‘Hated’ Gorman fighting for respect in playoffs

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999 | 10:55 a.m.

As if Bishop Gorman's girls team needed extra incentive going into tonight's 4A Southern Zone tournament, the Gaels received some added motivation when this year's all-conference picks were announced Monday.

Despite posting an area-best 25-3 record, rolling to the Sunset Division crown and losing only once in town, the Gaels wound up with just one selection -- senior center Paige Sutton -- on the 12-player All-Sunset squad picked by area coaches.

"I was surprised," Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. "I guess I didn't know the extent to which Gorman was hated. We'll use it as motivation."

The Gaels will host Green Valley (12-11) tonight at 7 p.m. in one of four first-round zone tournament contests. All four winners will earn automatic berths to next week's 4A state tournament in Reno.

In other first-round action, Silverado (23-5) will host Bonanza (10-6), Cimarron-Memorial (13-9) will entertain Basic (18-5) and Cheyenne (17-12) will visit Las Vegas (19-6).

At first glance, Gorman-Green Valley looks like a mismatch between the state's No. 3 club and a team that squeaked into the playoffs on the final night of the regular season.

But in the schools' only meeting this year, Green Valley took the Gaels to the wire before Gorman emerged with a 60-56 home win.

"I was really impressed with Green Valley the first time we played them," Krmpotich said. "I tell my kids we need to survive and advance."

The Gaels appear to be on a collision course with No. 5 Silverado, which posted a 16-0 record to win the Sunrise division crown. Like Krmpotich, Skyhawks coach Diane Hernandez wasn't talking about anyone but her club's first-round opponent.

"We really haven't talked much about Gorman," said Hernandez, whose squad lost to the Gaels in last year's zone championship. "Our total focus has been on preparing for Bonanza. We know we have to get that job done."

Tonight's winners will meet in Friday's semifinal round at Valley, with the championship slated for Saturday night, also at Valley.

* ALL-CONFERENCE PICKS: Sutton was joined on the All-Sunset first team by Bonanza's Ronda Williams, Cheyenne's Tenecia Jackson, Durango's Danielle Boyack and Palo Verde's Ryann Russell. Williams was selected the division's MVP, while Cimarron's Gina Davis was named Coach of the Year.

In the Sunrise Division, Basic's Jennifer Kline, Chaparral's Krystal Turner, Las Vegas' Lillie Williams and Silverado's Nikki Hitchens and Jayme Connors made the first team. Kline and Turner shared MVP honors, with Coach of the Year kudos going to the Skyhawks' Hernandez. Kline also was selected the Southern Nevada Player of the Year.

Sunset honorable mention selections were: Cimarron's Nikkie Richards, Emily McCarter and Alisha Sanders, Mojave's Nicole Ireland, Bonanza's Shastian Gago, Cheyenne's Tiffany Adams, and Western's Tiffany Day. Sunrise honorable mention selections were: Valley's Jennifer Brooks, Green Valley's Jereena Bosket and Jenna Horticuela, Las Vegas' Jasmere Kirby and Eldorado's Kristi Shaw.