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	Pirate Basketball Falls To Boulder City

	Jonathan Oglesby Moapa Valley Progress Moapa Valley High School Men’s Basketball team went up against Boulder City on Tuesday, January 29. It was a big one for the Pirates; either win and lock up a higher playoff seed or lose and still face possible elimination from the race for the playoffs. These scenarios hung heavy on Moapa Valley as they took on the Eagles in Boulder City. The Pirates were slow to open in the first quarter and got behind early. Even when Dustin Maletich made a layup with 3:13 left in the quarter, the Pirates trailed 9-4. Bobby Vallet put the score back within five when he made an easy open jumper but things weren’t good for the Pirates as Boulder City fired on to a 15-8 lead going into the second quarter. Moapa Valley again struggled offensively in the second quarter as it took nearly a minute for the Pirates to score. Joe Rebman made a jump-shot to put Moapa Valley down 17-10. The situation didn’t improve for the Pirates, however, as Boulder City used the play of their physical players inside to get offensive rebounds and to build on their lead. The Pirates would trail by eleven until Shiloh Sandoval made a layup to get the score to 23-14 with 2:31 left in the half. Sandoval would cut the lead to seven but Boulder City held on to take a big lead into the second half. Score at the end of the first half: Moapa Valley 18, Boulder City 26. The Pirates began to warm up offensively in the second half as shots began to fall from the floor for Moapa Valley and when Dustin Maletich made a wide open two with 7:00 to go in the quarter, the Pirates only trailed 28-22. The Eagles regrouped though and soon their strong lead began to build again. The quarter became a back and forth contest as the Pirates continued to struggle rebounding the basketball in pressure situations. The score going into the fourth quarter wasn’t where Moapa wanted it as Boulder City led 46-36. The Pirates needed a big fourth quarter comeback but it was hard for Moapa Valley to do that with the big, inside presence of Boulder City. The Pirates slowly but surely began to comeback though which led to Moapa gaining some confidence. When Bobby Vallet made a three with 3:07 left, Moapa Valley only trailed by five and a Pirate layup would cut the deficit to 50-47 with over two minutes remaining. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there for Moapa Valley as several Eagle shots and Pirate fouls began to add up. Additionally, a technical foul that was administered on Shaun Hilton further hurt the Pirates as they were unable to finish off their comeback. Final Score: Moapa Valley 49, Boulder City 61. Now the Pirates are tied with Pahrump Valley for second place in the division. The Pirates travel to Faith Lutheran, who lost a close division game to Boulder City, this week as well as Pahrump later in the week. A victory at one or both venues is critical in order for Moapa Valley to lock up a higher playoff seed and possibly make the playoffs.