Local schools prevail

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

The state's annual basketball civil war got started six weeks early on Monday, but for Northern Nevada's top boys teams, January was no different than so many Februarys have been in recent years.

Reno High, Galena and McQueen -- three schools ranked in the Sun's statewide top 10 -- arrived for the inaugural Nevada Sports Network Classic intent on serving notice that Southern Nevada's seven-year stranglehold on the state's large-school title might be in jeopardy.

But by the time the event's three north-south matchups at Durango High School were over, the day's only statement had been made by Las Vegas' representatives. Their message: not this year.

Unranked Green Valley got things started with a stunning 58-56 double-overtime win over No. 4 Galena, then No. 5 Durango held off No. 10 McQueen 66-58. And in the nightcap, top-ranked Bishop Gorman left no doubt about its dominance, hammering No. 3 Reno 74-53.

"I definitely think the teams down here, like Durango, Western and ourselves, are a lot more athletic than the teams up north," Gorman guard Dinard Taylor said. "Not to disrespect, but I don't think Reno is the second-best team in the state. I think the Vegas teams will dominate (state) again this year."

The Gaels (17-2) turned the year's most anticipated matchup into a laugher before halftime, burying the Huskies (15-4) with a 26-10 second quarter that put them up 45-22 at halftime. Gorman didn't stop there, upping its advantage to 38 points, 64-26, before coach Bob Hubbard pulled his starters.

"I thought it was probably the best we've played from start to finish, until we took our starters out," Hubbard said. "When we play like we did tonight, we're awfully tough."

Taylor set the tone for the Gaels early on, sinking three 3-point shots in the first quarter en route to a team-high 21 points. Taylor and fellow starting guard C.J. Watson (13 points, four steals) also gave the Huskies fits defensively, forcing them into 14 first-half turnovers and a slew of bad shots.

Despite nursing a sore hand, Gaels center Jason Carter dominated his matchup with Reno big man David Padgett. Carter finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Padgett was saddled with foul trouble and notched just three points before halftime.

Point guard Alex Gamboa was Reno's only effective weapon, scoring 20 points and coming up with three steals.

The two early north-south matchups were much closer, with both the Grizzlies and Lancers holding second-half leads over their Las Vegas opponents. But as has so often been the case at state tournament time, the Southern Nevadans found ways to pull their contests out down the stretch.

For Green Valley (14-8), all seemed lost when Galena (15-5) opened up a 49-42 lead with 1:47 to play in the final quarter. But Gators center Mitch Platt scored five straight points in the post to pull the locals within two, then point guard Jamar Jordan made a steal and converted two free throws to send the game into overtime.

Platt also dominated the first extra session, scoring five of his club's six points. But Galena's David Robinson sank a 3-point shot with 15 seconds remaining, forcing the second overtime.

In the second OT, Platt was the story again, scoring the two teams' only field goal to give Green Valley the lead for good. The 6-9 sophomore finished with a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds.

"After (Platt) started posting up the way he's capable of, he did a great job of sealing and keeping (his defender) behind him," Gators coach Jim Allen said.

Durango (16-7) trailed for much of its game with McQueen (13-6) before pulling even at 49 on Frank Brown's 3-pointer with two minutes left in the third quarter. From there, the Blazers steadily took control, taking advantage of their opponent's foul trouble.

"The way we play, we're in foul trouble all the time and (our opponents) are too," said Durango coach Al LaRocque, whose club snapped a three-game losing skid.

Brown finished with 15 points to lead the Blazers, followed by Brian Young (14), Martrel Johnson (12) and Tywain McTyer (12).

In Monday's other NSNC games, Foothill held off The Meadows 84-73, No. 9 Desert Pines toppled No. 7 Cheyenne 69-59 and No. 2 Western blew out Moapa Valley 88-55.