Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

HS basketball:

Canyon Springs boys expected to again be in title contention

2010-2011 Boys Prep Basketball

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Canyon Springs basketball players, from left, Jared Brandon and D.J. Anderson.

2010-2011 Boys Prep Basketball - Canyon Springs Outtakes

Canyon Springs basketball players Jared Brandon and D.J. Anderson. Launch slideshow »

The Canyon Springs High boys basketball team was one victory away from winning the state championship.

Last year, the Pioneers won the Sunrise Regional title and advanced to the state championship game, but came up short against Bishop Gorman in the finals.

With seven returners from that squad, including Boise State bound guard Michael Thompson, the Pioneers will again be back in the thick of the postseason race.

“They feel they have some unfinished business,” Canyon Springs coach Daryl Branham said.

The 6-foot-2 Thompson, who is part of the Sun’s Super Seven pre-season team, averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 rebounds last year. He was one of three Canyon Springs players with 60 steals last year.

“He is so quick. He has a great first step,” Branham said. “On the offense end, he can do so many things. He can handle the ball well and push the ball up the floor. He also has an uncanny ability to draw the foul, and shot 87-percent from the line last year.”

Thompson isn’t Canyon Springs’ only weapon.

Guard Donald Anderson is a solid pressure defender and 6-foot-5-post player Jared Brandon brings a solid veteran presence on the inside.

Last year, Canyon Springs finished with a 26-4 record and won 19 straight games before falling to Gorman in the title game. They were a perfect 14-0 in a tough Northeast Division.

This year, they’ve started out equaling impressive. They opened Thursday with a 91-56 victory against Foothill, the same school it beat in the Sunrise title game last year.

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