Spring Mountain victory achieves feat for program

Spring Mountain's boys basketball team faced an uphill climb Saturday, trailing the two-time defending Class 1A state champions by seven points entering the fourth quarter.

With history as their motivation, the Eagles kept clawing.

"We weren't worried, and we didn't panic," coach Ed Cheltenham said. "We knew we could play harder and find a way."

The Eagles rallied for a dramatic 49-47 win over Pahranagat Valley in the Class 1A Southern League tournament final at Durango High, earning the first league tourney title in program history under the current postseason format.

Roemello Brandon had 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, and Marqion White made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 46.2 seconds to help Spring Mountain (23-6) clinch the South's No. 1 seed for this week's 1A state tournament.

Both teams advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals Friday at UNR's Lawlor Events Center. Spring Mountain will play Owyhee at 12:40 p.m, and Pahranagat Valley meets McDermitt at 4.

"We really did this for Coach (Cheltenham)," said White, a sophomore guard. "Coach pushes us to do it, and we did it for Coach. That's all I can say."

Cheltenham called the win "the greatest feeling" in his eight years coaching the Eagles.

"We've never been in this position before, and the kids have worked so hard all season long," he said. "Like I said in my only speech to the kids, 'Go out, have fun and let's make history.' "

Spring Mountain trailed 35-28 entering the fourth quarter, but surged for a 44-43 lead on a basket by Tomoshea Edwards. Christopher Munro hit two free throws to boost the lead to three. Tyler Higbee answered for Pahranagat Valley (18-9) with a baseline jumper, but White made two free throws with 22.4 seconds left for a 49-45 lead, and the Eagles held on.

"My team counted on me and depended on me," White said. "That's all that went through my head, 'Do it for the team, do it for the team,' and I hit them."

Edwards scored 13 points, White had 11 and Tyrice Hall had seven points and 10 rebounds as Spring Mountain avenged a 45-44 loss to Pahranagat Valley during the regular season in which the Eagles lost on a free throw with no time left.

Higbee scored 18 points for Pahranagat Valley. Derek Hansen had 13 and Chase Hansen 12.

GIRLS

Pahranagat Valley's girls basketball team prides itself on spreading the floor with multiple scoring options. That quality was at the forefront as the Panthers won their fourth consecutive Class 1A Southern League tournament title.

Bailee Hosier had 16 points and five steals, Kimberly Lewis had 16 points and seven rebounds, and the Panthers rolled to a 66-50 win over Beatty at Durango.

Halie Lewis had 13 points and three assists, and Traci Strong scored 13 for Pahranagat Valley (24-4), which breezed after grabbing a 12-2 lead. The Panthers built a 36-17 halftime lead on the undermanned Hornets (11-4), who had only six active players.

"(Offensive balance) has been one of our goals this year," Panthers coach Amy Huntsman said. "I think it's so much harder to defend a team that has balanced scoring instead of just one player."

Both teams advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals Friday at UNR's Lawlor Events Center. Pahranagat Valley meets Eureka at 11 a.m., and Beatty will play Wells at 2:20 p.m.

Amber Ibarra had 25 points, five rebounds and two blocks for Beatty.

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