In a tough conference contest that demanded patience and focus, the Pahrump Valley High School girls’ basketball team earned a 37–27 victory over the Moapa Valley Pirates on Friday, January 9, at home in Pahrump. The Lady Trojans stayed composed through sustained defensive pressure, relied on disciplined team defense, and delivered timely shots to secure an important conference win.
Moapa won the opening tip and struck first with an early basket, followed by a three-pointer that gave the Pirates an early edge. Pahrump Valley responded with defensive intensity, as Kaitlyn Brown came up with a steal to slow Moapa’s momentum. Brown soon connected from the top of the key for a three-pointer, helping the Trojans settle into the game as they worked through Moapa’s physical defense.
After Moapa briefly extended its lead at the free-throw line, converting all three attempts on a shooting foul, the Lady Trojans answered with confidence from the perimeter. Brown knocked down another three, and Addi Nelsen followed with a deep shot from the top of the key to give Pahrump Valley its first lead of the night. Autumn Colon added a timely three late in the quarter, allowing the Trojans to close the opening period ahead 12–8.
The second quarter showcased Pahrump Valley’s patience and execution. Brown opened the frame with another three-pointer, followed moments later by a deep triple from Nelsen that stretched the lead. Ella Odegard contributed on the defensive end with a steal that led to yet another Brown three, giving the Lady Trojans breathing room as they controlled the pace of play. Despite missed free throws on both sides, Pahrump Valley remained locked in defensively, and Nelsen capped the half with a deep three near the yellow line to send the Trojans into the locker room with a 24–8 advantage.
Pahrump Valley finished with 23 points from the field — including seven three-pointers and just one two-point basket — while adding 14 points at the free-throw line to secure the win.
Moapa responded in the third quarter with renewed energy, applying full-court pressure and knocking down shots to chip away at the lead. The Lady Trojans remained steady. Riley Saldaña drew contact on drives to the basket, converting key free throws, and later finished a well-timed pass from Ella Odegard to keep Pahrump Valley in control. The Trojans limited turnovers against the press and continued to defend with discipline, closing the quarter ahead 28–16.
The Pirates continued to push in the final period, trimming the margin with a pair of three-pointers and trips to the free-throw line. Pahrump Valley answered each surge with composure. Brown hit another three to restore momentum, while Saldaña, Brown, and Odegard drew fouls late and converted enough free throws to keep Moapa at arm’s length. The Lady Trojans closed out the final minute with poise at the line, sealing the 37–27 conference victory.
After the game, Head Coach Bob Hopkins highlighted both the significance of the win and the growth his team has shown.
“It was a great win for us,” Hopkins said. “I think it’s been about three years since we beat them, so it’s a big win. We’re three and two in the conference now, and anytime you beat Moapa, it’s good.”
Hopkins praised the team’s defense and perimeter shooting, noting how contributions came from across the lineup.
“We won, and we only scored one two-point field goal,” he said. “The rest were threes. Addi and Kaitlyn, Autumn made threes in the second quarter and it was huge. Every kid that played, it was a good team effort.”
The veteran coach also credited recent tournament play for helping the Lady Trojans improve their composure, particularly against pressure defenses.
“We’re getting a little more patient,” Hopkins said. “We didn’t turn the ball over on the press like we have before. We turned it over when we forced a pass, but not in the press offense. That was big for us. Everybody played well, and it was awesome.”
With confidence building and continued improvement showing on both ends of the floor, the Lady Trojans will look to carry the momentum from this hard-earned conference win into the next stretch of league play.
