Gators make the grade

James Yodice

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Seven down, one to go.

Green Valley on Tuesday night became the seventh boys' basketball team in Clark County to qualify for the Southern AAAA Zone tournament, as the Gators held off visiting Rancho 55-49 in a Sunrise Division game.

For their efforts, the Gators (15-11 overall, 7-6 in league) get a matchup at Bishop Gorman on Tuesday night in the Zone quarterfinals.

"We're not even gonna worry about Vo-Tech on Friday," Green Valley coach Gene Carpenter said. "I know you're not supposed to say things like that, but we'll spend the next four days getting ready for Gorman."

The Rams (9-13, 5-8) needed a win Tuesday to stay alive, but were eliminated instead. Which means that seven of the eight Zone tournament spots are filled. Las Vegas, Valley, Basic and Green Valley are headed from the Sunrise. Gorman, Durango and Cheyenne are definitely assured of being there from the Sunset.

Cimarron-Memorial or Western will be the eighth team, depending on what happens later in the week.

Jamar Glaspar scored 16 points to lead Green Valley, which lost a double-digit lead when Rancho tied the game at 39 early in the fourth period. But a rebound putback by Glaspar and a hoop by Cornell Williams put the Gators on top for good.

Arthur Ireland led the Rams with 16 points.

* CIMARRON MEMORIAL 67, WESTERN 60: The Spartans (13-10, 8-5 in Sunset) produced their biggest win of the season, knocking off the Warriors (12-13, 7-6) at Western. Cimarron edged ahead of Western in that fight for fourth place. The Spartans advance to the Zone tournament if they beat visiting Clark on Friday night. If they lose, they must hope Western loses at Durango. A Western win combined with a Cimarron loss leaves the Spartans out in the cold. Brian Lang had 18 points to lead the Spartans. Teammate Justin Gaines contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.

* DURANGO 90, CLARK 72: The fourth-ranked Trailblazers (18-10, 9-4 in Sunset) snapped a two-game losing streak, and five players hit for double figures in the win. Senior guard Thomas McTyer led the parade with 25 points. Tyler Kidd added 19 points. Anthony Manor and Dave Chalmers each scored 16 points for the Chargers (12-11, 6-7), who were officially eliminated from reaching the Zone tournament.

* BASIC 85, ELDORADO 81 (OT): Despite having nothing to play for, the Sundevils (5-19, 1-12 in Sunrise) overcame an 18-point deficit with a ferocious rally in the fourth quarter to force the extra session. Logan Tillmon had five of Eldorado's nine 3-pointers in the fourth period, including one with 12 seconds left to tie the score at 73. But in the OT, Damon Caldwell of Basic made a 3-pointer to break the tie, and Caldwell -- Clark County's most explosive scorer -- went on to score five of his game-high 40 points in the overtime. Caldwell was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Wolves (12-10, 10-3) made 18 of 19 as a team.

* CHEYENNE 70, SILVERADO 62: The seventh-ranked Desert Shields (17-10, 9-4 in Sunset) rode a strong first half to their win over the visiting Skyhawks (4-19, 1-12). Cheyenne, if it beats Bishop Gorman on Friday night, earns the second seed in the division, ahead of Durango if both teams end up 10-4 in league play. Marcus Webb led the Desert Shields with 17 points. Anwar Washington of Silverado led all scorers with 29 points.

* BISHOP GORMAN 87, BONANZA 62: All but one of the Gaels (23-6, 12-1 in Sunset) scored in their easy win over the Bengals (2-21, 0-13). Kendall Soares led fifth-ranked Gorman with 21 points. Jeff Miracle had 18 for Bonanza.

* ELSEWHERE: Lucas LeCour's 25 points led third-rated Las Vegas to a 72-39 rout of Chaparral (9-16, 4-9) in the Sunrise Division. The Wildcats (22-5, 12-1) can clinch the division's top seed with a win over visiting Basic on Thursday night. If they lose, then top-ranked Valley can force a tie for first -- and a coin flip to determine the seeds for the Zone touranment. The Vikings (18-6, 11-2) pounded Vo-Tech (7-16, 2-11) by a 71-41 count on Tuesday. Alex Hernandez scored 28 points, leading Valley. LaRontae Johnson tossed in 18 for the Vikings.