Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002 | 10:59 a.m.
RENO -- Hug High fans hollered. McQueen clamped down defensively. Centennial came out red-hot. And Desert Pines refused to go away.
But when all was said and done Wednesday at Nevada-Reno's Lawlor Events Center, the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Boys Basketball Tournament had proceeded as most predicted it would -- with Nevada's four leading title contenders advancing into today's semifinal round.
Now, with the preliminaries out of the way, Las Vegas High, Cheyenne, Bishop Gorman and Green Valley will get down to business, determining once and for all which team will emerge Friday night as the state champion in one of the most competitive seasons in recent state history.
The Desert Shields (29-4) and Gators (28-5) will match up today at 3:20 p.m., with the Wildcats (29-3) and Gaels (26-6) tipping off at 6:35 p.m.
"It's fitting that these four teams are the four left," Gorman coach Grant Rice said. "Any of these four teams can get hot at the right time and win it."
Which team that will be remains anybody's guess, with each of the four teams stating its case during the 2001-02 season and earning at least one week atop the Sun's statewide rankings. But one thing remains certain after round one: the large-school trophy will return to Southern Nevada for the 10th consecutive year.
Rice's Gaels helped make sure of that, eliminating the Northern Region's last hope for a title in Wednesday's final contest, a 70-51 Gorman victory over Hug. With their boisterous crowd urging them on, the Hawks stayed close early, but ultimately had no answer for guard C.J. Watson, who torched them for 28 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
After playing to a 14-14 deadlock after one quarter, the Gaels pulled away from the Hawks (24-7) in the second, outscoring them 18-4 to build a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. Hug leading scorer Martin Trovela, who notched five points in the game's first two minutes, managed just six points the rest of the way.
"It took us a quarter to adjust, but I think the second quarter was big for us," Rice said. "We were tied and all of a sudden I looked up and we had a 10-point lead."
The north's other boys entry, the McQueen Lancers, hung with Green Valley for much of a 48-43 Gator win that saw the two teams go into halftime with only 15 points apiece. The Lancers made just 6-of-31 shots in the first half, while Green Valley managed just 5-of-22.
"Neither team could make a shot, but I think a lot of it was they played really good defense and we played very good defense," Green Valley coach Jim Allen said. "It was all perimeter jump shots."
The Gators shook off their malaise in the third quarter, with Jon Osborne (16 points) converting two 3-point plays in a one-minute span to spearhead a 12-0 run to open the half. Ron Dunlap finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the victors, while McQueen's Jeff Rowe led all scorers with 19 points.
Las Vegas posted the day's most lopsided boys victory, an 80-59 win over Centennial. Before the Wildcats put it on cruise control, however, they had to withstand a torrid start by their opponents, with the Bulldogs shooting 70 percent in the first quarter to take the early lead.
"They just outplayed us in that first quarter," Las Vegas coach Bob Beskow said. "But we started knocking down some shots after that."
Indeed, the Wildcats began to roll in the second quarter and continued to shoot the lights out in the third, building a double figure lead and never looking back. Guards Zach Queen (16 points), Stanley Copeland (15) and Glenn Thomas (11) took turns hitting from long range, Jeremy Atwater (21 points, 10 rebounds) dominated in the paint and Las Vegas converted 23-of-26 shots from the free-throw line.
The game of the day, however, belonged to Cheyenne and Desert Pines (20-6). After falling behind by 18 points in the third quarter, the Jaguars mounted a furious comeback, drawing even before finally succumbing 81-73.
"They didn't quit. They just kept playing," Desert Shields coach Larry Johnson said. "Basketball is a game of peaks and valleys, and I guess they went on a peak and we went in a valley."
Trailing 54-36 with 5:12 remaining in the third, Desert Pines rallied behind the play of point guard Derek Brown (23 points) and forward Nick Porter (21 points). Porter scored nine points in a 21-6 run to close the third quarter, then Brown tallied seven straight points to pull his club even at 64 with 6:27 to play in the fourth.
But after having big play after big play go their way down the stretch, the Jaguars finally had one go against them when they needed a basket most.
Down 75-73 with 1:20 remaining, Porter and guard Darryl Hooper headed downcourt on a 2-on-1 fastbreak looking for the tying score. Porter drew the defender and sent a behind-the-back pass into the waiting arms of his teammate, but Hooper was unable to convert the uncontested layup. Porter picked up his fifth foul moments later and Brown fouled out soon after, effectively ending Desert Pines' bid.
"I think they tried to get a little fancy," said Cheyenne guard Keith Richardson, who led his team with 25 points. "Maybe he should have given him a regular bounce pass. I don't think he was ready for it, and that hurt them right there. Their hearts kind of sunk after that."
Despite the disappointing turn of events, Brown emerged from his final high school contest with his usual smile on his face.
"It was a big play. (Porter) knew the man was coming over to take the charge, so he had to pass the ball and Hooper lost concentration and missed the shot," Brown said. "But that's OK. I don't hold it against him. The ball didn't bounce our way at the end, and they did what they had to do."
Johnny Wheeler finished with 15 points for Cheyenne, which also got 13 points and nine rebounds from Lorenzo Wade.
The Desert Shields defeated the Gators 62-41 in the teams' lone meeting in December. The Gaels and Wildcats have not played this season.
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