Cheyenne, Gorman lead the pack

Adam Candee

Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Boys basketball glance

A quick look at the Southern Nevada boys basketball season:

A list of questions and answers on a few important (and not-so-important) issues for the 2002-03 boys basketball season:

1.What effect will football season have on basketball season?

The extremely long football playoffs will likely affect a number of basketball teams in the early part of the season, as they always do. Desert Pines may be the most obvious example of how a football season can be both beneficial and detrimental to the development of a basketball team.

Desert Pines coach Freddie Thompson said he is short by as many as eight players right now as he waits for the Jaguars' football season to conclude in Saturday's state championship game. In the short term, that means team chemistry will be slow to develop on the court for the Jaguars. It also means that football players will likely be tired from the long football campaign.

As Thompson points out, he is perfectly willing to wait for those players, notably guard Tony Williams. While football players may have to switch season quickly, they also bring the experience of playing on a highly successful team over to the hardwood.

"Hopefully, they'll bring that winning attitude over from football," Thompson said.

2.What about the north? Anyone to keep an eye on up there?

Our northern spies (we'll resist the urge to call them "Spies Like Us") say that Reno High begins the season as the prohibitive favorite in that region. Considering the Huskies have the state's best player in Kansas-bound senior center David Padgett, it is no surprise that Reno is looked at as the team to beat.

Those same spies tell us that Reno also received a couple of top-notch transfers over the past year and should be primed to make a run at the crown. If the north is going to win one, this might be its chance.

3.Word on the street is that Cheyenne is unbeatable. Is this true?

Unbeatable might be a bit strong, but the consensus around town is that the Desert Shields are absolutely loaded this year.

"I feel if we work hard, anything's possible," Cheyenne coach Larry Johnson said.

Guard Lorenzo Wade begins the season as the city's best player, but he is joined by talent all over the court. The talk of the town, as it seems to be with one school or another every year, is a number of solid transfers that turned up at Cheyenne, including Centennial forward Chris Fuller and Western/Gorman big man Kenny Crockett.

"My biggest concern is going to be the chemistry," Johnson said of his new faces. "There's only one ball out there, so we're going to have to share."

4.Hey, what about Gorman? Are the champs rebuilding or reloading?

At the "House of Glory," there is no such thing as rebuilding. Expect the Gaels to put up a fight to defend their state title this year.

Forward Mark Hill and guard Robert Porter return from the 2001-02 title squad, and transfer forward Brandan Prescott is also expected to be a difference maker. The toughest task at Gorman, however, will be trying to fill the big shoes of departed point guard C.J. Watson, the Sun Player of the Year last year.

"You're not replacing an all-city point guard," Durango coach Al LaRocque said. "You're replacing a Division I point guard."

5.Why is everyone just standing there when the final free throw goes up?

One of the interesting officiating switches this season is the total elimination of boxing out on free throws. Players were already required to hold their spot in the lane until the ball hit the rim, but the law will go a step beyond that this year. Word is that boxing out will be called a foul on free throws.

6.So what's the preseason All-City starting five look like?

So glad you asked. We've already told you about Wade, who can swing between the two and three spots. Reserve a place for Green Valley post Mitch Platt, who is drawing raves around town for his improvement over the summer.

"He made himself the way he is," LaRocque said of the Oregon-bound center.

Normally, small forward Jason Petrimoulx of Cimarron-Memorial is a shoo-in, but his name has been conspicuously absent from the box score early this season and rumors continue to swirl as to why.

For the final two or three spots, there are probably 10 deserving candidates. For now, we'll take Desert Pines forward Shyon Clark, Green Valley forward Ron Dunlap and Cheyenne forward Fuller.

A step down, we find Clark guard Mike Philogene and Gorman's Hill, along with Coronado guard Wes Hager. If he settles in for his second tour with Foothill, Harvey Perry will also be a player to be reckoned with by season's end.

7.Any sleepers to watch out for?

Behind the top two of Cheyenne and Gorman, Green Valley draws high praise around the city and should be in the hunt again. When asked what teams might be ready to make a run by playoff time, coaches roundly mention Desert Pines and Foothill as potential sleeper teams. Las Vegas and Durango could make some noise, too.

8.Alright, enough already: Who's going to win state?

To answer this question, we must answer another one first -- is Cheyenne ready to get over the hump? The Shields feature easily the city's most talented lineup, and if they find some chemistry, this is their year.

Gorman is the champ until someone proves otherwise, however, and the Gaels will be there at Lawlor Events Center. If Padgett comes to play all year, Reno could be for real as well.

OK, OK, we are dancing around the issue. You want just one pick?

Gorman over Cheyenne. (And after those two teams meet tonight at Gorman, we reserve the right to change that pick.)

9.And when and where exactly will that happen?

The 4A State Tournament will be held in Reno from Feb. 26-28. Region playoffs run from Feb. 18-22.

10.Just how seriously do the coaches and players take these little predictions?

LaRocque puts it best: "Luckily, we get to play the games."