Las Vegas coach stays optimistic despite defections

Spencer Patterson

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 10:27 a.m.

Just a week ago, Las Vegas Stars coach Al LaRocque had a roster he thought had a chance to compete against the best the Big Time Tournament had to offer.

For the first time in three years, the Stars were to be a local all-star team, featuring the top individual players from LaRocque's own Durango squad as well as the other top programs in town.

Bishop Gorman center Jason Carter would team up with fellow Gaels Justin Burns and Paul Bania, along with Durango's Martrel Johnson, on the front line, with Valley's Sam Jackson, Western's Brandon Weaver, Gorman's Dinard Taylor and Durango's Frank Brown in the backcourt.

Entered in the 312-team tournament's elite "open" division and with Carter -- the state's best-known recruit -- on the floor, the Stars were expected to provide maximum exposure for the area's top college prospects.

Before the event even began, however, the squad took two major hits. First Valley coach Darryl Branham, and then Western coach Tony Hopkins, opted to keep Jackson and Weaver with their respective high school squads for the duration of the Big Time.

Those disappointments paled in comparison to the news LaRocque received on the tournament's opening day. Just hours after practicing with the Stars at Durango on Friday night, Carter and Burns chose to play for California's Double Pump on Saturday morning, without notifying LaRocque or their Stars teammates of their decision.

The departure of the 6-9 Carter and the 6-7 Burns left the Stars severely undersized, and without the drawing power LaRocque had hoped would bring college coaches to their games.

Despite that, and his team's 0-3 finish in pool play, LaRocque remained upbeat.

"We're going to stay positive and do it again next year," LaRocque said. "We're not going to change anything we're doing. Our goal has always been to help get the kids exposure."

LaRocque said he has been approached by several schools interested in the Gorman duo of Taylor and Bania, both of whom showed flashes of brilliance in Sunday's 98-88 loss to Tim Thomas Playaz Gold of New Jersey.

Taylor, in particular, dazzled spectators with his 3-point range, draining shots from beyond NBA distance, including a near-halfcourt buzzer-beater to end the first half that pulled his squad within five points.

"Certain players are blessed with height, and certain players are blessed with speed," the 5-8 Taylor said. "God's gift to me is to be a pure shooter."

Dallas Hoops and Team Memphis (Tenn.) were the no-shows, with the Milwaukee PAL Blue Devils filling one of those vacated spots. The Milwaukee squad booked a flight to Las Vegas, along with hotel reservations, but had not reserved a spot in the tournament.

The Pittsburgh Jots elected to take Team Memphis' place in the open division but remained in their original pool as well. Because the games did not conflict, the Jots were able to play five games over the weekend.

And on Sunday, California's IEBP AllStars forfeited their contest with the North Dakota Wolves I when the AllStars walked off the court, trailing 72-50, with 4:36 remaining on the clock.

The 11 local teams entered in the event finished pool play with a combined 8-25 record. Mad Moves, Inc. won two of three games, one by forfeit against Dallas Hoops. Green Valley, Bishop Gorman, Valley, Bonanza, the Las Vegas Panthers (Palo Verde) and Western each picked up one victory.