Las Vegas boys upset No. 2 Valley, keep league title hopes alive

The doors to the gymnasium at Las Vegas High were locked about 10 minutes before tipoff, and a soldout crowd crammed in to watch what is being referred to as the “Red V Game.”

The tardy fans who were turned away Thursday missed one of the best boys basketball games of the season.

Tyler Bey had 13 of his 19 points in the second half, and the host Wildcats knocked off No. 2 Valley 69-64 in front of a raucous atmosphere to keep their Northeast League title hopes alive.

Devon Colley added 15 points, including a key basket with 19 seconds remaining for sixth-ranked Las Vegas (19-6, 6-1 Northeast).

“There’s huge importance on the game, conference-wise trying to get evened up with these guys as we finish up,” Las Vegas coach Jason Wilson said. “But it’s much bigger than that. It’s a rivalry game. It’s a short history, but this thing has blown up big. It’s gone bananas.”

The Wildcats led by as many as 14 points in the second half and 65-62 after Valley’s Cameron Burton made two free throws with 1:02 remaining. Las Vegas milked almost 40 seconds, and when the Vikings (22-3, 5-1) didn’t foul, Colley drove to the basket to put the Wildcats ahead 67-62.

“He was standing there and we were trying to move the ball around a little bit, and he had a little hesitation at the top and then he made a good move to the basket,” Wilson said. “That was a big-time move, and that’s what seniors do. They get to the basket and finish when it counts.”

Marquise Raybon finished with 13 points and six rebounds off the bench for Las Vegas, and Patrick Savoy added 11 points and 13 rebounds. Savoy made two free throws with nine seconds remaining to provide the final margin of victory.

Burton scored a game-high 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to help the Vikings rally. Darrion Daniels tallied 19 points, and Taveon Jackson added eight points and 12 rebounds for Valley.

Daniels’ three-point play with 1:56 left cut Las Vegas’ lead to 64-60, but the Vikings couldn’t get closer than three points the rest of the way.

The 6-foot-7-inch Bey had two thunderous follow-up dunks in the first half, the latter of which gave Las Vegas a 33-23 advantage with 2:25 to play in the second quarter. His dunk after one of Colley’s five assists put the Wildcats ahead 45-31 midway through the third quarter.

Bey finished with five rebounds and four blocked shots.

“He was very active, rebounding,” Wilson said. “We got him some touches on the block, and he finished. When he’s active and does what he’s asked to do, he’s so good. He was the difference in the end.”

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.