VEGAS INVITATIONAL: Simon sparks Western’s second-half rally
When Western’s girls basketball team went into halftime trailing Moapa Valley, 24-19, the Warriors knew they had to do something.
That something turned out to be giving the ball to Michelle Simon.
The senior team captain scored all but one of her 11 points after halftime — including a jump shot in the third quarter that tied the game at 29 — to rally the Warriors to a 41-39 win Monday in the Vegas Invitational at Mountain View.
“I came out and knew I had to do it for my team,” Simon said.
Daresheoun Lee led the Warriors with 13 points and five rebounds after a shaky first half.
“We told (the other players) to get their heads in the game,” Lee said. “Don’t get mad; don’t make mistakes. Just bring it up.”
Western coach Ryan Bradshaw added: “We were not executing, running on nerves, but we needed to come out and be ourselves, play our own ball game.”
He wasn’t surprised at Simon’s second-half performance, though.
“Michelle’s just Michelle. That’s what she always does,” Bradshaw said. “She works hard, day in and day out. She’s not a superstar, but she’s solid every day.”
Simon added four rebounds and two blocked shots.
“Coach always says defense wins game,” she said. “I love playing defense."
Lee’s biggest contribution came at the free-throw line, where she sank all six of her shots. Lee and Simon combined to shoot 9-for-12 from the foul line.
Jordan Leavitt paced the Pirates with nine points and four rebounds.
Sunrise Mountain 47, Agassi Prep 30 — The Miners held Agassi Prep to single digits in two of the four quarters to upend the Stars.
Alicia Winchester led the way for Sunrise Mountain with 14 points. Jasmine Jones added 10 points.
Kayla Johnson scored 16 for Agassi Prep.
Bonanza 54, Moapa Valley 45 — The Bengals scored 34 second-half points to beat the Pirates.
Daytril Beals led Bonanza with 18 points, and Alice Pitts added 17.
Haley Leavitt scored 12 for Moapa Valley.
Pahranagat Valley 66, Agassi Prep 43 — The Panthers held Agassi Prep to only five first-quarter points and cruised to the victory.
Nikki Schofield led Pahranagat Valley with 17 points. Dakota Day added 15 points and five rebounds for the Panthers.
Pahranagat Valley used a 7-0 run to start the first half and a 14-2 burst to begin the second half.
Allanah Conway and Noelle Chavis scored 10 points apiece for Agassi Prep.
Needles 57, Orestimba (Calif.) 37 — The Mustangs poured in 24 first-quarter points and cruised past the Warriors.
Orestimba held Needles to four second-quarter points to cut the lead to 28-18 at halftime, but couldn’t slow down the Mustangs’ offense.
Miranda Brackett led Needles with 18 points, and Kristin Arthur added 12.
River Valley (Ariz.) 47, Sunrise Mountain 14 — The Miners failed to score more than four points in any quarter in a loss to the Dust Devils.
Jones had four points for Sunrise Mountain.
Needles 81, Fairmont Prep (Calif.) 22 — The Mustangs held the Huskies to single-digit scoring in all four quarters and blitzed to the win.
Bracket had 20 points for Needles, which outscored Fairmont Prep 26-2 in the first quarter.
Alex Chandler added 16 points for the Mustangs, Gena Chavira netted 15, Kristin Arthur had 11 and Chrystian Dick chipped in 10.
River Valley (Ariz.) 47, Mountain View 38 — The Dust Devils took a 22-15 first-quarter lead and held off the Saints.
Patrice Marshall led Mountain View with 14, and Briana Murroffo added 12.