3A BOYS ALL-STATE: Moapa Valley’s Hilton checks in as state’s top player in Class 3A

Moapa Valley’s Shaun Hilton remembers nothing more about his senior basketball season than first-year coach Dallas Larsen’s initial meeting with his players.

“Coach Larsen, at the very beginning of the year, he said he wanted a division title,” Hilton said. “We weren’t really able to do that, but in the division tournament, we got it.”

And no one was more pivotal in that pursuit than Hilton, a 6-foot-5-inch senior who made a smooth transition from point guard to post player entering the season.

Hilton recently was rewarded when Class 3A coaches voted him the state’s Most Valuable Player.

Hilton averaged 14.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals to lead the Pirates to a second-place finish in the state in 3A.

After Moapa Valley (15-9) tied for second in league with a 3-3 mark during the regular season, it won the 3A Southern League tournament to enter the state playoffs with the South’s No. 1 seed.

But the same team the Pirates beat in the league tournament final — Boulder City — came away with a 62-46 win in the 3A state championship game Feb. 28.

“I would have definitely taken the (state) win over any individual award,” Hilton said.

Larsen said Hilton succeeded in his transition from point guard to the post because of a strong skill set.

“He was just one of those players who handled the ball well enough to be our point guard, but his height made him a problem to post up,” Larsen said.

Hilton agreed.

“I just think size-wise, if they matched up with a smaller guard, I would post them up,” he said. “If not, I would take them out on the perimeter.”

Hilton is beginning to draw recruiting interest heading into the April 15 to May 20 regular signing period. He worked out Friday for Division II Western New Mexico.

Also for Moapa Valley, guard Max Jenkins was named first-team all-state.

For winning its first state title since 1999, Boulder City (16-17) was rewarded with guard Joey Western on the first team and forward Jeremy Smith on the second.

The first team also includes Sparks guard Angel Guillen, Lowry forward Danny Westfall, Dayton center Tannar Wood and Spring Creek utility player David Morrell.

The second team includes Yerington guard Burke Bristol, Virgin Valley guard Terran Leavitt, Fernley forward Jace Gledhill, Faith Lutheran post Brett Lubbe and Faith Lutheran utility player Chase Saunders.