Bonanza can’t slow Grizzlies

Shannon Nolan celebrated his 18th birthday Friday, and the senior guard looked determined to lead Spring Valley’s boys basketball team to a victory.

Nolan scored 23 points to lift the Grizzlies to an 83-70 home win over Southwest League rival Bonanza.

“I turned 18 today, and all I wanted for my birthday was to get this 'W,’ ” Nolan said. “My team helped me do it, and we got this win.”

Nolan shot 8-for-15 from the field, including a 4-for-8 mark on 3-pointers, to help Spring Valley improve to 2-1, all in Southwest play.

Alex Tarkanian hit a 3-pointer from the left side to bring Bonanza (3-4, 2-1) to within 71-65 midway through the fourth quarter. But Spring Valley closed the game on a 12-5 run.

Rahfe’l King shot 6-for-6 on free throws in the final 1:10 for the Grizzlies.

“Those guys pulled it out in the fourth quarter,” Spring Valley coach Phil McAlister said of his team’s free-throw shooting. “Rahfe’l was icing the game with those. We preach in practice how huge those are, so it proves our point.”

Bonanza took a 48-47 lead on an Alex Arias layup midway through the third quarter, but the Grizzlies closed the period with a 9-5 run capped by Nolan’s 3-pointer from the left corner.

DeShaun Nowlin scored 19 points for Spring Valley, and Justin Profit had 15 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

King, a senior point guard who transferred from the Cleveland area, had 12 points and three assists. Ryan Vozzola supplied seven points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

"We're just moving the ball, playing well in transition, hitting the open man and knocking down our shots," Nolan said.

Marques Barnes scored 19 of his game-high 26 points in the first half for Bonanza.

Ashton Howard scored 17 points for the Bengals, and Arias supplied 12 points and six rebounds.