Conference play should answer some questions

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Jan. 5, 2001 | 9:01 a.m.

Bishop Gorman's boys basketball team can hang with powerful Oak Hill Academy (Va.), but can the Gaels capture their own division?

Nevada's top-ranked, defending 4A state champs will begin answering that question today, when area boys and girls teams open their conference seasons at 7 p.m.

The Gaels (15-2) have been extremely impressive thus far, finishing third in the Powerade Holiday Prep Classic's Millennium Cup, reaching the finals of the Texas Invitational and defeating their five local foes by an average of 31 points.

But as Gorman learned last year, when it finished second to Western in the Southwest Division, nothing can be taken for granted in Southern Nevada's most loaded conference.

This year, the Southwest appears tougher than ever, with all five of the division's teams among the Sun's statewide Top 10 this week. Along with Gorman, No. 2 Western (14-2), No. 4 Durango (15-4), No. 7 Bonanza (8-4) and No. 9 Clark (9-2) are coming into league play off strong preseason showings.

And with four berths in this year's Sunset Region final at stake, the five schools will fight to avoid finishing in the division's cellar and missing the playoffs altogether.

"It's going to be a battle," said Chargers coach Brad Query, whose team hosts Bonanza tonight. "Everyone is good. On any given night in this division, anyone can be beaten."

The Warriors, who have a bye tonight and open division play next Wednesday against Durango, head into the conference season fresh off a holiday break that saw them finish second in the Holiday Prep Gold Cup one week and capture the Las Vegas Prep Championship the next.

But Western coach Tony Hopkins knows his team will have to play its best basketball in the weeks to come to reach the postseason.

"It's going to be intense," Hopkins said. "You don't have a day off in this division. You've got to make sure you win on your home floor. If you do that, you have a chance."

Gorman opens with a contest at rival Durango tonight -- the first rematch between the two since the Gaels rallied for an overtime win over the Trailblazers in last year's state title game.

No. 5 Cheyenne (10-4) and No. 10 Green Valley (10-8) appear to be the class of the Northwest and Southeast division, respectively. But if the preseason is any indication, the Northeast could be a wide open race between Desert Pines (9-3), Valley (9-6) and Las Vegas (9-9).

On the girls' side, most eyes will be on the Southwest Division as well, specifically on what is expected to be a two-team race for the title between No. 4 Bishop Gorman (11-2) and No. 5 Bonanza (17-1).

With only two berths in this year's 4A state tournament going to Sunset Region teams, the Gaels and Bengals will likely be battling to avoid a matchup with No. 6 Centennial (16-3) in the regional playoffs in favor of an easier road to state.

For now though, Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich is thinking only about her team's home game with Durango tonight.

"We realize that Bonanza is an excellent, well-coached team, but we need to take care of Durango first," Krmpotich said. "You can't move forward until you take care of what's in front of you."

The Gaels will be bolstered by the return of 6-2 guard Jen Kline, one of the state's premier players, next week. Kline has been ineligible since transferring from Basic last season.

"We add a whole other dimension to the mix when we get Kline back," Krmpotich said. "She understands the game, and she makes everyone around her better."

In the preseason, No. 8 Silverado (12-4) has been the dominant power not only in the Southeast Division, but in the entire Sunrise Region. Eldorado (8-3) and Las Vegas (8-6) are the only other girls teams with winning records in the Sunrise, which will send three teams to state this year.