Valley sinks rival Las Vegas with offensive onslaught

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 | 11:30 p.m.

Valley senior guard Darrion Daniels took two dribbles past half-court, noticed the Las Vegas High defense sagging off him and flung the ball toward the basket.

The first-half horn sounded as Daniels’ heave sailed through the air, ricocheted off the backboard and splashed through the net. Buzzer beaten.

“I just threw it up and hoped it went in,” Daniels reflected. “It was beautiful.”

It was a beautifully proper ending to the first 16 minutes of action Tuesday night in Valley’s iconic brick-walled gym. The two Northeast Division powerhouses couldn’t miss, each shooting better than 50 percent in the first half.

Las Vegas tailed off. Valley never did.

The Vikings’ offensive efficiency allowed them to glide past the archrival Wildcats 77-62 in the first of two meetings this season.

“The adrenaline of this rivalry pushed the pace of the game,” Valley coach Brian Farnsworth theorized. “Normally when you have that much energy, you don’t shoot the ball well but I thought both teams got to the rim and played hard.”

The victory put Valley (19-2, 2-0) in first place early in division play, dropping Las Vegas (14-4, 2-1) to third, and possibly established the Vikings as the favorite in the Sunrise Region.

The Vikings and Wildcats played as if even more was at stake. Off a pair of putbacks from senior forward Taveon Jackson, Valley took a 4-0 lead after its first two possessions.

The Vikings never trailed, though the Wildcats roared back repeatedly. The visitors cut the lead to two points or less on six different occasions behind the direction of senior point guard Devon Colley, who had a team-high 15 points and six assists.

But Valley pressured Colley into turnovers all night, which emerged as the difference and included four steals from Valley counterpart Cameron Burton. Although Burton endured an off shooting night — going 4-for-12 from the field — he controlled the Vikings and set up their blaze of points. Valley’s other four starters combined to convert on 58 percent of their field goal attempts.

“Most teams take a couple games to get their chemistry but we had chemistry right off the bat,” Valley senior forward Shea Garland said. “We all know how each other plays. We know our role.”

With every starter averaging double-digits on the season, anyone can lead the Vikings on a given night. It was Garland’s night against Las Vegas.

Garland scored 21 points, including six during a crucial stretch at the end of the third quarter through the start of the fourth. The Wildcats trimmed the lead to 54-50 by continually going to junior forward Tyler Bey, who finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, but the Vikings answered.

They pulled away with 10 of their next 11 points coming on post-up plays to Garland and Nick Brannon, who chipped in 12 points.

“Two of the best guys in the whole city,” Farnsworth said. “They’re determined. I’ll take my chances with them against anyone, and they put the ball in the hole tonight and did what they needed to do for us to get the win.”

Daniels tallied 16 points for the Vikings. Jackson was another terror down low with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He inadvertently incited a scuffle with a minute and a half to go and his team leading by 14, committing a hard foul on a driving Bey, who reacted by charging forward.

A shoving-match ensued and prompted a five-minute hiatus in the game. Officials issued five technical fouls and ejected Las Vegas senior guard Patrick Savoy, who had 11 points and five rebounds on the night.

“It was just heat of the moment and we cooled down,” Garland said. “I just don’t like when someone runs up on my teammate.”

More than two weeks and several significant games — including Valley hosting fellow Northeast foe Canyon Springs Thursday — separate the next matchup between the Vikings and Wildcats on Thursday, Feb. 5. Anticipation is already mounting, however, with the official rivalry trophy for the schools’ “V Game” on the line and flashes of both teams’ capabilities prevailing Tuesday.

“I can’t wait,” Daniels said. “It’s going to be packed and a lot better than tonight, so we’re going to have to keep our composure especially in that game.”

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