After two games on the road, Pahrump Valley is heading back home. They will take on the Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon Pirate at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.
Last Saturday, Pahrump Valley faced the Pirates in a battle between two of the state's top teams. Pahrump Valley took a 37-30 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Pirates.
Avery Moore put forth a good effort for the losing side as she almost dropped a double-double on 12 points and nine rebounds. Another player making a difference was Kailani Martinez, who scored seven points along with four steals.
Even though they lost, Pahrump Valley smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Moapa Valley only pulled down five offensive rebounds.
Meanwhile, Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Tuesday after their 11th straight loss. They took a serious blow against Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas, falling 62-27. Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon has struggled against the Falcons recently, as their matchup on Tuesday was their third consecutive lost matchup.
Despite their loss, Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Melanie Oliveras, who scored nine points along with two steals, was perhaps the best of all. Zoie Senensi-Bocoboc was another key contributor, scoring five points along with four steals.
Pahrump Valley's defeat ended a 17-game streak of away wins dating back to last season and brought them to 21-2. As for Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon, their loss was their 11th straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 1-16.
Thursday's game is shaping up to be a scrappy match: Pahrump Valley have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.4 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon, though, as they've been averaging only 11.5 rebounds per game. Given Pahrump Valley's sizable advantage in that area, the Pirate will need to find a way to close that gap.
Everything came up roses for Pahrump Valley against the Pirate in their previous meeting back in January as the team secured a 55-10 victory. With Pahrump Valley ahead 32-4 at the half, the match was all but over already.
