The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans’ JV girls’ basketball team put on a defensive clinic Tuesday night, January 28, as they overpowered the Boulder City Eagles with relentless pressure in a 29-13 victory at home.
From the very start, the Trojans came out aggressive on defense that rattled the Eagles and led to multiple turnovers. The team was quick to trap on the inbound, forcing Boulder City into mistakes and limiting their ability to set up plays.
Sydney Crotty wasted no time getting the offense going, sinking a three-pointer to open the scoring at 4:50 in the first quarter. She continued to set the tone with her hustle, drawing a foul at 3:27 and sinking a free throw to put Pahrump up 4-0. The Trojans’ defensive intensity was on full display as they forced an inbound turnover at 2:09, denying the Eagles any room to breathe. Their smothering press on every inbound pass prevented Boulder City from getting clean possessions, keeping them scoreless through the first quarter.
The Trojans maintained their energy heading into the second quarter, with Nala Dalton knocking down a shot from the right side of the key just eight seconds in to extend the lead to 6-0. At 7:30, the team executed a sharp offensive set, moving the ball through their play to hit Dalton on the left block for another basket.
Boulder City managed to get on the board after a foul at 5:45, but Natalie Soto responded immediately by sinking a free throw to make it 9-2. Before the Eagles could recover, Pahrump’s aggressive press led to a steal on the inbound, which resulted in another quick basket, extending the lead to 11-2.
At 4:47, Dalton continued to punish the Eagles at the free-throw line, making both shots to push the advantage to 13-2. Just a minute later, Crotty cleaned up a missed shot from Addi Nelsen, securing the offensive rebound and putting it back in for 15-2. Ella Odegard then fought for a rebound and finished strong inside, keeping the momentum in Pahrump’s favor.
The Trojans’ defensive strategy remained unchanged—apply relentless pressure, disrupt passing lanes, and force Boulder City into panic mode. At 1:59, the Eagles were so overwhelmed by Pahrump’s defense that they were forced to call a timeout after struggling to get the ball inbounds. Moments later, Crotty picked off a pass, sprinted down the court, and converted a layup, putting the Trojans up 19-2.
Boulder City managed to break through just before halftime, but the Trojans still commanded a 19-4 lead going into the break.
As the second half began, the Trojans welcomed back Evalenne Armendariz, playing her first JV game of the season. The team continued its fast-paced play, and Autumn Colon came up with a steal, drawing a foul on her shot attempt. Though she missed both free throws, the defensive intensity remained high.
At 6:12, Armendariz made her presence felt, delivering a crisp assist to Crotty, who scored underneath the basket, extending the lead to 21-4. The Trojans remained in control, closing the quarter with a 24-8 lead.
Boulder City showed some fight in the final quarter, scoring the first five points to cut the lead to 24-13. However, the Trojans didn’t let up. Dalton responded at 4:42 with a strong drive inside, sinking a shot to push the lead back to 26-13.
Colon was fouled on a shot attempt and calmly made her second free throw, keeping the Trojans firmly in the driver’s seat. At 2:38, Dalton came through once again, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up for another score, securing the 29-13 victory.
The Trojans’ defense was the defining factor in the game, pressuring Boulder City from start to finish and forcing turnovers. Their ability to disrupt passing lanes, generate steals, and capitalize on second-chance opportunities made the difference in this matchup.
Head Coach Darla Hopkins was pleased with her team’s effort and the opportunity to get everyone involved, stating, “It was definitely a different game than when we played at Boulder. We got to play everyone on the bench.”
With their intensity on defense and balanced offensive attack, the Trojans showed their depth and potential as they continue their season. This strong performance will serve as a confidence booster as they look ahead to their next challenge.
