Zone title in hand, Spartans eye more

Bob Cloud

Thursday, Nov. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Over the course of the season, Cimarron-Memorial wasn't routinely mentioned as a top contender for the 4A state boys' soccer championship. But all that changed when the Spartans captured the Southern AAAA zone title last week.

On the heels of their first-ever zone title, the Spartans (13-3-3) take on Elko (8-6-6) in state semifinal play Friday at 4:45 p.m. at UNLV's Peter Johann Field. Bonanza (14-3-2) faces Douglas (12-3-6) in the tournament's opening match at 2 p.m.

The state championship match will be played Saturday at noon.

Cimarron, which entered zone play as the Sunset Division's No. 3 seed, captured the Southern AAAA zone title by beating Rancho and Valley before blanking Bonanza 3-0 in the final match.

For first-year Cimarron coach Tom Porrello, in-season accolades weren't nearly as important as bringing home the zone championship.

"It feels real good," Porrello said. "At the start of the season, we made winning the zone and qualifying for state part of our goals. It's been a lot of hard work, but it's paid off.

"We just tried not to pay attention (to the lack of recognition). We wanted to learn as a team and improve over the course of the season. Once we qualified for zone, everything started all over anyway. It was a whole new season."

Porrello said the unsung members of his squad have been his defensive corps, made up of Eugene Harris, Kevin Lunkwitz, Paul Lunkwitz, Cody Parker, Adam Siqueiros and sophomore goalkeeper Matt Shehadi. The group allowed more than one goal just once during the regular season and enters state play with two consecutive shutouts.

"Our defense has taken a lot of pride in their play as a unit," Porrello said. "They haven't gotten much notice, but they're the reason we've done as well as we have. They've been very solid. They've kept us in games all season."

In Elko, Porrello said the Spartans face a team they know very little about, other than the fact the Indians lost a tough overtime decision to Douglas in the Northern AAAA final.

"I think we feel good about zone, but we realize that if you play poorly now just once, it's all over," he said. "We're focused on Elko. It's a two-game season and it starts with Elko on Friday."

Bonanza, meanwhile, must rebound from the three-goal loss to Cimarron in order to defend its state crown.

"I think it was a wake-up call for our guys," Bonanza coach Debbie Antonino Hunt said. "We've been training hard this week. I think, no matter what, our guys believe we are a state championship team.

"I think our guys played flat. We were definitely not the team we were all season long. It was a reality check for us."

The Bengals beat Eldorado and Green Valley in zone play before dropping the decision to Cimarron.

Antonino Hunt said she also knows very little about her Northern opponent, but added that she doesn't care.

"The point is, if they play like they now how, I have no doubts they'll accomplish a victory over any team," she said. "I really do have that confidence in our team. We have outstanding talent."

Prep Pickings

* LOOKING TO REPEAT: Green Valley opens defense of its 4A state volleyball championship today at Galena High School. The Gators face the host school at 5:15 p.m. Other Southern AAAA schools competing are Eldorado, Durango and Cheyenne. The Sundevils meet Churchill, the No. 1 seed from the Northern AAAA, at 1 p.m., followed by Durango against McQueen. Cheyenne squares off with Douglas at 4 p.m. The first-round losers will play in two elimination games later tonight. The state tournament concludes with the championship match set for 4 p.m. Saturday.

* ADD VOLLEYBALL: Moapa Valley begins its quest for the state 3A volleyball title today, also at Galena High School. The Pirates go against Tahoe-Truckee, while Pahrump Valley meets North Tahoe, Virgin Valley faces Mineral Country and Battle Mountain plays Whittell. In the 2A tournament, which begins Friday at McQueen High School, The Meadows battles Tonopah and Needles plays Wells.

* PLAYOFF BROADCAST: KLAV 1230-AM will broadcast Friday's Southern AAAA prep football championship game between Western and Valley. The station will carry the contest live beginning at 7 p.m., with a television replay to be shown on Prime Cable Metro 1 next Thursday at 7 p.m.

* ANDRADE TO UNLV: Chaparral volleyball star Jessica Andrade has agreed to play her college ball at UNLV starting next season. Andrade, a member of the Cowboys state championship team of 1994, is the second player to sign with the Rebels this season. She is slated to play setter for UNLV.

* PREP BOWLING: Green Valley stands atop the Sunrise Division in both boys' and girls' bowling. The Gators boast a 25-3 record in boys' action, and stand 24-4 for the girls. In the Sunset, Silverado heads the boys' standings with a 19-5 record, followed by Cheyenne at 18-6. Cimarron-Memorial heads the division in girls' play at 19-5, with Durango standing second at 17-7.

* OLD TIMERS HOOP: A benefit Old Timers Basketball game, featuring members of Clark and Valley teams from 1960-1989, will be played Nov. 22 at Valley's gym. Anyone who played basketball or was a cheerleader at either school during that time period is eligible to play, and is asked to contact Gary Wheeler at 799-5130.