Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

high school basketball:

Second-half scoring outburst leads Valley past Basic and into Sunrise semifinals

Prep Sports Now

The playoff pod

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer fill out their brackets for the Sunset and Sunrise regional tournaments.

When the Valley High basketball team fell behind by three points Tuesday at halftime against Basic in the first round of the Sunrise Regional tournament, the Vikings’ players could have easily been discouraged.

After all, they went from being undefeated in the Northeast League two weeks ago to closing the regular season on a two-game losing streak — a skid not expected from a team expected to contend for the region crown.

Valley played like that championship team in the second half.

The Vikings outscored Basic 31-12 in the third quarter in advancing to Thursday’s semifinals with a 81-60 victory. Valley will play Foothill at 8 p.m. at Green Valley.

“Our guys just got rolling in the second half and we rolled with the momentum,” Valley coach Brian Farnsworth said. “That second half was as good as we have played all season.”

Cameron Burton led Valley with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and senior Daniel Young had a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with seven blocked shots. Fellow senior Ryan Johnson had 14 points and four assists.

After losing to Canyon Springs last week to close the regular season, a defeat that dropped the Vikings to the second seed for the playoffs, Farnsworth said his team didn’t flinch. That’s especially true for Young and Johnson, his senior leaders.

“The kids could have moped, but they came to practice and tried to get better,” Farnsworth said. “The kids really focused in on our goals. Danny and Ryan, those two aren’t ready for their season to end.”

Spencer Mathis added 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Valley.

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

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