Basic boys win Holiday Classic

Basic boys basketball coach Steven Bentz doesn't mind the label "second-quarter team."

That is, as long as the Wolves continue to finish games like they did Saturday night.

One day after outscoring Virgin Valley 13-4 in the second quarter, Basic outscored Boulder City 19-8 in the second on its way to a 58-43 win in the title game of the ninth annual Lake Mead Holiday Classic.

"Hopefully we can keep it more balanced and be a four-quarter team, but runs and good quarters definitely do help," Bentz said.

Basic (5-1) opened the second quarter Saturday on a 12-2 run keyed by Tyler Dobbins, who scored eight points in the period.

Dobbins, a junior point guard, had 12 points, nine assists and seven steals.

"It's a pretty good kick start to our season," Dobbins said.

James Holmes (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Mike Feher (seven points) were named to the all-tournament team for the Wolves.

Basic junior forward Nick Sangchaloay was held to four points but was named tourney MVP after averaging 14 points in the Wolves' first four games.

"Nick and Tyler, they're both pretty much our playmakers," Bentz said. "They get the ball to the open guys. When the offense breaks down, Nick is great at taking it to the basket and Tyler's great at knocking down shots."

As the lone Class 4A school in the 12-team tournament, Basic's margin of victory was 16.8.

It's exactly the kind of momentum Bentz hopes can boost the Wolves, who are coming off a 6-20 season.

"It gives us momentum, morale and everybody's excited and happier to go to practice and work to get better," he said.

With 11 points, Joey Western was the only double-figure scorer for Boulder City (5-1).

Even after outscoring the Wolves 13-9 in the third quarter, the Eagles still trailed 42-33 entering the fourth.

"Obviously, that was a big run," Boulder City coach Bobby Reese said of Basic's second period. "We were flat and they had a lot of energy. We could just never get out of that big hole we dug ourselves into."

The physical game saw the two teams combine for 23 fouls, including two technicals and one intentional.

Western and Alex Dillon (eight points) were named to the all-tournament team for Boulder City.

The all-tourney team was rounded out by Lake Mead's De'Quan Thompson, Henderson International's Josh Young, Virgin Valley's Zach Horlacher, The Meadows' Austin Brown and Lincoln County's Dantley Walker.

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.