Some feel the Canyon Springs High basketball team could challenge defending state champion Bishop Gorman for this year’s title. If Canyon Springs produces offensively like it did today in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals, those predictions could prove to be accurate.
It’s not common for a high school basketball team to lose one of its best players for the season and become a better squad. But that is what appears to have happened at Canyon Springs. The Pioneers have hit their stride after losing junior point guard Shaquille Carr, beating host Eldorado Tuesday, 74-66, in the first round of the Sunrise Regional tournament for their fifth win in six games to become a legitimate contender in the Sunrise.
When the Desert Pines High basketball team jumped out to a 14-point advantage Thursday midway through the second quarter against host Eldorado, Jaguars coach Mike Uzan knew the lead wouldn’t be safe. After all, he is more than familiar with the talent and determination of the Eldorado players. Uzan is in his first year coaching at Desert Pines after spending the past 11 years on staff at Eldorado, his alma mater. Eldorado eventually rallied to take the lead with 3:38 remaining, but Desert Pines pulled out a hard-fought 70-67 victory in Uzan’s first game against his former team.
Las Vegas High basketball coach Jason Wilson couldn’t have asked for a better nonleague game for his team to play in. The Wildcats are one of three Southern Nevada public schools scheduled to play national power Findlay Prep, facing off against the Henderson-based team Dec. 17 at the South Point Arena. Findlay, which takes players from around the country for its top-caliber team of blue-chip recruits, is in its sixth year of existence at Henderson International School. The Pilots have twice won the ESPN RISE national championship and are regulars in virtually every national ranking
The fate of two seasons came down to one loose ball. With three seconds left in Tuesday’s state tournament play-in game at Del Sol High, Eldorado trailed Sierra Vista by one with Daquon Thrower at the free-throw line shooting his second attempt. Thrower, who swished the first free throw, clanked the shot off the back iron. Teammate D.J. Billingsley came up with the ball after a brief scramble right below the basket. But Sierra Vista’s Dallin Molina stepped up and contested Billingsley’s put back as the buzzer sounded to send the Mountain Lions to Nevada high school basketball’s version of ...
Michael Thompson and Jared Brandon leading the Canyon Springs High basketball team to victories is nothing new. But they are far from a two-man show. That’s something that was obvious Friday in the Sunrise Regional championship game. Post player Chris Willis scored nine points for the Pioneers in the initial five minutes, and guard Marquon Webster sparked a decisive third-quarter rally in leading Canyon Springs past Eldorado 78-66 for its second straight Sunrise title.
Members of the Eldorado High basketball team could have been wearing track shoes instead of high-tops Thursday for their Sunrise Regional semifinal game against Coronado. The Sundevils proved to be too quick and athletic for Coronado, literally racing the ball up the court to set up several uncontested baskets in a 73-59 victory. This win puts Eldorado in Friday’s Sunrise finals against Canyon Springs.
The Eldorado High basketball team advanced to the Sunrise Regional semifinals with a 74-65 victory Tuesday against visiting Green Valley High. The Sundevils, the No. 2 seed from the Northeast Division, received 16 points apiece from Donovan Wright and Markeith Floyd in reaching the semifinals for the second time in three years. In 2009, they won the Sunrise title before losing in the state semifinals.
George Sanico hit four 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Las Vegas High as the Wildcats avenged their December loss to rival Eldorado with a 67-59 home victory over the Sun Devils on Friday.
This win comes with some bragging rights. Curtis Stewart scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half Thursday night to help the Eldorado High basketball team build an early double-digit advantage and hold off a late charge by visiting Las Vegas for a 64-58 win. While it’s just the second week of the season, the league victory will surely be beneficial for the undefeated Sun Devils (6-0) come February in what is expected to be a tight Northeast Division race.