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Jul. 18, 2008
Lady Trojans win first-ever Class A state tourney title
By DON McDERMOTT
Nevada did not contest a girls' Class A girls' basketball state championship until the fall 1976 season. Pahrump Valley did not put its first girls team onto a court until the 1974-75 school year, when coach Donna Travis's team won eight of 14 games. Her 1975 fall squad won 11 of 12 games to claim the Southern championship, but there was no state tournament in 1-A. With Joe Peterson as their coach, the PV girls won their last three games of the 1975 fall campaign. They employed their fast-breaking offense and full-court pressing defense to go undefeated in 19 games and extend their winning streak to 22 games -- as well as claim the first team state championship in school history in fall 1976. In the championship game, played at Clark High School in Las Vegas, the Trojans put on a fourth-quarter surge to beat the Carlin Railroaders, who had been undefeated in 19 games, thanks to the leadership of all-tourney selection Lorrie Yraguen. Carlin led 17-11 after the first quarter, but the Trojans rallied to jump ahead 26-24 at the half. It was tied at 34-34 after three quarters. In the final eight minutes, Pahrump Valley outscored Carlin 15-9 to take possession of the state championship plaque. Most Valuable Player, Shari Longden, scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the championship game. All-tourney team choice Kelly Costley had 12 points and battered Carlin with 20 rebounds. Guard Becky Pallan added 10 points. Longden averaged 22 points and 16 rebounds through PVHS's first 16 games. Yraguen had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Railroaders. Also named to the all-tournament team were Zephyr Cove Whittell's Tanya Bouldin and Battle Mountain's Pam Lackey. Pahrump Valley advanced to the finals by holding off Fernley 49-48, then romping past Battle Mountain 42-23. Longden, Costley, Stacy Angell, Debbie Bierman and Teresa Jacober were seniors on the championship team. ---- Said Peterson, in a letter to the West Nevada Pahrump Valley Times: "Before I get caught up in the throes of another season (he was the boys' basketball coach), I would like to get the last one finished. "I would appreciate it if you would thank the following people in your paper. Firstly, I would like to thank you for all the help you have given us this year. "Also, please thank Mr. Don Worden, Mr. Ray Wulfenstein, Mr. Bill Sears, Mrs. Floyd Neth, Mr. Jim Clark, Mrs. Clyde Raper and Mr. Rod Poteete. "Please extend our thanks to all the faculty of PVHS, the students, the JV cheerleaders and all the townspeople who supported us. "Lastly, my personal thanks to the parents and to the team members themselves. It was through the efforts of all these people that the Pahrump Valley High School girls' basketball team became the first to win a state title." Among the team's major supporters throughout the season were Darwin Lamb's Los Rancheros Restaurant, Janet's Place, Bolling-Hafen, Inc., Gene's Drive-In, Blevins Pahrump Mobile Park, Carder Auto Parts, Cotton Pickin', Tomken Enterprises, Side Saddle Boutique, Saddle West, Nyerg Well and Drilling, Frank Woner, Makin's Texaco, Floyd Neth, Bob Ruud and Ray Wulfenstein. ---- Slated to return in the 1977 season were Janelle Ward, Merlin Turner, Becky Pallan, Cindy Wulfenstein, Shelly Cooper, Lisa Hafen, Fawn Briscoe, Jo Jo Worden, Wanda Schwenck, Teresa Neth and Terry Sears. NOTES -- The 1975 Lady Trojans dominated opponents, deflating Beatty 60-16 and 55-24, Tonopah 42-16 and 35-11, Virgin Valley 32-26, Caliente 64-3, Indian Springs 41-13 and two other teams, with the scores not reported. The only loss in 12 games -- 35-34 to Moapa Valley -- came just before the Southern 1-A playoffs, where PVHS downed Lincoln County 48-42 and Moapa Valley 40-37 to claim its first regional championship. Kelly Costley, Laura Cook, Shari Longden, Terry Sears, Lacie Ward, Janelle Ward, Lynn Berkley, Shelly Cooper, Julie Pahlen, Dawn Briscoe and Linda Cook were on that team. |
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