The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity basketball team closed out the regular season Friday, February 6, with an emotional Senior Night matchup against the Boulder City Eagles. Before tipoff, the school community gathered to recognize seniors from both the PVHS Dance Team and the Lady Trojans basketball program, celebrating their dedication and contributions before the team took the court in front of a supportive home crowd.
Honored from the PVHS Dance Team were seniors Tayela Brown, McKenna Cunningham, Natalie Minor and Lucy Smith, while the Lady Trojans recognized team manager Akim Khan alongside players Julie Briggs and Julianna “Jules” Ondrisko. The evening set the tone for a competitive and tightly contested game that came down to the final seconds.
Pahrump Valley won the opening tip and struck first when Kaitlyn Brown was fouled on an underneath shot just 35 seconds into the contest, converting one of two free throws to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Boulder City answered at the line moments later, but Pahrump responded with strong interior play. With 3:43 remaining in the first quarter, Riley Saldaña collected an offensive rebound and finished inside for two points, helping PVHS regain the advantage.
The teams traded baskets throughout the opening period. After Boulder City tied the game at 3-3, Addi Nelsen knocked down a three-pointer from the wing to spark the offense and put Pahrump ahead 6-3. Boulder City responded with a late bucket to cut the lead to one, but Olivia Veloz delivered a momentum boost in the closing seconds of the quarter. Using a pump fake from beyond the arc, Veloz drove into a moving midrange jumper that found the net with five seconds left, sending the Trojans into the second quarter with an 8-5 lead.
The Eagles gained traction early in the second quarter, scoring on consecutive inside possessions to take their first lead of the game. Saldaña answered by drawing contact and converting a free throw to tie the game at 9-9, but the contest remained a physical battle in the paint as both teams struggled to convert from the line.
Boulder City briefly regained control, pushing its lead to 13-9, before Saldaña stepped up again with a key steal and putback to pull Pahrump within two. Jules Ondrisko followed with a layup that energized the crowd and cut the deficit to 15-13. The Lady Trojans continued to battle back through aggressive drives and free throw opportunities from Saldaña and Nelsen, eventually tying the game at 15-15 late in the quarter.
With time winding down in the half, Nelsen provided a highlight moment, sinking a deep three-pointer from the yellow line, with six seconds remaining to give PVHS a 19-17 halftime advantage.
At halftime, the celebration of PVHS student achievement continued with a special banner drop ceremony honoring several Trojan programs. The PVHS Dance Team was recognized for its Regional Championship placement, highlighting the team’s successful competitive season. The recognition extended to both the boys and girls cross country teams, who were honored for capturing Regional Championship titles, the first time in school history that both teams won the Championship in the same year. The moment allowed the home crowd to celebrate the continued success of PVHS athletics, drawing loud applause as each banner was unveiled inside the gym. The dance team also performed a lively routine to keep the energy strong heading into the second half.
The Trojans carried that momentum into the third quarter as Ondrisko opened the half with a corner three-pointer that pushed the lead to five. Saldaña followed with a strong finish underneath, extending the margin to 24-17. Boulder City answered with a pair of baskets to narrow the gap, but Saldaña continued to deliver for Pahrump, earning a trip to the free throw line and later finishing another interior bucket off an assist from Ella Odegard to maintain a 27-21 advantage.
The Eagles stayed within striking distance and closed the quarter with a three-pointer that cut the Trojans’ lead to just two points, setting the stage for a dramatic final period.
Early in the fourth quarter, Nelsen spun into a smooth jumper just before the shot clock expired, pushing the lead back to four. Boulder City responded with a steady run, capitalizing on free throw opportunities and a three-pointer that gave the Eagles a 32-29 lead midway through the quarter.
Nelsen answered again for Pahrump, drilling a corner three to tie the game at 32-32 with 2:27 remaining. The back-and-forth battle continued as Boulder City regained the lead at the free throw line before adding another three-pointer to stretch the margin to 37-32.
Refusing to back down, Saldaña grabbed an offensive rebound and scored underneath to cut the deficit to three with 1:24 remaining. Boulder City added an insurance basket with 48 seconds left, but the Lady Trojans continued to fight until the final buzzer. After forcing a turnover late, Pahrump had one final chance to tie, but a buzzer-beating three-point attempt fell just short, sealing the Eagles’ 39-36 victory.
Despite the narrow loss, Head Coach Bob Hopkins emphasized the team’s competitiveness and growth throughout the season.
“It was a tough loss, but our girls kept battling,” Hopkins said. “Foul trouble made it difficult for us to run our press the way we like, and we struggled at the free throw line, but Addi had a strong game and several players stepped up in big moments. Ella had a good game. We’re a young team with a lot of kids coming back, and this season has shown how much potential they have. Hopefully, we can build on that and keep improving.”
Hopkins noted that the team exceeded early expectations after a slow start to the season and believes the experience gained will benefit the program moving forward.
The Lady Trojans now shift their focus to postseason play, where they are expected to host a regional quarterfinal matchup, against Moapa Valley. Pahrump split its regular season series with the Pirates, setting up what could be another competitive contest.
While Senior Night marked the final regular season home appearance for the program’s seniors, the Lady Trojans left the court Friday showcasing the grit, teamwork and resilience that has defined their season, along with optimism for the opportunities still ahead.
