Prep Classic notebook: Gaels take third with big victory

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Dec. 22, 2000 | 10 a.m.

Don't be surprised to see Bishop Gorman ranked nationally sometime soon.

The Gaels put the finishing touches on a sensational performance in this week's Powerade Holiday Prep Classic Thursday night, downing St. Mary's (Ariz.) 70-62 for third place in the Millennium Cup bracket.

Gorman (9-1), No. 1 in the Sun's statewide poll all season and No. 10 in the latest USA Today western regional rankings, finished the prestigious 68-team tournament with a 3-1 mark. The Gaels' only loss was a 12-point defeat at the hands of Virginia's Oak Hill Academy, the nation's top-ranked team and this year's Holiday Prep champion.

Nevada's defending 4A state champs opened the event with a 70-64 win over Lanier (Texas) Monday and followed that with an exciting 76-75 victory over a strong Modesto Christian (Calif.) squad in Tuesday's quarterfinals.

In their final game, the Gaels got 19 points and 19 rebounds from center Jason Carter and 20 points and 14 assists from guard C.J. Watson as they toppled the Knights (9-3), No. 7 in USA Today's western regional rankings.

Guard Dinard Taylor joined Carter and Watson in double figures with 17 points, while forward Justin Burns chipped in 11 rebounds. Jason Fontenet finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead St. Mary's.

Like Gorman, Durango's lone loss of the week came courtesy of Oak Hill, with the Warriors opening the event with a 35-point win over the Blazers on Monday.

Desert Pines (7-3) finished third in the Silver Cup, posting an 80-72 win over Payson (Utah) on Thursday. Maurice Thomas and Antonio Williams led the Jaguars with 21 and 20 points, respectively, with Thomas grabbing 12 rebounds and Nick Porter chipping in 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Foothill (5-6) also closed out the tournament with a victory, defeating Nevada Class 3A opponent Virgin Valley 58-53 for seventh place in the Bronze Cup. Dave Lainhart tallied 17 points to lead the Falcons.

Green Valley (5-6) wound up fourth in the Gold Cup, dropping a 54-46 decision to Arlington Country Day (Fla.) in Thursday's third-place contest. Ron Dunlap scored 18 points for the Gators in the losing cause.

Overall, Southern Nevada's 4A schools went 4-4 on Thursday, bringing their combined four-day total to 28-34.

Western's Tim Day and Wendell West, Bonanza's Demetrius Orme, Valley's Sam Jackson and Green Valley's Dunlap were selected to the Gold Cup squad, with Johnny Lewis of Abramson (La.) taking home MVP honors.

In the Silver Cup bracket, Desert Pines' Thomas and Williams, Mojave's Leon Clersaint and Chaparral's Terry Robinson represented Las Vegas on the all-tournament team, with Matt Preston of St. Mary's (N.Y.) garnering the MVP trophy.

And in the Bronze Cup, Cimarron-Memorial's Jason Petrimoulx, Palo Verde's Ian Henry and Foothill's Lainhart made the all-tournament squad. Cyprus (Utah) guard Monty Rogers was selected MVP.