Pirate Team Preps To Be A Force

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Boys Basketball team has seen a big turnover in personnel since last year’s season. The Pirates only bring back two juniors, who played significant minutes last year: Jayden Bunker and Joe Whitmore. Both players started games and have improved immensely over the Summer and Fall, according to Head Coach Kevin Walker.

“We graduated a ton of seniors and football players, and will have a completely different look this season,” said Walker. “We tried to plan ahead for this exodus and had many of our young freshmen and sophomores practice and play every day with the varsity team last season. I believe it has helped them mature more quickly and put them a year ahead of where they might feel as we head into this year.”

The team is an interesting group. The Pirates have a huge chunk of basketball-first players. “I can’t remember seeing so many players that play basketball in the Summer and Fall and come in to shoot and play consistently,” said Walker. “We are a long team that should shoot the ball well. We have an interesting blend of grit, length and shooting this season. We also have some tough matchups for teams.”
Jayden Bunker is 6’4” and plays up around the rim at the guard/wing position.
“Jayden is our best defender and can guard any position,” Walker said.

Joe Whitmore is the “motor” of the team and will be an excellent leader, Walker said.
“Joe will remind our middle-aged fans of Bad Boy Piston Dennis Rodman,” Walker added. “He is a relentless rebounder, defender and competitor. He regularly mops the floor with his body.”
Moapa will begin the season with two sophomore starters including 6’3” point guard John Lyman and 6’2” Bryson Walker.

These four players will give the Pirates tremendous length, Walker said.

Lyman is a tall guard that can see over defenders and create for the Pirates. Walker is the best shooter as well as the best player in the post.
“Both can create their own shots and I’m excited to see what they can do at this level,” said Walker
“The team is littered with shooters as well,” Walker said.

Juniors Mason Wheeler, Heath Bylund, Noah Christensen and Jacob Dominguez all shoot the ball well and have worked on their games relentlessly last summer and through the fall.

Seniors Ethan Stankosky, Ethan Witter and Stockton Davis round out the Pirate squad to give it depth.

Former head coach Dallas Larsen has also joined the coaching staff to assist this season. He brings a wealth of experience, as well as a state championship.
“I am excited to see how this group gels and what kind of chemistry we can come up with,” said Walker. “We will be a tough team to beat and will compete for a spot in Reno this year, to compete for a state championship.”

The Pirates get started this week travelling to Enterprise on Tuesday, Nov. 29. They them spend the weekend in Virgin Valley for a tournament. The team’s first home game will be against Southeast Career Tech on Wednesday, Dec. 7.