The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans’ girls varsity basketball team put up a strong defensive effort but ultimately fell to The Meadows School Mustangs 26-20 in a tough road game on Monday, February 3, 2025.
The Trojans started the game with energy and intensity, holding the Mustangs to just four points in the first quarter while putting up six of their own. Trinity French got the Trojans on the board early with a basket from the left block, and Jules Ondrisko hit two crucial free throws late in the period. Savannah Thompson added to the lead by scoring on a rebound, helping the Trojans take a 6-4 advantage into the second quarter.
Pahrump continued to play aggressive defense in the second quarter, forcing turnovers and limiting the Mustangs’ scoring opportunities. Thompson extended the lead with a basket from the right block, and Ryleigh Denton added a mid-range jumper from the left side to make it a 10-5 game. Despite foul trouble and a tough battle under the basket, the Trojans maintained their lead and went into halftime up 10-5.
During the break, Head Coach Bob Hopkins had his team stay on the court to keep shooting rather than heading to the locker room, reinforcing the need to improve on finishing shots. Coming out of halftime, the Mustangs began to gain momentum, cutting into the Trojans’ lead. Saldana’s strong post move below the left block put Pahrump up 12-9, and Denton drained a three-pointer from the left corner to extend the lead to 15-9. However, the Mustangs answered back with a three-pointer of their own, tightening the score to 15-12.
As the game entered the final quarter, the Trojans found themselves in a close battle. Saldana scored early to push the lead to 17-14, but The Meadows quickly responded. With under four minutes left, the Mustangs took their first lead of the game at 20-19. Despite multiple offensive opportunities, the Trojans struggled to capitalize, missing key layups and free throws down the stretch. In the final seconds, The Meadows hit crucial free throws to secure the 26-20 win.
Coach Hopkins reflected on the team’s effort, noting their defensive performance but recognizing the difficulty in securing a win without converting key scoring opportunities. “We played good defense, that’s about all I can say,” Hopkins remarked. “When you can’t make a layup or a free throw, it’s tough to win. We pretty much weren’t able to do that all night.”
Despite the loss, the Trojans battled through, working on staying competitive throughout the game. They will aim to regroup and refine their offense as they prepare for their final home game on Friday, February 7, against SLAM before heading into the playoffs the following week.
