Pioneer boys use quick offense to run past Valley
Getting up and down the floor has been the style for Valley’s boys basketball team all season.
There was only one problem for the Vikings on Thursday night — Canyon Springs runs even more.
The Pioneers sprinted to a 14-2 lead on the way to a 66-57 Northeast League victory.
“We know we’re facing a team with nine (or) 10 true athletes,” Valley coach Brian Farnsworth said before the game. “If it becomes a rat race, we’ll need to shoot really well to have a chance.”
Canyon Springs (12-3, 4-0 Northeast League) held a 35-21 advantage at halftime.
Valley (10-7, 2-2 Northeast) lacked a consistent shooting game but still managed to pull within 52-49 in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t match their intensity throughout the entire third quarter,” Pioneers coach Daryl Branham said. “We knew they were a good team, and they play hard. We knew they weren’t going to lie down.”
Curtis Stuckey, who had eight points for Canyon Springs, had a key steal in the lane with 1:45 to go and the Pioneers clinging to a 60-55 lead. The steal led to a fast break, which resulted in the fifth foul on Valley’s Christian Kessee and two made free throws by Jared Brandon for Canyon Springs.
The Vikings never got any closer, as two more of its players fouled out and coach Farnsworth pulled point guard Khristian Kirkwood when he was assessed a technical foul with less than a minute left.
Junior guard Michael Thompson had 20 points to lead Canyon Springs.
“Michael just understands the game really well,” Branham said. “He’s continuing to improve.”
Adrian Snow added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jeremy Alexander supplied 11 points for the Pioneers.
Kessee led Valley with 13 points, and Angelo Coleman scored 12. Kirkwood had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
