BASIC TOURNEY: Desert Shields defeat tired Pirates

Many of Moapa Valley’s girls walked into Basic’s gym on Tuesday with a pillow tucked under their arm.

When you play eight basketball games in six days and all more than an hour from home, you learn to sleep on a bus, in a gym or just about anywhere you can.

The Pirates closed their marathon stretch of games with a 59-45 loss to Cheyenne on the final day of the Lady Wolves Holiday Tournament.

“They did their best,” Moapa Valley coach Jessica Bucklin said. “Half of them are sick or hurt. I knew we would play a lot of games, and that’s good because it shows us what we need to work on.”

Before the game, several Pirates players sat in a corner of Basic’s gym talking about how late they would sleep in on Christmas Eve.

Sleep has been a precious commodity for Moapa Valley. The Pirates bused to Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday to play in the Vegas Invitational at Mountain View. They returned Saturday to start the Lady Wolves tourney and play in the title game at Mountain View.

After a day off Sunday, the Pirates had games at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday at Basic and finished with Tuesday’s game. Each day, they made a 90-minute trip from Overton to Las Vegas or Henderson and a 90-minute trip back home.

Eight games, 15 hours on a bus, and countless time sitting in bleachers waiting for their turn to play has taken its toll on the Pirates.

“We sleep when we can,” said Bucklin, who is giving her team five days off. Moapa Valley will practice Monday before visiting Desert Hills (Utah) on Dec. 30.

The Pirates weren’t at their best Tuesday, and Cheyenne exploited it, using a suddenly sharp transition game to lead to some easy baskets.

“In the beginning of the season, we were struggling with our offense,” Desert Shields coach Neil Balint said. “I’ve been telling them if we just we work on our defense, the offense will come. Now they’re starting to believe.”

Shaunice Cameron had 15 points to lead the Desert Shields, who won their second straight game in the tournament after beginning the season with eight consecutive losses.

Sabrina King added 12 points and Taryn Hicks 11.

“We’re getting better,” Balint said. “If we hold teams to under 50 points, we can win.”

Shilo Parashonts led Moapa Valley with nine points. Brianne Olige grabbed 11 rebounds.

In other games in the tournament:
Desert Pines 45, Denver East 43 — Andrea Jefferson hit a shot in the paint, off an assist by Claudia Meneses, with 8.8 seconds left in overtime to lift the Jaguars past Denver East.

Jefferson had 23 points and nine rebounds for Desert Pines. LaBrea Walker scored 10, and Clarissa Davis grabbed 14 rebounds.

Foothill 55, Boulder City 52 — Mercedes Starr scored 17 points as Foothill built a 15-point third-quarter lead and then held off the Eagles.

Alysse Thummel added 13 points for the Falcons.

Caiti Forrester led Boulder City with 26 points.

Bonanza 61, Alameda (Calif.) 54 — Alice Pitts and Christin Figgins each scored 17 points as the Bengals won their third straight after losing the tournament opener.

Shirley Pitts added 10 points for Bonanza.

Shadow Ridge 59, Basic 35 — Elisha Hensey scored 20 points, and the Mustangs built a 31-16 halftime lead on their way to the win.
Cheyana Slocum added 18 points, and Jessica Scarpati 13 for Shadow Ridge.

Marquichea Burns led the Wolves with 11 points. Amanda Weed scored 10.

Steveston (Canada) 40, Canyon Springs 35 — Steveston held the Pioneers without a point in the final 4:35 and rallied for the win.

Kenosha Wright led Canyon Springs with 12 points.

Monte Vista (Calif.) 64, South Torrance (Calif.) 45 — Monte Vista cruised to the tournament championship, securing its fourth win in three days.