Gaels’ defensive change subdues Grizzlies

For more than six minutes Monday night, Spring Valley's boys basketball team looked like a dominant force.

The Grizzlies led Bishop Gorman 24-9 after a Jesse Chippoletti 3-pointer with 1:27 left in the first quarter.

But then the second-ranked Gaels dominated the rest of the way to gain a 78-62 road victory and a two-game lead in the Southwest Division.

"Defensively we did a pretty good job in the last three quarters," Gorman coach Grant Rice said. "We put Blake Moore on Tenacious Gibson, their shooter, and Blake did a great job. He held him to one 3-pointer, and that was when Blake wasn't even in the game."

Moore held Gibson to six points and 1-for-8 shooting from the field.

Gorman's heightened defensive pressure also led to an increase in turnovers for Spring Valley. The Grizzlies finished with 20 turnovers, committing 17 in the final three quarters. Gorman took advantage, converting them into 27 points.

"If we can get it going in transition on the other end, some of our quick guards are pretty hard to stop," Rice said.

Quintin Dailey had 20 points, and Kylel Coleman scored 19 for Gorman, 21-3 overall and 8-0 in the Southwest Division. The Grizzles fell to 14-7, 6-2.

"We feel good right now, but we're not comfortable," Rice said. "We've got a two-game lead, but we've still got to close it out."

Chippoletti had 16 points for Spring Valley, and Ronnie Norsworthy added 10 points and nine rebounds.

• Sierra Vista 67, Western 66 -- At Sierra Vista, Josh McLain's two free throws with 4.6 seconds left completed an improbable rally by the Lions.

Sierra Vista trailed 66-62 with 12 seconds left before Akim Smith made three free throws.

Western, which led by 10 after three quarters, turned over the ball on the inbounds pass, setting the stage for McLain, who scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Smith added 15 points for Sierra Vista.

Phillip Payne scored 21 points to lead Western.

• Eldorado 76, Rancho 60 -- At Eldorado, Mike Elliott scored 23 points and Curtis Malone supplied 13 as the Sundevils used a 30-point fourth quarter to put away the Rams.

James Cammack led Rancho with 21 points.

• Las Vegas 67, Valley 53 -- At Valley, Marvin Campbell scored 19 points and Tony Eackles contributed 18 as the Wildcats beat the Vikings.

David Michaels topped the Vikings with 18 points.

• Bonanza 47, Clark 39 -- At Bonanza, Tomo Delp scored 13 points and the Bengals overcame a 10-for-21 night at the free-throw line to beat the Chargers.

Rabbit Toler led Clark with 10 points.

• Desert Pines 64, Chaparral 52 -- At Chaparral, Reggie Shaw scored 21 points to lead the Jaguars.

Kimani Bullard added 13 points and Pierre Jackson 12 for Desert Pines.

Tyquiese Anthony led the Cowboys with 17 points.

GIRLS

• Rancho 52, Eldorado 44 -- At Eldorado, Khalia Branch and Shayna Porter-Banks scored 16 points each to lift the Rams over the Sundevils.

Stephanie Thompson added 13 points for Rancho.

Sabrina Evans and Tonisha McGee each had 12 points for Eldorado.

• Sierra Vista 61, Western 50 -- At Sierra Vista, Jeanette Jackson and Brianna Tolliver combined to score 15 fourth-quarter points to lead the Lions to the comeback victory.

Jackson had 17 points for Sierra Vista, which trailed 46-42 entering the fourth. Jessica Mojica added 15 points and Tolliver 11 for Sierra Vista.

Derricka Glover and Mekiala Simmons scored 12 points each for the Warriors.

• Bishop Gorman 90, Spring Valley 19 -- At Spring Valley, Aaryn Ellenberg had 21 points and Kiara Belen 20 as the Gaels rolled.

• Valley 51, Las Vegas 33 -- At Valley, Nicholette Corona scored 17 points to help Valley overcome a 13-8 first-quarter deficit.

Vanessa Corona added 11 points, and Rachael Zimmerman had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings.

• Desert Pines 68, Chaparral 39 -- At Chaparral, LaBrea Walker's 22 points led the Jaguars past the Cowboys. Amanda Mays and Liliana Rios each scored 11 for Chaparral.

• Bonanza 61, Clark 37 -- At Bonanza, Shirley Pitts scored 12 of her 20 points in the Bengals' 27-point second quarter.

Chantelle Robinson led the Chargers with 18 points.