Prep: Boys basketball spring league heats up

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 7, 1998 | 9:37 a.m.

If the postseason is anything like the regular season in the Southern Nevada Boys Basketball Association Spring League, it should be a dogfight to decide who will represent the Sunrise and Sunset Divisions in the championship.

The league, which features players who will be in grades 9-12 next year, has been highly competitive from start to finish, with first place on both sides up in the air in the final week.

In the Sunrise, Green Valley, Rancho, Las Vegas, Eldorado and Valley are bunched up at the top, while Cheyenne, Cimarron-Memorial and Durango lead the pack in the Sunset.

But, according to Las Vegas coach Tom Farnsworth, the main object of the league isn't to come out on the winning end each night.

"You never want to lose, but in this league, it's more developmental in nature," he said. "That's how most of the coaches approach it."

For Palo Verde coach Phil Clarke, whose squad will compete at the varsity level for the first time next season, the spring league has provided his players with a chance to see how they stack up to their new foes.

"We're just trying to see how our kids will handle playing against varsity players," Clarke said. "Plus, it gives coaches a chance to look at some of their young guys. You know about returning varsity guys, it's more for the younger guys -- to see what they can do."

Some of the league's standout performers this spring have been Green Valley's Cornell Williams, Cheyenne's Demetrius Hunter, Cimarron's Brian Lang, Eldorado's James Bayless and Darryl Givens and Boulder City's Dave Murtha, who is playing on an at-large team made up of athletes from various schools.

After a series of round-robin contests, the championship game will precede the annual senior all-star game June 6 at Valley.

Climbing back

After dropping to No. 10 in last week's USA Today national baseball rankings, Green Valley moved up three places to No. 7 in this week's poll. The Gators, who finished the regular season with a 26-2 record, remained second in the West regional rankings, behind No. 2 overall Clovis (Calif.).

Blazer basketball camp

Durango's annual youth basketball camp will take place in two sessions this summer, the first June 8-11 and the second June 15-18. Kids ages 8-16 are eligible to participate in the event, which will feature instruction from collegiate players including UNLV's Kevin Simmons, TCU's Prince Fowler and Thomas McTyer and San Francisco's Ra'oof Sadat. The cost is $125 and each camper will receive a T-shirt, mesh shorts, photo package and a Blazer basketball. For more information, call 363-7805.

Rattlers hosting event

The Mojave High School girls golf team will serve as ambassadors for the upcoming Women in Golf Day at Painted Desert Golf Club. The event, scheduled May 16, will give women of all ages and skill levels the chance to take clinics from a variety of golf pros. For more information, call 645-2570.

Submissions

Submissions or suggestions for the weekly prep notebook can be e-mailed to Spencer Patterson at spencer@lasvegassun.com, faxed to 383-7264 or mailed to the Sun, 800 S. Valley View, Las Vegas, NV 89107.