By LOU MARTIN
The Progress
After a horrendous first period, the Virgin Valley High School Boys Basketball team offense came to life, battling back to take a 73-67 win over undefeated SLAM Academy on Saturday, Jan. 8 in the Dawg House. Shooting guard Cameron Perkins had 37 points to lead the Dawgs followed by 15 from Kyler Sudweeks.
The Bulldogs came out tentative in the first period, not being able to handle the Bulls full court press and making numerous unforced errors.
The Bulls jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Perkins hit the first of his 7 three-balls. The Dawgs poor ball handling led to a 19-6 deficit after one period.
Sudweeks hit a three to start the second period followed by another three-ball from Benson Leavitt. But the Dawgs still trailed early in the period 29-12.
The Bulldogs went on a 15-6 run to cut the Bulls lead to 36-27. Perkins had 7 points during the run while teammates Sudweeks, Stratton Waite, Jordan Hunter and Benson Leavitt struck from downtown on three-balls.
SLAM kept the pressure on the Bulldogs to begin the second half of play upping their lead to 41-27. Perkins got the Dawgs rolling again with 8 points sandwiched behind a two points from Sudweeks before Sudweeks hit 8 straight points to cut the Bulls lead to 48-45.
Benson Leavitt three-ball made the score 51-48 before Waite hit for two and Hunter finished the third period with two free throws making the score a razor thin 52-51 and setting up an amazing the fourth period and finally overtime finish.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game 55-54 on a Perkins three, making the score 55-54 in favor of the Dawgs. Perkins added 8 straight points but the Bulls matched Perkins tying the game up 60-60 with four minutes left in regular time.
Perkins finished the scoring with five straight but a missed free throw sent the game into overtime at 65-65.
Perkins hit one of two free throws giving the Dawgs a 66-65 advantage early in the overtime period. Waite followed with two points and Perkins finished the scoring with five free throws down the stretch for a 73-67 win for the Dawgs.
It was a happy Bulldog coach Ty Wakefield after the hard fought game beaming while stating, “I am proud of our resilient team and I’m grateful for our fans who showed up on a Saturday afternoon.”
Wakefield was proud to relate that one of the Bulls players had come up to him impressed by the hometown support of the team. “He asked: ‘Do your fans always support the team like this at every home game?’”
“We are growing and getting better,” added coach Wakefield.
The win gives the Dawgs a 2-0 record for 2022 and a 3-1 record in 3A League play.
The Bulldogs will travel to Pahrump Valley on Tuesday before hosting Sky Pointe on Thursday.
The only bad result, of probably one of the best games I’ve covered in years, was the inexperience of the referees showed. The game got out of control in the fourth period and overtime, causing negative reactions from both fans and players alike. There is no place for this type of reaction in high school sports. Just my opinion.
