Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Green Valley holds off Silverado, wins fifth straight

Keiannte Wilkins and Thomas Allison star for the Gators

2010-2011 Boys Prep Basketball - Green Valley Outtakes

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Green Valley basketball players Austin Tebbs, Keiannte’ Wilkins and Earl Thompson.

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While nearly everyone in the Green Valley gym stood and hollered in amazement at the beginning of the fourth quarter Tuesday night, coach Lorenzo Jarvis stayed calm.

He had seen this kind of performance before from Keiannte Wilkins, a senior guard. Wilkins scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including nine in three minutes, as Green Valley came away with a 62-58 victory over Silverado.

“He really got into a rhythm,” Jarvis said. “He’s a heck of a scorer once he gets going.”

Wilkins helped the Gators continue their recent surge, in which they’ve won five straight games and now stand alone in third place in the Southeast Division.

But he almost cost them by taking an ill-advised shot with 30 seconds left in the game. Green Valley led 60-58, simply needing to run out the clock and force Silverado to foul, when Wilkins threw up a three-pointer that clanked off the rim.

“He wasn’t thinking we were up by two,” Jarvis said. “He was just playing the game. I can’t knock him for that. I just told him to pay attention to the clock.”

Green Valley was able to dodge overtime or potential defeat when its defense locked down and didn’t allow Silverado an open look.

“We know how to pick up on defense, because that’s what our coaches focus on,” Wilkins said.

Senior guard Thomas Allison contested two shots in the paint and grabbed a rebound with two seconds left. He coolly sank two free throws on the other end to lock up the win for the Gators.

Allison finished with 14 points and five rebounds for Green Valley.

“He’s played incredible since Christmas break,” Jarvis said. “He’s come into his own.”

Despite trailing 30-24 at halftime, Green Valley came out confident in the second half. Senior guard Austin Tebbs made a couple of long three-pointers and found Wilkins under the basket for two assists.

The Gators led by as many as nine after Wilkins’ outburst but allowed the Skyhawks to pull back in the game in the final minutes.

Juniors Justin Johnson and Ruben Jackson led the Skyhawks comeback. Johnson made two late three-pointers and finished with 12 points, while Jackson initiated Silverado’s offense all night with penetrating ability and scored 15 points.

But no one had a night quite like Wilkins, who ended up being the difference.

“When I start feeling it, I just go for it,” Wilkins said. “I know my coach wants me to step it up and be the captain that I am.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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