1A GIRLS: Pahranagat Valley, Lake Mead fall in state semifinals

RENO – With a freshman point guard, McDermitt coach Jaimi Wilkinson was concerned about Pahranagat Valley’s pressure defense coming into a Class 1A state girls basketball tournament semifinal Friday afternoon at North Valleys High School.

Instead, it was the Bulldogs’ own post game that made the difference.

Debra McKee scored 13 points, and Kayla Bland scored 10 as McDermitt (22-6) cruised past Pahranagat Valley 41-30 to move into Saturday’s championship game.

“We knew their weak side would be vulnerable because they would try to double-team the post, and when they did, we did a great job of getting the ball to the weak side,” Wilkinson said.

McKee and Bland did most of their work from the perimeter, taking advantage of openings created by 6-foot-5-inch center Becky Kershner.

McDermitt used first-half runs of 14-2 and 10-0 to lead 24-11 at the break, and Pahranagat Valley (20-10) never got closer than 10 in the second half.

Halie Lewis and Addie Channing each hit 3-pointers to get Pahranagat Valley within 14-11, but a three-point play by Kershner started a 10-0 run that gave the Bulldogs control of the game.

After seeing her team struggle against Virginia City’s press in the Northern 1A regional championship, Wilkinson expected to see the same thing from the Panthers.

 

“I don’t know why they come back to that earlier but I’m thankful they didn’t because that would have killed us,” she said.

Nikki Schofield led Pahranagat Valley with nine points.

Virginia City 49, Lake Mead 36 — Gigi Glogovac scored 16 points and overcame a blow to the stomach to help Virginia City pull away in the second half and earn a berth in the 1A state championship game.

Glogovac scored nine of her points in the third quarter as the Muckers opened a 15-point cushion and held on down the stretch.

“Going into third quarter, we talked about being a very poised team,” Virginia City coach Todd Hess said.

The Muckers weren’t sure before they took the floor for the third quarter whether Glogovac would be there with them, after she took a shot to the midsection while scoring on a fast break with 1:05 left in the first half, which Virginia City finished with a 23-17 lead.

“Gigi was a question mark going into the second half,” Hess said. “She gave us a nod but it wasn’t a very resounding nod.”

However, Glogovac hit two free throws, a fast break layup, a 3-pointer and a driving shot all in a five-minute stretch of the third quarter to put the Muckers on top 36-22.

Dupre chipped in 11 points for Virginia City.

Jordan Clarke had 14 points to lead Lake Mead (23-6).