Gorman girls stun No. 1 McQueen

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

Wednesday's scores

Bishop Gorman 67, McQueen 41

Silverado 54, Centennial 44

Reno 74, Green Valley 32

Galena 68, Las Vegas 36

Today's semifinals

B. Gorman (26-3) vs. Reno (24-4), 3:20 p.m.

Silverado (25-6) vs. Galena (24-5), 6:35 p.m.

RENO -- The final score was reminiscent of so many recent north-south matchups in the 4A State Girls Basketball Tournament: 67-41.

But on Wednesday, something was different. This time, it was the south doing the dominating. This time, it was the north being dominated.

Bishop Gorman's quarterfinal blowout of Reno power McQueen sent shock waves through the first round at Nevada-Reno's Lawlor Events Center, knocking the state's top-ranked team from the tournament and sending the Gaels to the state's final four.

Gorman (26-3) still has a tough road ahead if it hopes to break Southern Nevada's 20-year large-school girls title drought, a skid that began after Chaparral's 1980 championship season. The No. 3 Gaels will square off with No. 2 Reno (24-7) today at 3:20 p.m., with a potential matchup with defending state champion Galena (24-7) lurking in the finals.

Both remaining northern teams easily disposed of their southern opponents on Wednesday, with the Huskies blowing out Green Valley 74-32 and the Grizzlies ripping Las Vegas High 68-36. Silverado (25-6) earned the final spot in today's semifinals -- and a date with Galena -- with a 54-44 victory over fellow southern school Centennial.

The Gaels' win over McQueen -- state champions from 1996-99 and a semifinals last year -- was easily the most eyebrow-raising event on day one, however.

"We were very relaxed. We're at our best when we're having fun," Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. "We are underdogs. All of the Vegas teams are. We haven't won it in 20 years. So why come in here all stressed up?"

The Gaels wasted no time taking control, going up 10-2 six minutes in. Their 14-6 lead after one quarter would stand up, with the Lancers never getting closer than eight points.

Gorman led 42-25 at the end of three and then, in case any doubt remained about its legitimacy as a title contender, opened the final quarter with a 10-0 run to build the game's biggest lead at 27 points -- two more than McQueen had at the time.

An athletic team in their own right, the Lancers had no answer for the Gaels' quick guard trio of Breona Gray (15 points), Moneka Knight (nine points) and Shanae Green (nine points). When McQueen protected against penetration, forward Liz Cansdale (21 points) bombed away from long range, knocking down three 3-pointers.

Gorman controlled the glass, outrebounding the Lancers 40-22 thanks largely to forward Jen Kline (10 rebounds), Cansdale (nine) and reserve forward Cassie Burks (eight).

And the Gaels won with a ferocious defensive effort, holding McQueen to 15 first-half points.

Jill Bentley led McQueen with 14 points, with Kae Blunt close behind with 12 points.

"It's definitely a monkey off our back. We focused all year on making this our goal, and it feels great to reach that part of it," Silverado coach Diane Hernandez said. "But we're not done."

The Bulldogs (28-5) actually led, 23-22 at halftime, after Rachael Schein reeled off 12 straight points in the second quarter. But the Skyhawks opened the second half with a 10-run to move in front for good.

Nikki Hitchens led Silverado with 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals, and Jayme Connors added 12 points before fouling out. Schein finished with 21 points for Centennial.