Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

High School Basketball:

Blog: Gorman nets another state title with 74-54 victory over Palo Verde

Bishop Gorman

L.E. Baskow

Bishop Gorman players celebrate their trophy after beating Palo Verde in the Division I state basketball championship on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.

Updated Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 | 9:45 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Palo Verde's Ja Morgan (10) drives into the Bishop Gorman defense to attempt a shot during the Division 1 state basketball championship game on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.

Prep Sports Now

On to state

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer glance at the Division-1 and Division 1-A state tournaments. Are we bound to wind up with repeat champions in both classes?

The game was closer than the final score indicates.

The Bishop Gorman High basketball team closed strong today in the Division I state championship game against Palo Verde at the Orleans Arena, outscoring the Panthers by 10 points in the fourth quarter for a 74-54 victory and the Gaels' fourth straight title.

Duke-bound senior forward Chase Jeter was unstoppable on the inside for Gorman in unofficially scoring a game-high 23 points and easily grabbing double figures in rebounds.

When Gorman needed a big play, he delivered. It led just 41-35 with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, but Jeter scored 10 of Gorman’s next 15 points and the Gaels stretched their lead to 22 points.

Senior Nick Blair was equally strong for Gorman in scoring 17 points. He had nine first-half points in helping Gorman lead 29-19 at halftime.

Palo Verde has nothing to be ashamed of. Last Friday, it lost by more than 30 points to Gorman in the Sunset Regional championship. Today, they gave the perennial Nevada power a significant challenge.

Ja Morgan had 17 points unofficially for Palo Verde, including seven points early in the third quarter to help Palo Verde cut its deficit to just three points. Grant Dressler had 12 points for the Panthers, including a few nice moves to the basket for layups.

This is Gorman’s sixth state championship in the past seven seasons and the program’s 17th all-time title. That ties Virginia City for the best in Nevada history.

Check back later for more.

•••

The intensity is typically elevated whenever Summerlin rivals Bishop Gorman and Palo Verde square off. And that’s when there is no state championship on the line, and regardless of the sport.

Tonight at the Orleans Arena, surprise state basketball championship-game participant Palo Verde is looking to do the unthinkable by beating three-time defending champion Bishop Gorman in the Division I title game. Gorman has a 3-0 record this season against Palo Verde, including a 82-46 victory in last week’s Sunset Regional championship game.

With the state tournament in Las Vegas this year, Palo Verde earned the final spot in the four-team event by beating Sunrise runner-up Valley on Monday. Palo Verde erased a seven-point deficit Thursday in the state semifinals against Canyon Springs, winning on Taylor Miller’s jumper with 10 seconds to play. The Panthers have caught everyone’s attention with their good play, especially the players and coaches at Gorman.

“They are a dangerous team,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said Thursday.

Miller, Grant Dresser and Ja Morgan have the shooting ability to keep the game close. Thursday, when Palo Verde fell behind by nine points early against Canyon Springs, each drained a 3-pointer to keep the deficit manageable.

Of course, scoring against Gorman is easier said than done. The Gaels are playing for their sixth championship in seven seasons and have a significant advantage on the inside with post players Chase Jeter and Stephen Zimmerman. The skills of the McDonald’s All-Americans and their 7-foot height create a matchup nightmare for Palo Verde.

This isn’t the first time the schools have met in the state championship game. In 2009, also at the Orleans Arena, Gorman beat Palo Verde in the final seconds on a pair of free throws.

Palo Verde won the championship in 2004. Jarrell Harrison, one of the stars of the championship team, will give the pregame speech in the Palo Verde locker room tonight. Yes, Palo Verde is pulling out all the stops for their Summerlin neighbors. I’ll keep everyone posted once the game begins. Join the conversation on Twitter using #702hshoops or #sunstandout.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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