Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

high school basketball:

Experienced players give Valley basketball advantage

High School Basketball Teams

Christopher DeVargas

Valley HS: Shea Garland, Taveon Jackson, Cameron Burton, Nick Brannon

Valley High basketball 2014-15 season preview

While most of the high school basketball teams in the Sunrise Region have young and inexperienced players at key positions, Valley High is the exception.

The Vikings' 14-player roster has 13 seniors, including four-year varsity performer Cameron Burton at point guard. After reaching the Sunrise semifinals last season with mostly the same players, Valley could be the Sunrise’s last team standing this winter.

“If we play to our ability, I think we are as good as anybody,” Valley coach Brian Farnsworth said. “Obviously, every game will be a challenge and a battle for us. We’ve got the tools it takes to be successful. I like our chances against any team we face.”

If the initial week of the season is an indication, Farnsworth is right — the Vikings are the real deal.

Valley won all three off its games in the opening week of the season, including a 43-point victory Thursday against Cimarron-Memorial. Its other two wins have come by 19 and 17 points.

The offense will run through Burton, who scored 19 points against Cimarron and poured in 23 points in a victory against Shadow Ridge.

He’s been hitting big shots since his freshman season, when he came off the bench to make a trio of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Valley rally past Coronado in the Sunrise quarterfinals. He’s been part of four playoff wins — invaluable experience come the postseason in February.

“I have been in those certain situations with the playoffs and (in the) heat of the moment,” Burton said. “With my leadership, I think we can go a far way.”

Burton, though, isn’t the lone option.

Taveon Jackson, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, exploded for 27 points against Eldorado in the season opener and will team with Shea Garland and Nick Brannon to give Valley plenty of scoring threats on the wing. Garland averaged 10 points and six rebounds a game last season, and the shooting guard Brannon thrives in Valley’s fast-paced offense.

The Vikings play pressure defense to force turnovers then try to outrace the opposition down the court for easy points. If Valley has a weakness, it's a lack of size in the post, which could prove problematic with rebounding.

“We aren’t that big this year,” Garland said. “We have to get back on defense, stay on our man. You can’t lose focus.”

The one game Valley won’t lose focus in is against rival Las Vegas, another area team with multiple returners.

The rivals annually play in the V Game, which has blossomed in nearly a decade since a trophy was introduced to the rivalry into one of the best-attended games of the season. Both schools have long histories, and the game typically is standing room only.

“The intensity is crazy. And the crowd — it’s the biggest crowd I have played in front of,” Garland said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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