Western ignites local teams’ rally

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

Southern Nevada schools were off to a combined 0-10 start on day one of the Powerade Holiday Prep Classic when the Western Warriors took the court Monday afternoon at Green Valley High School.

Within moments, it was clear the state's day-long losing skid was over. Western dominated Louisiana's Bonnabel High in every sense of the word, racing out to an unheard-of 39-2 lead en route to a 77-39 victory in Gold Cup play.

The Warriors' win signaled the start of a rally by area teams, who went 6-4 in late games to salvage day one.

In Millennium Cup action, hopes for the tournament's first local winner since 1989 were cut in half, with Bishop Gorman advancing and Durango falling, 88-53 to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy. The Trailblazers (7-3) hung with the nation's top-ranked team for the first five minutes, before Syracuse-bound point guard Billy Edelin led the Warriors on a dunk-filled 35-11 run to close the half.

In the Gold Cup, Green Valley joined Western in the eight-team winner's bracket, besting Kentucky's Perry Central 55-53. Ron Dunlap scored 15 points to lead the Gators (4-4), who play Crescenta Valley (Calif.) tonight at 8:40 at home.

Western (6-1), which got 19 points and 10 rebounds from Wendell West, plays Denver's George Washington tonight at 5:50 at Green Valley.

Bonanza, Valley and Las Vegas High were all knocked out of the Gold Cup winner's bracket, with the Bengals (5-3) losing a 60-57 heartbreaker to Crescenta Valley (Calif.).

Valley's Sam Jackson was the area's leading scorer with 31 points in a losing effort, third among all players on day one.

Chaparral, Desert Pines and Overton's Moapa Valley all advanced in Silver Cup play. The Cowboys face St. Mary's (N.Y.) today, with the Jaguars taking on Moapa at 3 p.m. at Green Valley.

Mojave, Rancho and Centennial suffered day one losses in the Silver Cup, while Palo Verde, Foothill, Basic, Silverado, Cimarron-Memorial, Eldorado and Mesquite's Virgin Valley all falling in Bronze Cup play.

Valley's Sam Jackson was the area's leading scorer with 31 points in a losing effort, third among all players on day one. Desert Pines' Antonio Williams scored 26, and Bonanza's Demetrius Orme netted 22.

The 7-0, 310-pound senior from Senegal is reportedly considering jumping straight from high school to the NBA, although he is still being pursued by several colleges, with North Carolina among his suitors.

Diop scored 16 points in limited action against Durango Monday night, and has drawn comparisons to NBA star Shaquille O'Neal due to his physical stature. Recruiting expert Bob Gibbons, who saw O'Neal play as a high school senior, said Diop is farther along at this point in his career, particularly on the offensive end.

Florida High School Athletic Association rules prohibit member schools from participating in events with schools who are not members of a state federation. Since Oak Hill, a college prep school which is not eligible to compete for Virginia state championships, is playing in the Millennium Cup bracket, Arlington cannot.