Lady Pirates Compete At Gator Classic

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The year 2021 ended for the Moapa Valley Girls Basketball team with five games in the final four days. The Pirates played at Green Valley High School for the Gator Classic where they were 3-2. They started with a loss then won three games in the middle and ended with a loss. Their record is now 11-2 as they prepare to start the league season.

The week started with Shadow Ridge, a team that ended up the tournament losing the championship game to Flagstaff Arizona in overtime 88-80.

The 5A team which is 10-3 right now used a second quarter where they forced the Pirates into turnovers, building a lead that was one point at the end of the first quarter into a 26-17 lead by halftime.

They continued the pressure the second half holding the Pirates to 13 points in the second half, 9 points in the third and 4 in the fourth for a 53-30 win. The Pirate loss was their first of the season.

Emma Humes was 2-8 shooting making two 3-pointers in three tries and finishing with 9 points to lead the Pirates. Linn Engelgren was 2 of 8 for 7 points. The Pirates were 10 of 46 from the field in their lowest scoring game so far this season.

Game two was against the Rancho Rams. The Rams started with just five players on the team when the game started. A sixth came at the start of the second quarter.

The Pirates had their way with the Rams winning 59-17. Moapa Valley had a 14-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. It was 29-9 by halftime.

The Pirates leading scorer was Sydney Reese with 12 points. She was 5-9 from the floor and pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the team. Talli Fairchild scored 11 points making three 3-pointers.

Game three was on Wednesday where it was a blow-out over the Basic Wolves, 50-14. The score was 16-6 by the end of the first quarter. 24-8 by the start of the second half.

The Pirates held Basic to just 1 point in the third quarter and a total of 6 points for the entire second half.
Sydney Reese dominated the paint as she scored 20 points in the game with 13 rebounds. Hailey Western scored 13 points.

Game four was the first of a double-header on Thursday. It was another blow out, this time against Canyon Springs 65-39.

Moapa Valley raced to a 17-6 lead by the end of the first quarter. It was 38-15 by halftime.
Engelgren led the Pirates with 11 points. She was 4-5 from the field making 1 of 2 3-pointers. Western scored 9 points.
The weak spot in the game was from the free throw line where the Pirates were just 3-10.

The fifth and final game of the week and year was against the Needles Mustangs. The Mustangs are a 2A power. They beat the Pirates 40-38.

The Pirates lead 12-7 by the end of the first and 22-18 by halftime. Then they could only muster up 5 points in the third quarter which was the difference in the game.

Needles’ Te Lemon was the leading scorer for both teams with 19 points. Moapa Valley was led by Western with 9 points. In their final three possessions of the game, the Pirates turned the ball over twice in the final minute.

This week, the Pirates host Pahrump Valley on Saturday at 10:30 am.