Facing one of the league’s toughest environments late in the regular season, the Pahrump Valley High School boys’ basketball team traveled to The Meadows on Wednesday, February 4, looking to sharpen its execution and maintain momentum as postseason play approaches. While the Mustangs ultimately secured the win, the Trojans continued to compete possession-by-possession, showing flashes of offensive production and resilience that carried through all four quarters.
The Mustangs opened quickly, knocking down a three-pointer on their first scoring opportunity to take a 3-0 lead. Lucas Gavenda drew contact early in the contest, getting to the free throw line at the 4:50 mark of the first quarter. After missing the first attempt, he converted the second to put the Trojans on the board at 3-1. The Meadows answered with another three-pointer and continued to pressure defensively, forcing several trips to the line and extending its lead.
Pahrump Valley stayed aggressive in attacking the boards, with Josh Slusher providing a key spark late in the first quarter. With 2:57 remaining, Slusher secured a rebound and converted the putback to cut the deficit to 11-3. Despite the Trojans’ effort on the glass, The Meadows capitalized on additional free throws and perimeter shooting to build a 14-3 advantage heading into the closing moments of the opening frame.
The Trojans found additional offensive rhythm in the second quarter. At the 7:50 mark, Keir Sheppard knocked down a jumper from the right side to make it 19-5. Shortly after, Aydon Veloz battled through contact on a defensive sequence as The Meadows converted an and-one opportunity, followed by a quick offensive rebound and score to widen the margin.
Trae Plein continued to attack the lane for Pahrump Valley, drawing a foul at 6:17 in the second quarter. Plein split his free throws, making the second to bring the score to 27-6. Moments later, Plein added a floater in the paint, showing his ability to create offense in traffic. Slusher followed with another strong inside presence, earning a trip to the free throw line after being fouled on a shot in the paint, pushing the Trojans’ total to 31-9.
Sheppard again found success driving to the basket, finishing through defenders with 3:12 left in the half to make it 35-11. The Mustangs closed the half with additional scoring to carry a 40-11 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Trojans continued working to generate offense against a physical Meadows defense. Gavenda connected on a right-side shot with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter, while Plein again earned a trip to the line at the 1:56 mark as Pahrump Valley looked to chip away at the deficit.
The fourth quarter showcased several offensive highlights for the Trojans as they maintained their effort to the final buzzer. Sam Mendoza provided an immediate spark, driving from the corner for a layup at the 3:45 mark to make it 62-16. T.C. Hone continued to attack the rim and later converted on his second free throw after being fouled on a drive.
Mendoza then found his shooting touch from beyond the arc, knocking down a three-pointer with 2:00 remaining to bring the score to 67-20. Moments later, Mendoza finished a fast break opportunity, converting a throw-ahead pass into a layup. Hone added another bucket with a layup at the one-minute mark, and Mendoza capped the Trojans’ scoring surge with a three-pointer from the left wing in the final 30 seconds, highlighting Pahrump Valley’s determination to keep battling until the final whistle.
Although the final score stood at 70-27, the Trojans displayed continued growth through their inside scoring, aggressive drives to the basket, and late-game perimeter shooting. Contributions throughout the lineup reflected the team’s focus on competing at every stage of the contest as they prepare for postseason play.
Pahrump Valley will close out its regular season on Friday, February 6, when the Trojans host the Boulder City Eagles. The evening will also serve as Senior Night, with seniors recognized prior to tipoff at 6:30 p.m. The Trojans will then turn their attention to the Regional Quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, with location details to be determined following Friday’s matchup.
