The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ basketball team delivered one of the most exciting wins in recent program history Tuesday night, edging Green Valley Christian 57-56 in a heart-stopping Region Quarterfinal matchup. The fifth-seeded Trojans traveled to face the fourth-seeded Guardians and returned home with a playoff victory, showcasing grit, teamwork, and composure under pressure.
Pahrump Valley wasted no time setting the tone, winning the opening tip and striking first. Both teams came out in man-to-man defense, with Keir Sheppard tasked with guarding GV Christian’s top shooter from the opening possession. The early minutes featured strong physical play, highlighted by Josh Slusher stepping into the lane, drawing contact, and converting two free throws.
The Guardians jumped out to a brief lead, but Pahrump Valley answered quickly. Sheppard drove from the top of the key for a tying basket, and Lucas Gavenda added a strong post finish on an inbound play to keep the Trojans competitive. Despite GV Christian knocking down a three-pointer to stretch the margin to 13-6, Pahrump Valley responded with determination. Slusher threaded a pass through traffic to Gavenda for a tough bucket, and Aydon Veloz followed with a spinning putback after an offensive rebound to cut into the deficit.
Late in the first quarter, the Trojans found their rhythm in transition. Caden Briscoe delivered a pinpoint pass ahead to Trae Plein for a fast-break layup, and moments later Plein capitalized on a steal and calmly knocked down two free throws to pull Pahrump Valley within 19-14 at the end of the quarter.
The Trojans continued to chip away in the second quarter behind balanced scoring and relentless defensive effort. Plein drove through traffic for a contested layup, while Sheppard followed with a smooth spin move to finish at the rim. Gavenda then delivered a clutch three-pointer from the left wing after Plein battled for an offensive rebound and kicked the ball out.
Pahrump Valley’s transition game became a major factor as Briscoe scored on a on a pass down court, where he waiting under the net, and then connected with Plein again for another layup to cut the deficit to one possession. With 1:45 remaining in the half, Sheppard finished a quick transition layup to give the Trojans their first lead at 27-26. After GV Christian regained a slim edge, Plein grabbed an offensive rebound and earned a trip to the free-throw line with just seconds left, sinking one to send the teams into halftime tied at 28-28.
The third quarter remained a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to create significant separation. Gavenda opened the second half scoring with a bucket off a sideline inbound, and Sheppard pushed the Trojans ahead with a transition drive. Gavenda later showcased impressive footwork, spinning past a defender who fell to the floor before finishing at the rim to give Pahrump Valley another narrow lead.
GV Christian countered with a three-pointer from its top shooter and a pair of defensive takeaways that allowed the Guardians to build a six-point advantage late in the quarter. However, Pahrump Valley refused to back down. Plein earned a free throw after forcing a turnover, and Gavenda added another spinning finish in the paint before Briscoe secured a defensive rebound and converted one of two bonus free throws, cutting the deficit to 43-41 entering the final period.
The fourth quarter delivered the drama expected from a playoff showdown. GV Christian briefly extended its lead to six points, but Pahrump Valley answered with a clutch mid-range jumper from Sheppard. Gavenda then absorbed heavy contact on a transition drive and still converted the basket, completing the three-point play to keep the Trojans within reach.
Moments later, Plein buried a clutch three-pointer from the right wing to pull Pahrump Valley within one point. Sheppard followed with another strong drive after a quick pass from Briscoe, giving the Trojans a 53-52 lead and forcing a Guardian timeout.
The final minutes turned into a defensive and strategic battle. Sheppard drilled a crucial three-pointer from the right corner with 2:36 remaining to push the Trojans back in front. Pahrump Valley shifted into a stall offense to control the clock while continuing to pressure defensively. After several tense possessions and missed free throws by GV Christian, the game remained tied 56-56 with seconds remaining.
With 17 seconds left, the Trojans crossed half court and called timeout to set up the final play. The ball found Gavenda inside the paint, where he powered up against two defenders and drew a foul with just 3.4 seconds left. Gavenda calmly stepped to the line and sank the second free throw to give Pahrump Valley a 57-56 advantage.
GV Christian had one final opportunity, but the Trojans’ defense held strong, forcing a contested running shot that missed as the final buzzer sounded, sealing the dramatic victory.
Head Coach Toby Henry praised his team’s effort and the significance of the win.
“I thought we played extremely hard and Keir and Trae played amazing defense on their best players,” Henry said. “This was a great win for our program. The first playoff win in 19 years I think. This is step one in turning a program around. These seniors need a lot of credit for playing a huge role in this process. They have paved the way for the upcoming players and have set a new standard in men’s basketball at PVHS.”
Looking ahead, Henry emphasized the importance of rebounding as the Trojans prepare for their next challenge.
“As for Meadows, our guys have to really focus on rebounding. If we can out rebound them, we can win this game. The last two times we have played them they have out rebounded us by a lot. It’s going to be a fun game and I’m excited to play a game of this magnitude in our own gym.”
With the quarterfinal victory, the Trojans advance to the Region Semifinals, where they will host The Meadows at the PVHS gym on Friday at 8pm.
