Southern schools hoping to dominate in quest for titles

RENO -- The Nevada boys and girls 4A state basketball tournaments tipped off today at the Lawlor Events Center, and the storylines for the two couldn't be more different.

On the boys side, the field is more wide open than ever, with no clear favorite among the remaining eight schools.

As always, the southern squads are expected to dominate, although the four northern entries are certainly not without solid credentials.

The girls tournament promises just the opposite, as seven schools will try to wrest the title away from three-time defending champion McQueen.

The Lancers were a favorite to repeat all season, and became a prohibitive choice when fellow northern power Reno failed to earn a state berth.

So here's a look at the 16 teams vying for the boys and girls crowns, along with an evaluation of their chances. Of course, odds are provided for entertainment purposes only.

Boys tournament

CHEYENNE DESERT SHIELDS

Record: 26-5

Seed: South No. 1

Coach: Larry Johnson

Key Players: Larry Graves, 6-0, G; Demetrius Hunter, 6-3, G; Jason Johnson, 6-5, C; Eddie Shelby, G, 6-3.

Outlook: The Desert Shields are as close to a clear favorite as the boys tournament has, although both Cimarron and Clark (twice) have proven Cheyenne can be beaten. As always, the focus will be on the three guards, but production from Johnson will be critical against taller northern competition. Odds: 3-to-1

DURANGO TRAILBLAZERS

Record: 22-10

Seed: South No. 2

Coach: Al LaRocque

Key Players: Jamaal Brimmer, 6-1, G; Jason Burns, 6-5, F; Rudy Charles, 5-9, G; Chey Christie, 6-3, G/F; Martrel Johnson, 6-4, C.

Outlook: The Trailblazers have more weapons than any team in the tournament -- good news because leading scorer Burns is nursing several injuries. Durango needs to handle the ball better than it did late in Saturday's zone championship loss to Cheyenne. Odds: 5-to-1

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL SPARTANS

Record: 18-12

Seed: South No. 4

Coach: Hank Girardi

Key Players: Marcus Banks, 6-0, G; Josh Englehart, 6-5, C; DeShaun Houston, 6-2, F; Brian Lang, 6-2, F.

Outlook: No one in Las Vegas has been hotter than Banks, who may be the toughest player in the state to guard one-on-one. If Englehart can stay out of foul trouble and give the Spartans a presence on defense and on the boards, Cimarron could find itself in Friday's title game. Odds: 8-to-1

CLARK CHARGERS

Record: 21-10

Seed: South No. 3

Coach: Brad Query

Key Players: Kevin Gaines, 6-4, G/F; Jaime Manor, 6-0, G/F; Elijah Taylor, 6-4, C; J.R. Wong, 5-9, G.

Outlook: What the Chargers lack in size, they more than make up for in athleticism and quickness. Everything starts with Gaines, who gives his club a chance to win every time it takes the floor. Finding a second option, be it Manor or Wong on the perimeter or Taylor inside, will be crucial for Clark. Odds: 8-to-1

REED RAIDERS

Record: 23-6

Seed: North No. 2

Coach: Paul Gray

Key Players: Jeremiah Gray, 6-4, F; Matt Ochs, 6-8, C.; Julius Osborne, 5-9, G.

Outlook: Reed has more size than any other team in the tournament, which could spell doom for Clark in the first round. After that, though, the Raiders' relative lack of athleticism will probably prevent them from advancing past the semifinal round. Odds: 12-to-1

GALENA GRIZZLIES

Record: 22-9

Seed: North No. 1

Coach: Tom Mauer

Key Players: Mike Atkinson, 6-3, F; Lance Buoncristiani, 5-8, G; Kody Krug, 5-9, G.

Outlook: The Grizzlies are back on top up north but make no mistake, this is not last year's Galena team. Buoncristiani, the lone holdover, is one of the state's top shooters, but he'll need significant help from his teammates to get past more athletic southern teams. Odds: 15-to-1

SOUTH TAHOE VIKINGS

Record: 22-7

Seed: North No. 4

Coach: Tom Orlich

Key Players: Josh David, 6-3, G/F; John Giannoni, 6-2, G; Bobby Larmore, 6-6, F.

Outlook: Expected by many to be the north's top hope for a title, the Vikings suffered two stunning losses in their zone tournament to fall into a fourth seed. Still, with Orlich's slow-down, Princeton-like system, a first-round upset of Cheyenne isn't entirely out of the question. Odds: 15-to-1

SPARKS RAILROADERS

Record: 16-10

Seed: North No. 3

Coach: Gary Scott

Key Players: Randy Messenger, 6-5, F; Cody Nish, 5-9, G; London Wilson, 6-1, G.

Outlook: In Messenger, the Railroaders have the north's most athletic, versatile performer. He can shoot the three, dunk in traffic and rebound with the best of them. That still isn't likely to be near enough against Durango in round one, however. Odds: 25-to-1

Girls tournament

MCQUEEN LANCERS

Record: 24-6

Seed: North No. 1

Coach: Nick Brockovich

Key Players: McKenzie Harrigan, 6-1, F; Courtney Moore, 6-1, G/F, Kate Smith, 6-2, C.

Outlook: No doubt about it, the title is the Lancers' to lose. The three-time defending champs may have the best two 4A players in Smith and Moore, the latter of whom can play all five positions. McQueen hasn't been tested recently and probably won't be in this tournament. Odds: Even

BISHOP GORMAN GAELS

Record: 27-4

Seed: South No. 3

Coach: Sheryl Krmpotich

Key Players: Liz Cansdale, 5-9, F; Anne Sostman, 5-7, G; Paige Sutton, 6-2, C; Tiffney Touton, 5-9, G.

Outlook: The Gaels' title hopes took a major step back over the weekend, when the team fell to Las Vegas in the zone semifinals. Nevertheless, Gorman remains the south's best hope for its first title championship 1980 thanks mainly to the presence of Sutton in the paint. The Gaels still need to prove they can handle the northern teams' pressure defenses, though. Odds: 5-to-1

ELKO INDIANS

Record: 18-11

Seed: North No. 3

Coach: Lynette Davis

Key Players: Amanda Basanez, 5-11, C; Katheryn Symmes, 5-10, F; Krystal Thacker, 5-7, G.

Outlook: Last year's state runner-ups, the Indians came alive during the zone tournament after struggling during the year. Davis is second to none when it comes to strategy, and in Symmes and Thacker she has one of the state's top inside-outside combos. Odds: 5-to-1

CARSON SENATORS

Record: 19-11

Seed: North No. 4

Coach: Paul Croghan

Key Players: Alyson Thurman, 6-0, F, Pam Williams, 6-0, C, Kristina Yeskie, 5-10, F.

Outlook: One of the top northern teams during the regular season, Carson fell apart in the zone tournament, dropping both contests to wind up with a four seed. Still, the Senators are the only club to beat both McQueen and Reno this year, so an upset of Silverado remains a possibility. Odds: 8-to-1

SILVERADO SKYHAWKS

Record: 26-5

Seed: South No. 1

Coach: Diane Hernandez

Key Players: Jayme Connors, 6-0, C; Stormy Hansen, 5-8, F; Nikki Hitchens, 5-10, F; Amanda Verba, 5-7, G.

Outlook: The Skyhawks took advantage of Gorman's semifinal loss, holding off Las Vegas for the Southern Zone title. Connors and Hitchens give Silverado two legitimate inside threats, but the team lacks the outside shooting to keep defenses honest. Verba's ball handling will be a key against pressure. Odds: 8-to-1

GALENA GRIZZLIES

Record: 20-10

Seed: North No. 2

Coach: Karen Friel

Key Players: Kellie Burton, 6-2, C, Cammie Cragg, 5-8, G, Whitney Williams, 5-10, G.

Outlook: The Grizzlies came out of nowhere to claim their first state appearance, but Gorman will likely send them packing in round one. Williams and Burton are a strong inside pair, but perimeter shooting remains a concern for a team unused to a big-game environment. Odds: 10-to-1

LAS VEGAS WILDCATS

Record: 21-7

Seed: South No. 2

Coach: Annette Smith

Key Players: Kristine Dugan, 5-7, G; Jasmere Kirby, 5-8, G; Lillie Williams, 6-0, C.

Outlook: The Wildcats were the story of the Southern Zone tournament, upsetting Gorman and taking Silverado to the wire. Kirby emerged as one of the top players in town, and she and Dugan may be the best backcourt the south has sent to state in years. Still, lack of size in the paint will cost Vegas against northern opposition. Odds: 25-to-1

BASIC WOLVES

Record: 19-7

Seed: South No. 4

Coach: Jan Van Tuyl

Key Players: Rana Brown, 5-7, G; Jennifer Kline, 6-0, G; Marisa Marconi, 5-8, F.

Outlook: Any thoughts for a Basic upset probably vanished when Brown, the club's starting point guard, went down with a knee injury. With or without her, things are likely to get ugly against McQueen in the first round. Odds: 50-to-1

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