The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ varsity basketball team faced a tough road challenge on Monday, January 5, traveling to Sunrise Mountain High School to take on the Miners in a non-conference matchup designed to prepare the Trojans for league play.
Playing against the physical, fast-paced style of the Sunrise Mountain High School Miners, Pahrump Valley was tested early by full-court pressure and aggressive rebounding. Despite falling behind in the opening minutes, the Trojans continued to compete, showing composure against the press and finding scoring opportunities through ball movement and transition.
Keir Sheppard provided early energy with a strong finish on a sideline play and a breakaway layup later in the first quarter. Lucas Gavenda was a consistent presence in the paint and on press breaks, scoring multiple times inside and drawing fouls while attacking the basket. Sam Mendoza knocked down a pair of three-pointers from the wing and corner, helping Pahrump Valley respond to Sunrise Mountain runs and keep the pace competitive.
In the second quarter, the Trojans continued to battle through pressure defense. Gavenda added a three from the top of the key and a smooth spin-move jumper off an inbound play, while Trae Plein connected on a deep banked three from the right wing. Pahrump Valley also capitalized on steals and quick transitions, briefly cutting into the deficit before heading into halftime.
The Miners extended their lead in the second half, but the Trojans did not back down. Mendoza added another three, Kris Trejo scored in traffic and converted an and-one opportunity, and Aydon Veloz made an impact on both ends of the floor with a key block and a strong finish in the paint. Caden Briscoe closed the scoring late with a layup, and the Trojans continued to compete through the final buzzer.
Pahrump Valley ultimately fell 89-58, but the night provided valuable experience against a strong opponent as the team continues to prepare for conference play.
Head Coach Toby Henry emphasized the importance of the matchup, saying, “Sunrise Mountain is a really good 4A team. Another game to get us ready for our conference play. Our guys played hard and we learned from playing a team of that caliber. We had a lot of positive things come out of that game and learned a lot from watching that game film.”
The Trojans will look to carry those lessons forward when they return home to Pahrump on Friday, January 9, to take on the Moapa Valley Pirates. Varsity tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Pahrump Valley High School, as the Trojans continue building momentum heading into conference play.
