VEGAS INVITE: Hosier’s fourth-quarter push helps Pahranagat Valley boys to 10-0 start

Pahranagat Valley’s boys basketball team relied on a stacked deck of offensive weapons to start the season 9-0.

But the Panthers also have an ace in hand, and senior guard Cody Hosier made sure they ran their record to 10-0 on Tuesday.

Hosier scored 15 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to help Pahranagat Valley to a 55-50 win over Buckley (Calif.) in the quarterfinals of the Vegas Invitational at Mountain View.

“You know Cody’s going to go off. It’s not a matter of if; it’s when,” Panthers coach Brian Higbee said. “It’s nice to know we have (offensive) balance, but we also have a guy who can get you 30 points. We thrive on balance, but we also like the individual effort.”

Hosier hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including a shot from the right wing to give the Panthers a 42-41 lead, and Pahranagat Valley led the rest of the way.

“Those were big shots he took, with a hand in his face,” Higbee said. “He’s a big-time clutch player.”

Hosier also skied for a defensive rebound after Buckley missed a possible game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds, then knocked down a pair of free throws with one second left to seal the win.

While he is more than willing to take key shots in the fourth quarter, Hosier said the Panthers are undefeated thanks mostly to their offensive depth.

“We’ve had a few games this year where we’ve had four or five guys in double figures,” he added. “So I know if I don’t score, somebody’s going to pick up the scoring. We all trust each other. We can all score when needed, and we take the right shots at the right times.”

Derek Hansen had 10 points and six rebounds for Pahranagat Valley, and teammate Jeremy Roemer supplied seven points and eight rebounds.

Nick De Bonfilhs led Buckley with 19 points.

The Panthers returned four starters from a team that won the Class 1A state title last season, and the veteran leadership has paid dividends with the current undefeated record.

“With our senior leadership, that’s what these kids do: find a way to make a play, whether on offense or defense,” Higbee said.

Pahranagat Valley will meet Santana (Calif.) in a semifinal game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Agassi Prep 56, Tech 47 — Quincy Brown racked up 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks as the Stars downed the Roadrunners in a quarterfinal game.

Curtis Watson had nine points and five rebounds for Agassi Prep, and teammate Terrell Kemp supplied nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

Tech pulled to within 45-44 on a free throw by Michael Johnson midway through the fourth quarter, but Agassi Prep closed the game on an 11-3 run.

Johnson led Tech with 15 points, and teammate Manny Gonzalez scored 13.

St. Joseph (Calif.) 79, Mountain View 62 — Case Bruton scored 23 points to help the Knights defeat the Saints in the quarterfinals.

Brad Zimmer added 20 points and Bebe Vargas scored 19 for St. Joseph, which sank 10 3-pointers.

Justyn Anderson paced Mountain View with 30 points. Trevor Van Kempen added 14 points for the Saints, and teammate Charles Nieto scored 10.

Santana (Calif.) 67, Lake Mead 34 — Ryan Bickford scored 21 points as the Sultans cruised past the Eagles in a quarterfinal game.

Dylan Bradley led Lake Mead with nine points.

Lake Mead 57, Calvary Chapel 46 — L.J. Yamzon scored 23 points to help the Eagles beat the Lions.

Caleb Pitman had 14 points and Cris Cockrell scored 10 for Lake Mead, which cruised after taking a 22-9 first-quarter lead.

Cody Taylor led Calvary Chapel with 20 points, and Bobby Buist scored 12 for the Lions.

Desert Christian (Calif.) 71, The Meadows 69 — Richard Kubel scored 16 points, including three free throws with 24.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Knights a 70-69 lead, and Desert Christian held on for the consolation win.

Garrett Gosse paced the Mustangs with 31 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Max Newman and Austin Brown each scored 13 points for The Meadows.

Beatty 52, White Pine 49 — Ramiro Hernandez scored 12 points to lead three double-figure scorers as the Hornets held off the Bobcats in a consolation game.

Miky Gaitan and Anthony Turner scored 10 points apiece for Beatty, which outscored White Pine 19-9 in the second quarter to build a 29-22 halftime lead.

White Pine attempted two possible game-tying 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds, but both shots rimmed out.

Josh Ashby paced White Pine with seven points.

Needles 68, Aussie Travelers 49 — Aaron Burns compiled 18 points, 10 rebounds and two steals to help the Mustangs beat the Aussie Travelers in a consolation game.

Michael Hills supplied 18 points, six steals, three assists and three blocks for Needles, and teammate Ryan Andrews had 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Nick Womersley led the Travelers with 15 points.

Adelson School 54, Spring Mountain 48 — Gabi Bornstein poured in 21 points to lead the Lions past the Eagles in a consolation game.

Jackson Wessells scored 15 points for Adelson, which used a 19-12 edge in the third quarter to pull away.

Devante Rash scored 14 and Maurice Williams added 13 points for Spring Mountain.