-29 Eagle lead at halftime.

The third quarter was all Eagles. They outscored the Pirates 22-8 finishing any hope of a Pirate win. Boulder City scored on six layups in the third quarter. They also dominated the boards. In one trip down the floor the Pirates fouled the Eagles three times ending in two made free throws. The Eagles held a 61-37 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Ethan Speaker was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 19-points. Karson Bailey scored 17 and Derrick Thomas scored 14. Derek Reese lead the Pirates with 13-points. Lucas Walker scored 12 and Jessup lake scored 10-points.

When it was all finished the Eagles had a 74-51 win and retained the top seed headed into the regional tournament from the Sunrise.

Boulder City will host the fourth seed Western (3-7) on Tuesday night this week. Moapa Valley will travel to Mojave the second seed from the Sunset with a 8-2 record. Moapa Valley and Boulder City could meet up again in the second round of the regional tournament.