Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

HS BASKETBALL:

Palo Verde girls loaded with guards, experience

2010-2011 Girls Prep Basketball

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Palo Verde basketball players, from left, Nik-Nik Ameli and Alyssa Amoruso.

2010-2011 Girls Prep Basketball - Palo Verde Outtakes

Palo Verde basketball players Nik-Nik Ameli and Alyssa Amoruso. Launch slideshow »

Phil Clarke

Palo Verde High girls basketball coach Phil Clarke talks about the upcoming season.

When Phil Clarke took over the Palo Verde girls basketball program three years ago, he knew he had a special class of sophomores already competing at the varsity level.

Those sophomores are now seniors and expectations are higher than ever at Palo Verde.

“I’ve had a lot of this group all three years,” Clarke said. “They are more fired up than they’ve ever been and it makes me fired up.”

Two of the leaders of that senior class are 5-foot-4 guard Alyssa Amoruso and 5-foot-5 guard Nik-Nik Ameli.

Clarke expects Amoruso and Ameli to be among the team’s leading scorers, along with senior Dominique Bryant.

“Last year was her first year on varsity,” Clarke said. “She’s gotten a lot more confident with her play ever since and you can see it.”

Throw junior guards Jasmin Kiley, one of the area’s best players and a member of the Sun Super Seven team, into the mix and the Panthers believe they can compete with anyone.

“She’s got a jump shot, a great mid range game and can really attack the basket,” Clarke said. “She can do a lot of things.”

With so many perimeter players, Clarke said Palo Verde would often play a four-guard lineup. He thinks it will give the Panthers the best chance to win with defensive pressure and fast break opportunities.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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