Sierra Vista Boys Basketball

Viko Noma’aea didn't play for a year while on church mission, but returns and lands scholarship at Utah State: Thursday, April 18, 2013; high school recruiting: The former Sierra Vista High star was overlooked in 2011; finally finds a college home; By Ray Brewer; Viko Noma’aea hadn’t played basketball in more than one year when he returned last month from serving a church mission in France. Come this June, the former Sierra Vista High point guard will start practicing with Utah State, verbally committing to the school this week.

Canyon Springs advances to title game with overtime victory against Sierra Vista: Thursday, February 24, 2011; state basketball championships: Pioneers erase double-digit deficit in reaching title game for second straight season; By Ray Brewer; Canyon Springs High senior guard Trey Evans inadvertently forgot his game shoes at home Thursday for the Pioneers’ state semifinals contest at the Orleans Arena. So, he borrowed a pair of pink high-tops from teammate Michael Thompson, then borrowed a play designed for Thompson in saving the season for his team.

Sierra Vista holds on in play-in game to reach state tournament: Wednesday, February 23, 2011; Bishop Gorman girls also advance to the state tournament; By Case Keefer; The fate of two seasons came down to one loose ball. With three seconds left in Tuesday’s state tournament play-in game at Del Sol High, Eldorado trailed Sierra Vista by one with Daquon Thrower at the free-throw line shooting his second attempt. Thrower, who swished the first free throw, clanked the shot off the back iron. Teammate D.J. Billingsley came up with the ball after a brief scramble right below the basket. But Sierra Vista’s Dallin Molina stepped up and contested Billingsley’s put back as the buzzer sounded to send the Mountain Lions to Nevada high school basketball’s version of ...

Bishop Gorman takes third straight Sunset title in rout against Sierra Vista: Saturday, February 19, 2011; Gaels shake off disappointment from Friday's game, follow Shabazz Muhammad to win; By Case Keefer; Unsatisfied would serve as the best word to describe Bishop Gorman’s temperament heading into Friday’s Sunset championship game against Sierra Vista. Although the Gaels scored a 17-point victory over Palo Verde in the semifinals Thursday, no one on the team was happy about the way they played. Gorman felt its defense was lackluster, which allowed Palo Verde to stay in the game for too long. Gorman more than shored up its mistakes against Sierra Vista and cruised to an 84-66 victory.

Sierra Vista continues record-breaking march in win over Centennial: Thursday, February 17, 2011; Mountain Lions break out in transition after halftime; By Case Keefer; It took Sierra Vista 10 years to capture the first playoff victory in school history. Now, the Mountain Lions have won two in three days. Sierra Vista, which finished second in the Southwest Division, knocked off Northwest Division champions Centennial 56-44 Thursday in the Sunset Region semifinals.

Sierra Vista plays lockdown defense to get past Cimarron-Memorial: Tuesday, February 15, 2011; The Sunset quarterfinal win was the first playoff victory in Sierra Vista school history; By Case Keefer; Sierra Vista’s defense came out strong from the beginning in Tuesday’s Sunset quarterfinal playoff game against Cimarron-Memorial. It took the offense a while to follow. After only leading 19-15 at halftime, the Mountain Lions pulled away for a resounding 62-39 win against the Spartans.

Sierra Vista clinches No. 2 seed with overtime win at Durango: Saturday, February 12, 2011; hs basketball:; Edward Hauth; The Sierra Vista High basketball team Friday clinched the No. 2 seed from the Southwest Division in next week’s Sunset Regional playoffs with a 76-71 overtime victory against host Durango.

Sierra Vista controls its own playoff destiny after beating Western: Thursday, January 27, 2011; HS BASKETBALL:; By Ray Brewer; The Sierra Vista High basketball team’s 66-59 victory Wednesday against host Western puts the Mountain Lions in an excellent position to make a memorable postseason run. Sure, they have seven league games remaining in the Southwest Division, and could easily slip up down the home stretch of the regular season. But the victory against Western put the Mountain Lions (18-3, 8-2) in the driver’s seat to claim the No. 2 seed from the Southwest for next week’s Sunset Regional tournament. The No. 2 seed hosts a first-round playoff game and avoids having to play two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman ...

Space Washington infuses energy into Sierra Vista basketball with rap song: Wednesday, January 12, 2011; Former basketball player turned to rap after hurting his ankle last season; By Case Keefer; The Sierra Vista basketball team exits the locker room in a state of absolute calm. The Mountain Lions silently shuffle into a line in a hallway to the side of their gym's bleachers and wait. When the first beat echoes over the speakers, the players soar onto the court and leave their relaxed demeanor behind. The song playing isn't one heard at sporting events across the country. It's Sierra Vista's own, a rap about the Mountain Lions entitled "Blue & Yellow" by 16-year old junior Jaylen "Space" Washington.

Bishop Gorman wins battle at Sierra Vista: Tuesday, January 11, 2011; Ben Carter's double-double leads Gorman to big second half; By Case Keefer; Bishop Gorman’s Shabazz Muhammad flew down the court on a fast break and went over a defender for a forceful dunk. Never one to be outdone, Sierra Vista’s Viko Noma’aea took the ensuing inbounds pass, rocketed down the floor and zigzagged his way through the Gorman defense for a how-did-he-do-that layup. This is what happens when two of the best players on two of the best teams in Las Vegas go up against each other. In what is certain to go down as one of the most entertaining high school basketball games of the year, Bishop Gorman rallied past host ...

Sierra Vista boys using holiday tourney to gain experience: Wednesday, December 22, 2010; HS BASKETBALL:; By Ray Brewer; The Sierra Vista High basketball team needed this game. While its 82-69 victory against Lynwood High of California in the Sierra Vista Invitational was important, it was the simple fact the Mountain Lions were playing a game that was more significant.

Sierra Vista pulls away from Coronado in the fourth quarter: Friday, December 10, 2010; Maiscei Grier and Viko Noma'aea scored 50 of the Mountain Lions' 73 points; By Case Keefer; Sierra Vista guard Viko Noma’aea felt his team “slacked off” in the third quarter of its season-opening game against Coronado Thursday night. He wanted to start the fourth quarter by setting a new tone. Noma’aea hit a 3-pointer, grabbed a steal and dished an assist in the opening 30 seconds to turn a five-point Coronado lead into a tie game. Sierra Vista seized on the momentum and used a lopsided fourth quarter to beat Coronado 73-59.

Sierra Vista poised for breakout season: Monday, December 6, 2010; HS BASKETBALL:; By Case Keefer; Ask Sierra Vista coach Kent Johnson who will star for his team this season and expect a mouthful in response. Johnson can’t limit his response to a few guys, because he thinks almost everyone on the roster is capable of changing a game on any given night.