Undefeated Centennial girls face team with strong history

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

RENO -- The Centennial girls basketball team comes into this week's 4A State Tournament with a 30-0 record, but the Bulldogs' first-round opponent has something a bit more impressive on its resume.

Four straight state titles.

To advance past Wednesday's opening round, Southern Nevada's first-year phenoms will have to do something no team has done since 1995 -- knock the McQueen Lancers out of the state tournament.

"I don't think they're coming in afraid of us after what they've done," Centennial coach Karen Weitz said.

The Lancers (18-10) are down by their high standards. They are a far cry from the dominant machine that has rolled through the tournament for the past four years, led by the likes of Kate Smith (Nevada-Reno) and Courtney Moore (Oregon).

But what McQueen lacks in star power it has made up for hustle this season.

"I know they're small and quick and they like to trap," Weitz said. "But personally, I think we're a tough team to press because we have good ballhandlers."

Indeed, all seven players on Centennial's varsity roster can handle the ball, from guards Tenecia Jackson and Kim Silva to forwards Darci Sandoval and Rachael Schein.

For the first time in a long time, the Lancers will find themselves at a height disadvantage in a state tournament game, with 6-2 Centennial center Heather Thorson, 6-0 Sandoval, 5-10 Jenna Palmer and 5-10 Schein providing the Bulldogs with an unusually huge southern front line.

Over the past two decades, Southern Nevada has done little to earn respect from its northern counterparts, going title-less since 1980, when Chaparral won the large-school championship.

But last season, Bishop Gorman made it to the state title game, and Silverado and Las Vegas lost first-round contests by a combined three points -- giving local teams considerable hope.

Should Centennial topple McQueen, the Bulldogs will meet the winner of Wednesday's Reno vs. Las Vegas contest.

Reno's Huskies (23-7) have spent the 1999-2000 season trying to live up to preseason expectations. Pegged as the successor to McQueen's throne, Reno has only recently started playing to its capabilities.

On the other side of the bracket, Silverado (29-5) makes its third straight state tournament appearance. The Skyhawks will try for their first victory at the event against Galena (25-6), the Division I regular season champ but a fourth-place finisher in last weekend's Northern Region Tournament.

In Wednesday's first contest, Cimarron-Memorial (16-7), a team few expected to make it this far, will take on Carson (28-6), the runner-up in last weekend's Northern Region Tournament.

The Spartans will come in as heavy underdogs to advance past the first round. The Senators are an experienced bunch with a pair of potent scorers in seniors Pam Williams and Alyson Thurman -- two Sun All-State performers last year.