This final score is sure deceiving. The Valley Vikings basketball team beat host Las Vegas High 79-68 Friday, but it was anything but a comfortable double-digit victory in a battle of two undefeated Northeast League teams. Las Vegas led by 12 points entering the fourth quarter and appeared well on its way to earning sole possession of first place. But Valley picked up the pace in the final eight minutes, using a full-court pressure to create several turnovers and easy baskets, and scoring 36 fourth-quarter points to grab the crucial win.
When a Southern Utah University basketball coach offered Las Vegas High senior Juwan Major a scholarship after a game last week, the 6-foot-3 senior guard didn’t hesitate giving a verbal commitment. Major is the third from his family to receive a college scholarship.
Roberto Zavala had no interest in soccer. Not watching it. Not playing it. In Mexico, where the 16-year-old Zavala lived before moving to Southern Nevada last December, soccer is the sport most are passionate about. The country partially shuts down when the national team plays and virtually every child grows up dribbling a soccer ball. Not Zavala. Rather, Zavala’s sport of choice is basketball. And he’s pretty good at it.
The Green Valley High basketball team nearly squandered a 13-point fourth-quarter lead Wednesday in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals, but received two clutch free throws from Devan Kohn in hanging on for a 69-66 victory against visiting Las Vegas High.
Chris Swanson was fouled hard on an aggressive drive the rim in the third quarter Friday night, being knocked to the floor and landing with a loud thud several in the gymnasium could hear. The Valley High point guard was in clear pain underneath the basket, needing a minute to regain his strength before finishing the Vikings’ home against rival Las Vegas High. The 5-foot-9, 135-pound Swanson could have easily avoided contact the rest of the night.
Welcome to a new era of Canyon Springs basketball, where the faces have changed but the mentality has stayed the same. This year’s Pioneers showed they had every bit the courage and tenacity as last year’s senior-laden state championship team in their Northeast division opener Tuesday night. Canyon Springs rallied past the majority of conceivable adversities to beat rival Las Vegas High 86-83 in double overtime.
Las Vegas High basketball coach Jason Wilson couldn’t have asked for a better nonleague game for his team to play in. The Wildcats are one of three Southern Nevada public schools scheduled to play national power Findlay Prep, facing off against the Henderson-based team Dec. 17 at the South Point Arena. Findlay, which takes players from around the country for its top-caliber team of blue-chip recruits, is in its sixth year of existence at Henderson International School. The Pilots have twice won the ESPN RISE national championship and are regulars in virtually every national ranking
Coronado High basketball coach Jeff Kaufman spent the last three practices before the start of the playoffs trying to prepare his team for the speed and athleticism of the Las Vegas High players. Simulating the Wildcats fast break in practice with his taxi squad, however, didn’t exactly work. Las Vegas, using its speed to create easy scoring opportunities, wasted little time Tuesday in jumping out to a double-digit lead against Coronado in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals. But after falling behind by 12 points in the initial six minutes, Coronado finally showed why it is one of the regional’s No. 1 ...
It’s no coincidence that the Las Vegas High basketball team’s rise in the Northeast division standings is coming at the same time Hassan Henderson is playing his best of the season. Henderson, a junior forward, scored 25 points to go with 13 rebounds Tuesday night as Las Vegas avenged an early-season loss against Chaparral, 55-44.
George Sanico hit four 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Las Vegas High as the Wildcats avenged their December loss to rival Eldorado with a 67-59 home victory over the Sun Devils on Friday.
This win comes with some bragging rights. Curtis Stewart scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half Thursday night to help the Eldorado High basketball team build an early double-digit advantage and hold off a late charge by visiting Las Vegas for a 64-58 win. While it’s just the second week of the season, the league victory will surely be beneficial for the undefeated Sun Devils (6-0) come February in what is expected to be a tight Northeast Division race.
Las Vegas High coach Jason Wilson challenged his team to play lockdown defense from the beginning of Thursday night’s game against Del Sol. The Wildcats responded and found themselves with a commanding 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter that the Dragons could never chip away at. Las Vegas improved to 4-0 with the 95-45 victory.
There are no easy games in basketball’s Northeast Division. That’s something the Las Vegas High team learned the hard way last year, often struggling with ball protection in losing several close contests and finishing with a 7-7 league record.
