Live Blog: Coronado tops Carson to earn date with Gorman in state championship game

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 | 4:15 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 | 9:35 p.m.

The Coronado High basketball team won this game with its defense.

The Cougars limited Carson to three points in the second quarter of today’s state semifinal at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center, advancing to Friday’s state championship game against Bishop Gorman with a 53-43 victory.

Coronado trailed 13-9 after the first quarter, but went on a 10-0 scoring run and led by five points at halftime. Then, in the third quarter, it held Carson to just six points in building its lead to 14 points.

Kennedy Koehler led Coronado with 19 points and Trey Hurlburt finished with 12, unofficially.

Coronado will have its hands full duplicating the success against Gorman, the four-time defending state champions. In December, the Cougars lost by 22 points to Gorman.

Check back later for more coverage.

Coronado has tough semifinal test against Carson, hopes to join Gorman in state finals

This is a new experience for the Coronado High basketball team. Well, except for the Cougars’ coach.

Coronado is about to tip off against Carson in the second state semifinals at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center, making the school’s first appearance in the tournament. It opened in 2001.

While playing on this stage is a first for players, it’s not for their coach. Jeff Kaufman played in this building with Valley in 1980 and helped it win the state championship.

Getting his players to relax and play their game might be easier said than done. The arena is expected to be packed with Carson fans, including a vocal student section, to create a true road environment for Coronado of Henderson. And Carson is no pushover — it plays solid defense, is physical and will attempt to slow the game down.

But if Coronado can get out in transition, it should advance to Friday’s state championship game against Gorman. Gorman handled Reno earlier, 70-39, in the first semifinal.

We'll keep everyone posted once the game begins.

Gorman cruises past Reno and into state championship game, 70-39

The Bishop Gorman High basketball team never trailed.

The Gaels beat Reno High 70-39 today in the Division I state semifinals at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center to advance to Friday state championship game.

The Gaels, who led by 15 points at halftime, outscored Reno 24-2 in the third quarter to win by the mercy rule of a running clock.

Chuck O’Bannon Jr. had a game-high 23 points for the Gaels and Byron Frohnen had 20.

Gorman plays the winner of the semifinal between Carson-Coronado, which tips at 8 p.m.

Check back later for more.

Gorman builds double-digit halftime lead vs. Reno in state semifinals

The Bishop Gorman High basketball team is well on its way to a spot in the Division I state championship game.

Chuck O’Bannon had 14 first-half points today against Reno High in the state semifinals at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center, leading Gorman to a 39-24 lead at the half.

Byron Frohnen also has 14 points for Gorman, and Zach Collins has seven points and nine rebounds.

Gorman went on a 19-2 scoring run to close the first quarter and open the second, using three straight baskets from Collins and consecutive 3-point plays from O’Bannon to pull away.

Gorman playing for historic championship at state tournament

The Bishop Gorman High basketball team is playing this week to become the best program in Nevada — and more than just this season’s best team.

If the Gaels win the next two days to capture their fifth straight state championship, they would have a Nevada-best 18 all-time titles.

Gorman enters today’s Division I state semifinal against Reno at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center tied with Virginia City at 17 career championships. Coronado plays Carson at 8 p.m. in the nightcap, with the winners advancing to Friday’s state championship game.

Gorman may be a perennial power, but by no means are the Gaels a lock to advance. They led by just four points at halftime last week in the Sunset Regional semifinals against Desert Oasis. In the finals the following day, escaped with a two-point victory after Centennial missed the would-be winning shot at the buzzer.

And, of course, Gorman is always on upset alert in this round of the postseason. Six seasons ago, Gorman’s roster of bluechip college recruits was beat by Bishop Manogue in biggest upset in recent state tournament history, if not all time.

Gorman is led by McDonald’s All-American Zach Collins at center, and juniors Chuck O’Bannon Jr. and Christian Popoola.

Check back for live coverage of both semifinal games. Each will be webcast, but there is a $9.95 fee to watch for the day. It’s $14.99 for two days.

Join the conversation on Twitter using #702hshoops and #sunstandout.

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