Shannon Litz/Nevada AppealVirginia City's Ryan Conners goes to the basket against Pahranagat Valley in the 1A state title game on Saturday. Pahranagat Valley won 61-44. For more photos go to nevadaappeal.com/photos.
LAS VEGAS - For nearly three quarters, Virginia City and Pahranagat Valley slugged it out for NIAA 1A supremacy.
Pahranagat Valley broke free thanks to an 18-5 run bridging the third and fourth quarters en route to a 61-44 win over the Muckers Saturday night in the championship game at the Orleans Arena.
The loss robbed Virginia City, 16-5, of an 18th state title, and gives Pahranagat Valley back-to-back titles, something they did 30 years ago.
"I'm proud of these kids," VC coach Hector Bucchanieri said. "They went a long way. We had a good season. Hopefully when the dust settles, the kids will realize that.
"I chalk it up to a total lack of experience. A lot of guys hadn't been in this situation before."
The game changed late in the third quarter when Ryan Conners, after blocking a shot at one end of the floor, was called for a charging foul at the other end with VC holding a 32-27 lead. It wiped out a basket and a potential three-point play.
"That changed the momentum," Bucchanieri said. "We lose a possible 3-pointer and they came down and drained a 3-pointer. It came at a key point of the game for an inexperienced team like we had, it was like a lead weight around your ankles.
"When things didn't roll our way, passes got a little soft. We second-guessed ourselves a lot. I'd love to see a replay of that."
Cody Hosier drained a 3-pointer to make it 32-30. Ethan Huffman scored to give the Muckers a 34-30 lead. Hosier hit a long-range shot tying the game at 35. Conners scored on the inside for a 37-35 lead, but Hosier who finished with 25, drained another 3-pointer to give PV a 38-37 lead after three. Nineteen of Hosier's 25 came in the second half.
Baskets by Kade Wadsworth and Derek Hansen gave PV a 42-37 lead early in the final period. Another 3-pointer by Hosier made it 45-37, capping an 18-5 run since the charging foul against Conners.
The Muckers' Zach Shell made it 45-40, but Hosier scored in the lane for a 47-40 lead. A transition layup by Chase Hansen made it 49-40 with less than five minutes to go. After a foul on Adam Young, Hosier knocked down a foul shot for a 50-40 advantage.
In the next couple of minutes, Conners (9 points for the game) missed a 3-pointer and two free throws. Hosier hit another foul shot for a 51-40 lead, and that was essentially it though the Muckers continued to play hard until the very end.
Huffman, who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Shell led Virginia City to a 24-23 lead at the half. Young hit a runner near the end of the half to give the Muckers a slight advantage.
Huffman had 13 points in the first half. Shell, despite two quick fouls, still managed to score seven of his 14 in the first half.
"Everything he (Huffman) threw up went in," Bucchanieri said. "He had good looks. It was probably his best game of the year."