Lady Bulldog head coach Chimane Creer and assistant coach Keven Hess (right to left) greet basketball hopefuls Saturday November 12 in the Dawg House. The Dawgs hope to improve on an 11-3 record last season.
Photo by Lou Martin
Will this be the year the Virgin Valley High School girl basketball team advances further in the region and state basketball playoffs? The Lady Dawgs return seven players from las year’s 11-3 1A Sunrise squad including sharp shooter Briana Todd. Throw into the mix center Bernice Fiso and shooting guard Emma Barnum plus four other returning players Savannah Price, Taylor Barnum, Jessica Barnum and defensive stalwart Abbie Barnum gives the Dawgs a good nucleus for success. Todd coming off her all 1-A Sunrise Conference honors will give the Dawgs a go to shooter during crucial games. Fiso and Price will need to exert themselves in the paint to give the Dawgs second opportunities to score. “We need to establish our offensive scheme around our seniors during pre-season play,” said Bulldog coach Chimane Creer. “I like that the kids are well rounded athletically, some coming off the recently completed volleyball program.” The Lady Dawgs begin their home season Nov. 29 against Rancho High School before making their annual trip to Page, Arizona for the NGS Basketball Classic. The path for 3A schools to advance this year are a little easier as power houses Spring Valley, Faith Lutheran moved up to 4A plus Sierra Vista and Clark High Schools.
The Dawgs finished behind Sunrise Conference champion Chaparral last year. The Cowboys went 13 -1 in 1A Sunrise league play, but lost a strong senior class and are in a rebuilding mode. Boulder City seems to reload with a tall frontline but lost all-state Meghan Morton to graduation. Moapa Valley returns 11 players off last year’s roster which went 10-4 and should be considered an early pick to make a run at the title despite losing two top scorers. Always strong Western and Desert Pines are back with generally quick teams but lost last year’s nucleus to graduation. It should be another great and entertaining year for Bulldog basketball.
