DIVISION IV GIRLS: Knights get defensive, edge Pahranagat Valley

Round Mountain's girls basketball team made only four baskets in the second half Saturday.

It was just enough to earn a Division IV Southern League title.

Alyssa Hanks went 9 of 12 from the free-throw line in the second half and finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots to help the Knights to a 37-34 win over Pahranagat Valley in the Southern League final at Desert Pines.

Both Round Mountain (17-5) and the Panthers (15-9) advance to next week's state tournament in Reno.

"We didn't shoot the ball really well today, but we made some key shots when we had to," said Round Mountain coach Jake Topholm, whose team won its first league playoff title since 2008. "This was huge for us. It gives the kids a ton of confidence. I think they think they can beat anybody now."

The Knights held Pahranagat Valley to just 6 of 31 shooting (19.4 percent) in the second half.

"Playing man (defense) against their two guards was key," Topholm said. "Taking (Karley) Whipple out of the game was big."

Whipple, had just four points on 1 of 9 shooting with few good looks for Pahranagat Valley.

But Round Mountain couldn't wiggle free from the Panthers. Hanks hit both ends of a 1-and-1 with 5:08 to go to give the Knights a 31-29 lead, and Round Mountain never trailed again.

Round Mountain's final seven points all came from the free-throw line, where the team shot 12 of 18 in the second half.

"Free throws were the difference," Topholm said.

Hannah Swafford scored seven points, all in the first half, for Round Mountain.

Madi Williams led Pahranagat Valley with 11 points.