Boulder City ends Desert Pines’ improbable run

Boulder City’s girls basketball team probably didn’t expect to see Desert Pines in Saturday’s Division I-A Southern Region championship.

Frankly, no one did. The Jaguars were a six-win team before the playoffs started and squeaked in as the Sunrise League’s No. 4 seed.

It was clear, though, that the Eagles took Desert Pines seriously.

After storming to a 30-6 halftime lead, the Eagles coasted to a 56-22 victory at Sunrise Mountain for their first region title since 2009. Both teams will compete in this week’s state tournament in Reno.

“We just achieved our second goal from the start of the season,” Boulder City coach Paul Dosch said. “Obviously we are going on to Reno, so we have to make a business trip out of it.

“We’re on a nice roll. Virgin Valley beat us a couple of weeks ago, and that was a nice, humbling moment. Now we got to be ready to go every single game.”

Boulder City (23-4) set the tone early, allowing Desert Pines to make just one field goal in the first half.

The Eagles used their height advantage on offense and defense. They outrebounded the Jaguars 28-15 in the first half and drove to the basket on almost every possession.

Senior Whitney Barlow was one of the girls taking advantage, scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds in the first half. She finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles, who also got 10 points from Jana Williams.

Chrystian Myles had 11 points for Desert Pines (8-21).

DIVISION III SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Lincoln County’s girls basketball team lost only two league games all season, both to Needles by a combined seven points.

The Lynx got their revenge in the Division III Southern League final Saturday, topping the Mustangs 48-32 at Sunrise Mountain.

Lincoln County (14-4) and Needles (20-8) advance to this week’s state tournament in Reno.

“I’m really proud of the girls,” Lincoln County coach Lori Cheeney said. “They did a good job mentally coming back from two losses to this team, and that was satisfying for them.”

In the first five minutes, the teams combined for just two points and seven turnovers. Lincoln County led 3-2 after one quarter, despite going 0-for-9 from the field. Jillyn Katschke made the team’s first field goal with 6 minutes, 25 seconds, left in the second quarter. The Lynx led 18-10 at halftime.

Savannah Harr had 15 points, and Jaycee Wadsworth added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Lincoln County.

Brenna Chavez had 11 points and Demi Limon 10 for Needles.

DIVISION IV SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Pahranagat Valley’s girls basketball team began the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Division IV Southern League championship game with only four players on the floor.

Twenty seconds later, Kalli Hosier crept off the bench and joined the play in progress.

It was just about the only thing the Panthers did wrong all day.

Pahranagat Valley played sharp defense and used an opportunistic offense to rout Tonopah 54-29 in the league final at Sunrise Mountain. The Panthers (23-4) and Muckers (12-9) advance to this week’s state tournament in Reno.

“When I put back in a starter, Kalli just assumed that she was out,” said Pahranagat Valley coach Amy Huntsman, holding back a laugh. “It was just a miscommunication. Everybody was yelling ‘Four’ and I was like, ‘No, we’ve got five.’ Then I realized we had four, and we couldn’t figure out who to put on.”

After the Panthers took a 17-6 lead after the first quarter, Tonopah never pulled within single digits, thanks in large part to a pressing defense that never seemed to let the Muckers get set.

Traci Strong had 18 points and Kimberly Lewis 17 for Pahranagat Valley. Bailee Hosier scored 10, and 5-foot-6-inch senior forward Kennedy Huntsman grabbed 15 rebounds for the Panthers.

Julia Klapper and Sydney Gray each had 10 points for Tonopah.