When you play against a good team in league, it is important you win the games at home. A wise saying from many, many knowledgeable coaches.
With a ‘Get er’ Done’ mentality on Saturday in Alamo, Tabor Maxwell scored 20 points for the Pahranagat Valley boys basketball team, including four 3-point shots and the Panthers used a 13-0 run to start the second half en route to a 69-56 win over visiting Word of Life Academy (9-3, 3-1), handing the Eagles their first league loss.
Culen Highbe added 10 points for Pahranagat Valley, which led only 29-28 at the half.
Trent McCall had 17 points, and Malik Moore and Caleb Murphy both had 10 for Word of Life.
The Eagles Elijah Hoye was injured in the third quarter with a dislocated shoulder and did not return. He had nine points at halftime.
The win kept the Panthers atop of the leader board with Adelson and Spring Mountain as they reached the halfway point on the league schedule.
PVHS (11-4, 5-0) and Adelson (8-6, 3-2) played on Thursday this week. Alamo’s game with Quest Academy slated for this Saturday was cancelled when Quest was removed from the league, and has to play as an independent.
Word of Life coach Percy Lockett said he was surprised the Panthers were able to “out physical” his team. “They play hard and I told my guys, they don’t quit. You have to be ready to match their intensity level in order to stay close, and to have Hoye go out was a big blow. He’s a big part of our scoring.”
Panther coach Mike Strong said he was pleased to see how the kids showed they could play against a quick team like Word of Life. “They like to trap and pressure half court and we just threw it right back at them. You press a pressing team. We are playing with the idea that all the 50-50 balls are ours and the kids are buying into that thinking.” Going back many years, as one observer put it, “Looks like an exciting style of Kamikaze basketball.”
PVHS had an outstanding night at the foul line as well, going 22-for-27 (81 percent). Word of Life was 8-for-11 (73 percent).
The boys kept up their dominance over Tonopah in league play the night before on Friday, with a 56-37 win at Tonopah. PVHS is now 9-1 against the Muckers since 2005. The only loss being 48-46 in 2014.
Heavy full court pressure in the first quarter led to many Tonopah turnovers and chances to score for Pahranagat and helped the Panther boys forge a 27-17 halftime lead.
Gage Allen had 13 for Tonopah (5-10, 1-3) and Jimmy Withers added 12.
Shawn Wadsworth topped the scoring for Pahranagat Valley with 13 points. Culen Highbe had 11.
