The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ basketball team delivered a dominant performance on their home court Wednesday night, overwhelming the Cristo Rey Royals 70–20 with tough defense, crisp ball movement, and scoring contributions from up and down the lineup.
The Trojans set the tone immediately. Caden Briscoe opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and Lucas Gavenda followed with a bucket at the 7:40 mark to make it 5–0. After Gavenda was fouled on a shot, Josh Slusher went to work in the paint, pushing the lead to 7–0. Briscoe struck again from the left wing, and moments later Gavenda capitalized on a steal during the press for an easy two, extending the margin to 12–0.
Cristo Rey briefly got on the board at the free-throw line, but the Trojans responded immediately. Briscoe buried another three—this time from the right wing—before Gavenda added to the surge to make it 15–2. Slusher cleaned up a rebound for a putback at 5:45, and Keir Sheppard drilled a smooth three from the right side as the Trojans continued to pour it on.
Gavenda stayed aggressive on the glass, scoring on consecutive possessions, including a putback of his own miss to make it 24–2. Trae Plein was fouled on a shot and converted one free throw, and Gavenda was then fouled hard from behind on a layup, calmly knocking down both free throws to stretch the lead to 27–2.
Slusher added a steal and was fouled on a half-court layup attempt, making one of two at the line. After a sequence of multiple rebounds, Gavenda finished inside again for a 30–2 advantage. A highlight play followed when Aydon Veloz pushed the ball on the break and found Levi Denton for a score, igniting the crowd.
The Trojans weren’t done in the opening quarter. Kamden Moore hit a three from the left wing, Cristo Rey answered, and then, with just five seconds left, Veloz tipped in TC Hone’s miss at the buzzer to send Pahrump into the second quarter up 41–5.
With a running clock in the second quarter, the Trojans continued to execute. Denton grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed the ball ahead to Veloz, who was fouled on a layup. Veloz later scored in the paint to make it 43–5. Moore pulled down a rebound and earned a trip to the line, converting one free throw, and Sam Mendoza sparked the defense with a steal and finish to extend the lead to 46–5.
Mendoza stayed aggressive, floating one in the paint at the 3:02 mark, and Denton capped the half by rebounding and scoring from the left side. Pahrump headed into halftime with a commanding 50–7 lead.
The Trojans picked up right where they left off in the second half. Denton tipped in Moore’s miss, Moore later knocked down a three from the left wing, and Denton continued his strong night with a floater and then a three from the left wing to make it 60–14. A pass ahead to Luca Blundo resulted in another basket as Pahrump stretched the lead to 62–14.
Cristo Rey found the net twice early in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans stayed composed. Gavenda was fouled on a shot and made one free throw, Anthony Montanez was fouled attacking in transition, and Blundo brought the bench to its feet with a three from the right side at the 3:10 mark. Moore added a free throw, and Pahrump closed out the night with a decisive 70–20 victory.
It was a solid performance for the Trojans—highlighted by unselfish offense, suffocating defense, and energy from start to finish.
