Lady Bulldog point guard Nathalie Lagamayo brings the ball down court during their 36-33 win over Del Sol. Lagamayo had 13 points to lead the Dawgs.
Photo by Lou Martin
Virgin Valley High girls basketball player Taylor Barnum made history of sort, hitting the first game basket in the new Virgin Valley High School gym. It seemed an eternity before the Bulldogs would hit another, the second period before they scored again.
Despite a poorly played game, the Dawgs prevailed 36-33 over Del Sol behind 13 points from point guard Nathalie Lagamayo.
The first period ended with the Bulldogs trailing by a baseball score 5-3 as neither team could handle the hot potato ball. The Bulldogs affinity to score continued two minutes into the second period as the Dragons increased their lead to 11-3 before Coach Chimane Creer called a timeout in an attempt to settle her young charges.
The break seemed to work as the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game 12-12. Alexis Boatwright hit a shot to tie the game with 2:33 remaining in the first half of play. The Dragons held on to take a 17-14 lead into the break. The teams had more turnovers in the first half than points.
The third period continued with poor play as the teams battled to a 5-5 standoff in the quarter. Lagamayo had all five points for the Bulldogs. The score after three found the Dragons up 22-19. Bulldog Areli Ponce began the final period, hitting four quick points, giving the Dawgs their first lead of the game 23-22. The Dragons recovered their lead 28-27 before Boatwright hit a three ball giving the Dawgs a 30-28 advantage.
The Dragons tied the game 32-32 with less than two minutes remaining. Boatwright hit a short jumper in the paint giving the lead back to the Bulldogs. The Dragons called timeout to set up a play with less than a minute remaining in the game.
The Bulldogs fouled Dragons point guard Lajaei West who missed her first of two free throws making the score 34-33 with 42 seconds remaining. The Dragons intentionally fouled Lagamayo, who calmly hit two free throws to sew up the win, 36-33.
Despite, poor play by the Dawgs, a win is a win. The win gives the Lady Bulldogs a 6-1 3A Sunrise League record, one game behind Moapa Valley. The Pirates come into the Dawg House on Friday, Jan. 26, in the annual Battle of the Valleys. The winner will be the favorite to win the conference.
