Gaels have unfinished business

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.

There's no question the 1998-99 season will be remembered as the Year of the Sunset, with four teams from the Sunset Division meeting in the 4A state semifinals.

Cimarron-Memorial, Cheyenne, Durango and Clark played cat-and-mouse throughout the season, zone playoffs and state tournament, with the Spartans ultimately earning the state's top prize.

But when all is said and done, the 1999-2000 season may be remembered for the dominance of Bishop Gorman -- last year's "odd team out," the best team in Nevada not to qualify for the postseason.

With three starters and several key reserves back in the fold, the Gaels begin the year ranked No. 10 in USA Today's regional rankings and as the unanimous choice to take home this year's 4A state title.

Gorman features the area's top big man in 6-9 junior Jason Carter, a proven scorer in 5-10 junior guard Dinard Taylor, and enough depth to make any other coach in the state green with envy.

With the Sunrise and Sunset now holding separate regional tournaments, two state berths will be available on each side of town. And that means that assuming the Gaels make good on early expectations, just one spot will be left for a host of Sunset clubs to fight for.

Durango, which returns several key players, leads the list of hopefuls, but the Blazers should get competition in their own division from Western, and from Cheyenne, among others, in the Northwest Division.

In the Sunrise, on the other hand, it's anyone's guess who might emerge from the pack, with Valley, Las Vegas, Eldorado, Rancho, Chaparral, Green Valley and Silverado all expected to be in the mix.

This season will also feature a host of new faces on the end of the bench. Five teams will begin the year with new head coaches, along with three newcomers at first-year schools Centennial, Desert Pines and Foothill.

Here is a team-by-team look at the area's 21 4A schools:

Northeast Division:

DESERT PINES JAGUARS

Coach: Freddie Thompson (first year)

1998-99: None (new school)

Top Players: Derek Brown, G, 6-0, So.; Kevin Gibson, G/F, 6-2, Jr.; Marcus Sherfield, F, 6-3, Jr.; Corey Tyler, C, 6-6, So.; Antonio Williams, G, 6-0, Jr.

Outlook: Former Valley and Bonanza assistant Thompson takes over a first-year program without seniors or any players with varsity experience. "We're just going to play hard and try to get better," he said.

Coach: Curtis Heathman (second year)

1998-99: 12-15 (T-6th Sunrise)

Top Players: Kevin Fane, C, 6-5, Sr.; Darryl Givens, F, 6-6, Sr.; Maurice Thomas, G, 6-0, Jr.; Anthony Washington, F, 6-7, So.; Narada Whalum, G, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: The Sundevils were one of the area's biggest disappointments last season, finishing two games out of the playoffs after many picked them to win the Sunrise. Despite the graduation of all-state center James Bayless (now at Nevada-Reno), Heathman is confident his club will be more of a factor this year, thanks mainly to a big front line that features Givens and Fane.

Coach: Bob Beskow (first year)

1998-99: 16-14 (3rd Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Coy Boykin, G, 5-11, Sr.; Ryan Coiner, C, 6-5, Jr.; Tremmell Darden, F, 6-4, Sr.; Jonathan Pollard, F/C, 6-3, Sr.; Martrell Shelton, G, 5-11, Jr.; James Threats, G, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: Beskow, a longtime Wildcat assistant and the school's athletic director, takes over for Tom Farnsworth, who stepped down after last season. The new Vegas coach inherits a program rich with talent but with just one returning starter, Boykin, the club's point guard last year. Darden, a smooth wing player, will likely shoulder much of the scoring burden, while juniors Threats and Shelton should provide consistent long-range shooting. If the school's success during the spring and summer leagues is any indication of things to come, expect to see Las Vegas compete for one of the Sunrise's two state berths come February.

Coach: Mike Dye (second year)

1998-99: 20-8 (1st Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Deshawn Campbell, F, 6-2, Sr.; Rasheed Hines, G, 5-8, Jr.; Rod Lukes, F, 6-3, Sr.; Leon Moore, C, 6-4, Jr.; Jeremy White, C, 6-5, Sr.

Outlook: Dye's first season at Rancho was a study in success, as the Rams finished atop the Sunrise and came within a whisker of earning a state berth. Now, with all-conference guards Shun Atkinson and Kevin Crockrom graduated, it will be up to returning starters Lukes and Campbell to keep the team afloat in a tough Northeast Division. Moore, a physical force at the JV level last winter, and White will provide inside strength, something the Rams lacked during their 20-win season a year ago. Look for Dye's club to run a disciplined offense and play his trademark hard-nosed defense.

Coach: Gene Carpenter (first year)

1998-99: 9-16 (T-6th Sunrise)

Top Players: Chis Green, G/F, 6-3, Sr.; Chris Sloan, F, 6-4, Sr.; Mark Stevens, G, 6-0, Sr.; Matt Stoval, F, 6-5, Sr.

Outlook: Just one season removed from their 1998 championship, the Vikings will look to re-enter the postseason picture under Carpenter, a former Green Valley coach who succeeds longtime Vikings coach Paul Aznarez. Green, one of the top returning seniors in town, will spearhead Valley's expected resurgence, although he'll be just one of several Vikings capable of burying an outside shot with consistency. Although the squad will likely need time to adjust to Carpenter's new system, look for Valley to be among the Sunrise's best by the conference season.

Southeast Division:

Coach: Kurt Bailey (second year)

1998-99: 14-12 (5th Sunrise)

Top Players: Ian Atkins, C, 6-5, Sr.; Derek Muiana, F, 5-11, Sr.; Mark Williams, G, 6-0, Sr.

Outlook: The Wolves lost all five starters, along with the two three reserves from a squad that finished just one game out of the playoffs last year. Thanks to Atkins, a talented Detroit native who missed most of last season for personal reasons, there is cause for optimism in Basic country. Whether the team's inexperienced guards can get him touches in scoring position remains to be seen.

Coach: Paul Berg (third year)

1998-99: 15-11 (2nd Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Dallas Dobbs, G/F, 6-2, Jr.; Mario Hagan, F, 6-3, Sr.; Richard Mapp, G/F, 6-1, Jr.; Brian Payne, F, 6-1, Jr.; Terry Robinson, G, 5-9, Jr.

Outlook: Despite losing leading rebounder Richard Seigler and top shooter Matt Cox off last season's playoff team, Berg thinks his Cowboys may actually be better this winter. "We like what we see so far. It's the fastest, most athletic team we've had," he said. Mario Hagan, the area's top running back in the fall, is a versatile, experienced talent, but Chaparral's chief asset may be its depth. Capable of going nine or 10 deep, the Cowboys will push the ball whenever possible and will utilize an aggressive pressing defense that should lead to easy baskets.

Coach: Kevin Soares (first year)

1998-99: None (new school)

Top Players: Lyle Celler, G, 6-1, So.; Gabriel Ostolaza, G, 5-7, So.; Chris Sisson, F, 6-2, Jr.

Outlook: Soares, former assistant coach at Palo Verde, takes the helm for the first-year Falcons. "Their inexperience shows, but they're working hard and looking to improve," he said.

Coach: Jim Allen (first year)

1998-99: 10-13 (4th Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Jared Bedich, G, 6-2, Sr.; Jamar Jordan, G, 5-8, Jr.; Leo Jones, F, 6-2, Sr.; Logan Mason, F, 6-3, Jr.; Giancarlo Reyes, F, 6-2, Sr.; Jake Solis, G, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: Coming off a rare losing season, the Gators will turn to Allen, a former Rancho coach with the 1985 state title among his credentials. Though Green Valley returns just one varsity player (Bedich), the cupboard is far from bare at the Henderson school. What the team lacks in experience it should make up for in talent, as evidenced by the Gators' strong showing in the summer league.

Coach: Pat Condron (third year)

1998-99: 9-15 (8th Sunrise)

Top Players: DeJaun Ashley, G, 5-10, Sr.; Lateef Durosinmi, F, 6-4, Sr.; Chris Ford, F, 6-2, Sr.; Kevin Short, G, 5-8, Sr.

Outlook: Perennial also-rans in the Sunrise, the Skyhawks appear to have the team to shake that label and make a playoff run this season. Short and Ashley may be the top backcourt tandem in town, with the former among the area's most savvy floor generals and the latter capable of putting big numbers into the scorebook.

Coach: Jack Whitefoot (third year)

1998-99: 1-20 (9th Sunrise)

Top Players: Adam McAllister, F, 6-2, Jr.; Colin Darfour, F, 6-0, Sr.

Outlook: Though the Road Runners have managed just three wins over the past two seasons, Whitefoot remains optimistic heading into the season, setting his sights on a top-four division finish. "I think we're good enough to get into the Sunrise conference tournament this year," he said.

Northwest Division:

Coach: Greg Bohls (first year)

1998-99: None (new school)

Top Players: Jonathan Rose, G, 5-10, Jr.; Erick Wright, F, 6-4, Jr.

Outlook: Bohls, the former head coach at Western, takes over for the first-year Bulldogs. Rose, a transfer from Chaparral, will provide a modicum of varsity experience for the young club.

Coach: Larry Johnson (fourth year)

1998-99: 28-6 (1st Sunset, lost in state finals)

Top Players: Chris Hall, G, 6-2, Sr.; Andrae Mitchell, G, 5-10, Jr.; Shamario Ormond, G/F, 6-2, Jr.; Nate Peterson, C, 6-5, Sr.; Kevin Richardson, F, 6-4, So.; Garod Taggart, C, 6-7, Sr.; Donnell Thomas, F, 6-2, Sr.

Outlook: The state runners-up were hit hard by graduation, with all-state guard Demetrius Hunter (now at Georgetown) and the rest of the Desert Shields' starting five moving on. Nevertheless, Cheyenne should be in the thick of the division race thanks to a collection of athletic players capable of carrying on Johnson's up-tempo style, particularly varsity newcomers Ormond, Richardson and Mitchell.

Coach: Mika Brascia (first year)

1998-99: 21-12 (3rd Sunset, state champions)

Top Players: Josh Englehart, C, 6-5, Sr.; Matt Gregory, F, 6-3, Sr.; DeShaun Houston, G/F, 6-3, Sr.; Zach McWaters, G/F, 6-1, Sr.; Robert Young, G, 5-11, So.

Outlook: The Spartans suffered three key losses after capturing their second state title last year, as all-state performers Marcus Banks and Brian Lang graduated and longtime coach Hank Girardi stepped down. Now, Brascia, a Girardi disciple who coached with both state title squads, will try to keep Cimarron in the hunt without a true star on his roster.

Coach: Pat Welby (first year)

1998-99: 3-20 (9th Sunset)

Top Players: Corjahn Banks, C, 6-3, Sr.; Eric Howard, F, 6-3, Jr.; Elijah Smith, F/C, 6-5, Sr.; Reggie Willoughby, G, 6-0, Sr.

Outlook: After eight years as a Valley assistant, Welby takes over a Rattlers squad which struggled mightily last year but features one of the most athletic rosters in town. "I think Mojave is a sleeping giant as far as basketball is concerned," he said. "We're going to try to pressure and play up-tempo to take advantage of that athleticism."

Coach:Phil Clarke (second year)

1998-99: 8-18 (8th Sunset)

Top Players: Josh Clark, F/C, 6-4, Sr.; Yolondo Ferguson, C, 6-1, Sr.; Gary Gray, F, 6-2, Sr.; Marcus Hill, G, 5-7, Sr.

Outlook: After three seasons of building, the year Clarke and his Panthers have been waiting for is finally here. Eight members of the team have been together for all four years, and that should make Palo Verde one of the area's most cohesive, disciplined groups. "They certainly know the system," Clarke said. The Panthers should have enough to be competitive in a wide-open Northwest Division.

Southwest Division:

Coach: Jeff Wagonseller (ninth year)

1998-99: 18-9 (5th Sunset)

Top Players: Paul Bania, F, 6-6, Jr.; Jason Carter, C, 6-9, Jr.; Danny Gomez, G, 6-2, Sr.; Dyante Perkins, F, 6-0, Jr.; Jason Rogers, G, 5-10, Jr.; Dinard Taylor, G, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: The fifth-place finisher in last year's crowded Sunset, the Gaels enter the season as the odds-on favorite to take division, region and state titles. The Gaels have the area's top big man in Carter, an experienced backcourt tandem in Taylor and Rogers and plenty of depth. Carter is an inch taller and 20 pounds heavier than he was last season and, more importantly, he spent the off-season working on his finishing skills around the basket -- a scary thought for 6-4 centers throughout Southern Nevada. But Wagonseller warns that it's way too early to hand his club the championship. "We do have all the pieces we need, but I remind everybody that we haven't won anything with this group," he said.

Coach: George Jaekle (first year)

1998-99: 8-15 (7th Sunset)

Top Players: Tommy Guerrero, F, 6-2, Sr.; Demetrius Orme, C, 6-5, Jr.; Justin Saca, G, 6-1, Sr.

Outlook: A Bengals' assistant for the past seven years, Jaekle takes the helm for a team in transition. Although Bonanza struggled against the division's more athletic clubs last year, the team will get an influx of talent from the JV squad this season. If that group can complement Orme, a skilled low-post player, the Bengals should show improvement.

Coach:Brad Query (second year)

1998-99: 21-12 (4th Sunset, lost in state semifinals)

Top Players: Melvin Bray, G, 5-9, Sr.; Fred Conway, F, 6-1, Sr.; Charles Henderson, F, 6-1, Sr.; Lester Lewis, F, 6-1, Jr.

Outlook: It's never easy losing the state's top player. When three other key starters graduate with him, it's nearly impossible to bounce back. That's the daunting task facing Query, who must survive the departure of Player of the Year Kevin Gaines (now a starter at Michigan), along with Jamie Manor, Elijah Taylor and J.R. Wong.

Coach: Al La Rocque (seventh year)

1998-99: 23-11 (2nd Sunset, lost in state semifinals)

Top Players: Jamaal Brimmer, G, 6-1, Sr.; Frank Brown, G, 5-9, So.; Morgan Bulah, G, 5-11, Sr.; Matrel Johnson, C, 6-3, So.; Derek Stewart, F, 6-3, Sr.

Outlook:As if losing forward Jason Burns (now at Georgetown) and point guard Rudy Charles to graduation wasn't bad enough, the Blazers took an unexpected hit when junior shooting guard Chey Christie moved to Mississippi during the summer. The Blazers will still start the season among the favorites, with Brimmer and Johnson now the focus of the team's efforts.

Coach: Tony Hopkins (first year)

1998-99: 18-9 (6th Sunset)

Top Players: Modesto Fowler, C, 6-5, Sr.; Marcus Watkins, G, 6-2, Sr.; Wendell West, F, 6-4, Jr.

Outlook: After six seasons at Rancho, followed by a two-year coaching hiatus, Hopkins returns to the bench at Western, a school many expect will challenge Gorman and Durango for division superiority. Not so fast, says the Warriors' new coach. "A lot of people are under the assumption that we have the talent Western High School has always had. Western is going through growing pains right now," he said. Perhaps, but with Fowler, one of the city's top big men, leading the way, the Warriors should be a shoo-in for the playoffs and could push Durango for the west side's second state berth.

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