The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans girls’ basketball team kicked off their 2025–26 season with heart, hustle, and a hard-earned 41–36 victory over the Needles Mustangs on Thursday, Dec. 4, inside a packed PVHS gym. With a roster made up entirely of underclassmen and just a few returning varsity players, the Trojans found ways to overcome turnovers, regain momentum, and finish strong in a game that demanded resilience from start to finish.
The season opener began as a defensive battle, with both teams trading misses and turnovers before junior Riley Saldaña broke the silence. With 4:45 left in the first quarter, Saldaña sank the Trojans’ first basket of the season, putting PVHS up 2–0. She continued to make her presence known immediately afterward, collecting rebounds, drawing fouls, and converting key free throws.
A steal by Olivia Veloz set up more opportunities, and Saldaña stayed aggressive, going 2-for-2 from the line to extend the lead. Moments later, sophomore Kaitlyn Brown powered through contact, hitting 1 of 2 free throws before driving again and sinking two more from the stripe. With 17 seconds left in the quarter, the Trojans inbounded to Saldaña, who was fouled once again and calmly knocked down both shots. The Trojans closed out a dominant opening frame leading 12–4.
In the second quarter, the Trojans began to settle into a rhythm. Brown battled for a loose ball early, winning a jump possession that led to a Mustang three-pointer, but PVHS answered quickly. A smooth sequence from Addi Nelsen to Saldaña to Brown ended with a clean finish at the rim. Moments later, Sydney Crotty hit a midrange shot to push the Trojans ahead 16–7.
Brown continued her strong first half by grabbing offensive boards and converting putbacks, giving PVHS an 18–7 cushion. Saldaña followed with a missed shot that Brown scooped and scored, further extending the lead. Autumn Colon added a layup to make it 22–7 before the Mustangs responded with a short run. Nelsen halted the momentum by draining a three-pointer with 2:39 remaining, and the Trojans carried a 25–16 lead into halftime.
During the break, the PVHS Trojanette Dance Team and the PVHS Cheerleaders energized the gym with a fun and upbeat halftime show. The Trojanettes performed a lively routine to Luke Bryan’s Country Girl, while the cheer squad added a group stunt and cheer combo that drew cheers from the crowd and kept the energy high heading into the second half.
Needles came out determined in the third quarter, immediately chipping away at the Trojans’ lead. After Colon drew a foul but missed both free throws, Nelsen grabbed the rebound and put it back in to give PVHS a 27–16 edge. From there, the Mustangs surged. A combination of fouls, steals, and transition baskets brought Needles within striking distance, cutting PVHS’ lead to just two and eventually one point.
PVHS battled to stay ahead, with Veloz scoring a crucial putback to regain a 29–26 lead. Freshman Ella Odegard followed with a rebound and finish through contact, extending the advantage, though she missed the free throw. Needles rebounded but missed their bonus free throws, only to secure the board and score underneath. The gap tightened again, but Saldaña drew another foul late in the quarter and made 1 of 2, helping PVHS hold a 32–29 lead heading into the fourth.
The final quarter was a test of poise. Needles immediately tied the game with a three-pointer, then took their first lead of the night at 34–32. With momentum shifting, Colon stepped up with a clutch steal and fast-break layup to tie the game. Moments later, Colon picked another pocket and drove to the basket. Though her shot missed, Saldaña was there to clean it up, putting the Trojans ahead 38–34.
The Mustangs continued to press but struggled at the free-throw line, missing back-to-back attempts at 2:38. Saldaña capitalized by scoring underneath again, making it 40–35 with just over two minutes to play. Needles added one point from the line, but foul trouble began to burden them.
With 1:36 left, Saldaña drew another foul in the bonus and made 1 of 2 to extend the lead to 41–36. The Mustangs continued to attack but could not convert at the line, missing multiple late free throws as the Trojans held on to secure the season-opening win.
After the game, Head Coach Bob Hopkins praised his young team’s determination while acknowledging early-season challenges.
“We turned the ball over a lot and still won,” Hopkins said. “Defense won, of course. I knew we were going to struggle offensively, but we’re young. We didn’t have a senior play, and Julie was only in for about 20 seconds. A win’s a win, and after the first game you can see where we’re at.”
Hopkins added that outside shooting remains an area for improvement, something that carried over from last year’s team.
“We’ve got to get so we can hit some shots from the outside,” he noted. “People pack it in, and then we struggle. And the girls get a little nervous when they get double-teamed — that’s fair. But I’m happy. Nothing wrong with starting the season with a win.”
The Trojans will now prepare for their first league game, returning to their home court Monday night to take on Coral Academy.
For PVHS, the season begins not only with a victory but with confidence that this young squad is already learning how to win close games — and is only going to get stronger.
