Andy Johnson, who formerly coached Findlay Prep to a national championship before leaving town for jobs in Utah and Texas, senses he’s got a sleeping giant at Silverado.
The defending state champion Canyon Springs High basketball team appears primed to make another run at the title. The Pioneers opened the Sunrise Regional playoffs Wednesday by leading visiting Silverado for virtually the entire game in a 71-62 quarterfinal victory.
The Silverado High basketball team led visiting Coronado by nine points Wednesday in the fourth quarter of a key Southeast Division game, but faded down the stretch in surrendering a 15-4 scoring run to trail by four points with less than a minute remaining.
With less than a minute remaining in Friday’s basketball game, Green Valley High senior guard Durrell McDonald dribbled past the full court press of defenders from visiting Silverado High and found himself in the clear on the fast break. Instead of continuing for what would have been an easy two points, the guard riffled a perfect pass to teammate Devan Kohn near the basket. Kohn easily converted the layup, putting on the final touches in Green Valley’s 71-58 victory.
The Liberty High basketball team might not be advancing to next week’s playoffs. But overcoming a late double-digit deficit to beat their neighborhood rival in the Patriots’ last game is a decent alternative.
While nearly everyone in the Green Valley gym stood and hollered in amazement at the beginning of the fourth quarter Tuesday night, coach Lorenzo Jarvis stayed calm. He had seen this kind of performance before from Keiannte Wilkins, a senior guard. Wilkins scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including nine in three minutes, as Green Valley came away with a 62-58 victory over Silverado.
Foothill High’s Brannon Cresanto and Greg Cox each hit four 3-point field goals for the Falcons as they improved to 13-6 on the season with a 57-43 victory over Silverado Thursday.
A 16-point lead at the end of the first quarter was impressive Tuesday for the Silverado High boys basketball team. However, not blowing the advantage in the fourth quarter was more significant. The Skyhawks closed to first quarter on an 18-2 run against Mojave at the Sierra Vista Invitational, but had to hang on for a 61-49 victory.
In a tale of two halves, the Silverado boys basketball team rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Green Valley 73-62 Tuesday. The Gators came out of the gates quickly as they made four three-point field goals in the opening quarter to take an 18-8 lead.
Silverado aspires to play some of the best defense in Southern Nevada this year. The Skyhawks goal is to hold every team they face to less than 60 points. Accomplish that and Silverado feels confident it will advance to the playoffs for at least the sixth straight year.