Boys Tournament: Galena takes first step to title

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 3:49 a.m.

RENO -- Galena High School's countless supporters got want they wanted at Thursday night's 4A State Boys Basketball Tournament, but they might end up with more than they bargained for when their squad takes the floor next.

The Grizzlies, favored by many to break through for Reno's first state title since 1964, took step one toward fulfilling that dream, downing Green Valley, 82-71, to advance to the final four.

To reach the final round, however, the northern zone champs will have to get past a Valley team that looked nearly unbeatable in an 82-58 victory over Reno that wasn't even as close as the final score indicated.

The Grizzlies (28-5) and Vikings (26-4) will square off today at 4:55 p.m. for a chance to play the winner of the early semifinal between South Tahoe (27-5) and Las Vegas (26-8).

And if Green Valley coach Larry Thomas, whose club hung tough before succumbing to the bigger Galena lineup, is any prognosticator, the Grizzlies' rabid fans may leave the Lawlor Events Center with unhappy looks on their faces.

"I think Valley will handle them," Thomas said. "(Galena) has a couple of big guys, but Valley matches up with them well."

Vikings' coach Paul Aznarez, who brought his entire team to watch the Galena-Green Valley game, wasn't quite as willing to predict a sure Valley victory. But he did say he expected his club to present a different set of challenges for the Grizzlies.

'We're not going to play the game like it was played tonight," Aznarez said. "We've got a little bit better package closer to the basket, and that could be a key part of the game. We'll also attack more, and I don't know if they'll be able to take that away from us."

Regardless of the final outcome, one thing seems certain: the Valley-Galena game should showcase two dramatically different offensive game plans, both of which worked to perfection in round one.

Galena used a methodical, precise half-court approach, building a lead over the Gators (17-9) by working the ball to 6-7 center Matt Siebrandt (16 points, 10 rebounds) in the low post and 6-2 forward Brian Vaka (24 points, seven rebounds) on the baseline.

When Thomas' charges tried to pack it on their opponents' two frontcourt Division I prospects, all-everything Grizzlies' point guard Lance Buoncristiani simply took matters into his own hands, sinking five 3-pointers en route to 24 points.

Of course, it didn't help Green Valley's cause that senior Jamar Glasper closed out his basketball career with a sub-par, 10-point effort. Known for his ability to play big in big games, Glasper shot just 4-for-13 against a Galena defense that seemed designed to stop him.

Junior guard Cornell Williams picked up the slack for the Gators with an agressive 26-point effort, but the Grizzlies' size took its toll on Green Valley, which saw five players foul out before all was said and done.

"We had a chance, but it's kind of like boxing," Thomas said. "You've got to knock out the champion to win; you can't just stay close."

For Galena, the key to tonight's game will likely be its ability to slow down Valley's up-tempo offense -- something Reno (14-15) never did effectively on Thursday.

The Vikings triggered the fastbreak at every possible occasion, after turnovers, missed baskets and even made baskets. And when senior guard Jason Juniel (20 points) drilled a long 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, Valley had racked up 50 points in just 16 minutes of action.

Taking the transition game away from their opponents won't be enough to guarantee victory for the Girzzlies, however. Even when the Huskies forced the Vikings into a half-court set, Aznarez's club looked confident, getting senior forward Alex Hernandez (30 points, nine rebounds) consistent good looks under the basket.

"We aren't scared of anybody,' Hernandez said. "We're soldiers out here, and we'll be ready for whoever we play."

LAS VEGAS 75, SPARKS 48: Eleven players scored for the Wildcats, who barely broke a sweat in a mismatch against the overmatched Railroaders (15-13). Senior guard Ronnie Jones led the way for Las Vegas with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, with teammate Aaron Gray adding 12 points. Coach Tom Farnsworth's southern zone champions took conrol of the game from the opening tip, outscoring Sparks, 28-10, in the first stanza to put the contest out of reach and earn a spot in the final four.

SOUTH TAHOE 51, CHEYENNE 47: The Vikings eeked out a victory over a fesity Desert Shields squad that finished the season with a superb 17-9 mark. Cheyenne junior Demetrius Hunter scored 17 points and senior Brian Jackson added 12 more, but the Sunset Division champions lost the lead in the closing moments of the fourth quarter and didn't recover. Casey Dowling scored 18 points to lead South Tahoe, while Aaron Buckman finished with 15 points for the victors.