1A SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Lake Mead tops rival Panthers again

Lake Mead Christian Academy finally beat Pahranagat Valley in last season’s Class 1A state championship game after scuffling for years against the girls from Alamo.

The confidence gained by breaking through against their biggest rivals on the brightest stage is evident in this year’s Eagles.

Top-seeded Lake Mead calmly survived a few tough rallies by Pahrangat Valley in Saturday’s Southern League title game to down the second-seeded Panthers, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 and earn the top berth to next week’s state playoffs at Silverado.

Lake Mead coach Diana Lewis stood silently on the sideline as her team battled out of a 23-all tie in the second game and a six-point deficit in the third game. There’s not much to say to a group of girls making their third straight trip to state together, even when they fall behind and have to come back.

“I can’t tell you how many games we were down last year. Sometimes I think they do it on purpose because they want to play that cat-and-mouse game,” Lewis said with a laugh. “I told them they’re giving me too many gray hairs.”

 Eagles outside hitter Amanda Wellman said the Eagles benefit from having spent so much time playing together, allowing them to relax in tight situations.

“I think it’s more along the lines of every single (person) here, except for one freshman, has been to state, been to regionals,” Wellman said.

The Panthers also advanced to the state playoffs by qualifying for the region finals. Pahranagat Valley defeated Tonopah, 25-7, 25-12, 25-16 earlier Saturday in the semifinals to clinch a state berth.

After dropping the first two games to Lake Mead, the Panthers looked ready to extend the match in the third with an 18-12 lead.

Pahranagat Valley’s passing broke down a bit, though, allowing the Eagles to tie the game at 20 before putting it away on a Wellman tip on the last point.

Lewis believes her team is greatly improved from earlier this season and is playing its best right now.

“That’s one thing I was really concerned about,” Lewis said. “I wanted to make sure we were getting as strong as other teams. I think (we) proved that here today.”

Wellman totaled 22 digs, 14 kills and four aces for the Eagles. Ashley Newton recorded 19 kills and 12 digs, and Jocelyn Cox tallied 31 assists and eight digs.

Lake Mead easily defeated Henderson International, 25-1, 25-5, 25-12, Saturday morning to reach the region finals.