1A BOYS: Pahranagat Valley stuns Lake Mead for state title

RENO — The coronation didn’t go as planned. At least not for Lake Mead.

Pahranagat Valley’s boys basketball team built a 23-point lead and held off a furious rally to stun Lake Mead 63-53 in the Class 1A state title game Saturday at Lawlor Events Center.

The Eagles (26-5) entered the game looking to send their six seniors off with a third straight state championship. Instead, they were dealt their first loss to a Nevada 1A opponent since dropping the 2007 state final to Trinity.

“There were 12 young men and four coaches who truly believed we could, and we went out and executed,” Pahranagat Valley coach Brian Higbee said. “It feels incredible.”

The Panthers (21-11) lost by 20 points to the Eagles during the regular season and by 19 in the 1A Southern League final. But the blowout was reversed when it counted most.

“I always say that state championships aren’t given away, and the team that wants it more for 32 minutes will win,” Lake Mead coach Jeff Newton said. “Tonight, (Pahranagat Valley) wanted it more for 32 minutes.

“I’m not trying to knock down my kids, but anybody who watched that game would say the same thing.”

The Panthers claimed their first state crown since 2006 and 11th overall, avenging a 59-49 loss to the Eagles in last year’s title game.

Cody Hosier led Pahranagat Valley with 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting. The junior guard leaped uncontrollably as the final buzzer sounded, pumping his fist before the Panthers and their cheerleaders rushed the court.

 

“It’s unreal right now,” Hosier said. “I’m just overwhelmed.”

Kale Leavitt scored 14 points and Tommy Williams added 10 for the Panthers, who made 25 of 40 shots (62.5 percent) from the floor.

 

Pahranagat Valley held Lake Mead to seven points in each of the first two quarters.

“We weren’t intimidated by them,” said Hosier, also the starting quarterback on the Panthers’ state champion football team. “We play football. We’re not intimidated by anybody.”

Landon Littlefield scored 21 points on 8-for-25 shooting for Lake Mead, which struggled in the halfcourt set.

“I wanted to slow it way down and make them play a different style of game,” Higbee said. “I think that’s what we were able to do tonight: get them out of the style of basketball they play.”

The Panthers took a 44-21 lead in the final minute of the third quarter, but the Eagles whittled the deficit to 58-51 on a De’Quan Thompson put-back with 1:09 left. But the teams traded baskets on their ensuing possessions.

Higbee, who cradled the game ball in his arms in the tunnel after the win, said Sunday will “feel like Christmas.”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “It’s like a dream. Hopefully I’ll wake up in the morning and it won’t go away.”