Cheyenne to play Gorman for boys crown

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 10:15 a.m.

RENO -- Twelve months ago, Bishop Gorman's boys basketball team took the floor at Nevada-Reno's Lawlor Events Center as an overwhelming favorite to capture the 2001 state championship.

Things didn't work out as planned for the Gaels, however, as the Las Vegas private school suffered its first in-state loss of the season to Western in the title game, squandering a 14-point lead in the process.

For the past year, memories of that bitter defeat have both haunted and motivated Gorman's players, particularly the four returnees who played in that championship contest: seniors C.J. Watson, Brandon Knott and Joe Anderson and junior Mark Hill.

Tonight, that quartet will try for a measure of redemption, when the Gaels tip off against Sunset Region rival Cheyenne for the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Championship at 6:40 p.m..

"It means a lot, not only to us but to the school and to a lot of other people," Anderson said. "It's been hard to get (last year's loss) out of our head this season. It was real tough, especially because we were up by that many points."

On Thursday, Gorman (27-6) earned its third consecutive trip to the finals with a thrilling 50-46 win over Las Vegas. And this time, the Gaels were the ones coming from behind, digging out of a late seven-point hole to rally past the Wildcats (29-4).

"We could have lost this game, but those guys didn't want to lose," Gorman coach Grant Rice said. "There have been different players and different coaches here (the last three years), but those four guys are determined."

The Gaels advanced despite getting just 12 points from Watson, more than 14 points below his season average and 16 fewer than he had in Wednesday's first-round win over Hug. But while Las Vegas guard Glenn Thomas pressured Watson into 3-of-12 shooting from the floor, the Gorman star's veteran teammates came to their team's rescue in the closing minutes.

Trailing 41-34 with five minutes to play, the Gaels got offensive putbacks from Hill and Knott and a 3-pointer from Watson to pull within one point with time winding down. Then, with 1:31 remaining, Anderson connected on a 3-pointer of his own, giving his team the lead for good.

"C.J. gave me the ball in good position, I saw the rim and it looked good," said Anderson, who finished with 12 points.

Zach Queen finished with 15 points to lead the Wildcats, who also got 12 points from Robert Berkey and nine points and nine rebounds from Jeremy Atwater.

The Desert Shields (30-4) also reached the title game with a hard-fought semifinal win, theirs a 54-49 triumph over Green Valley (28-6).

The Gators came out firing, sinking their first five shots -- including three 3-pointers -- to take an early 12-point first-quarter lead.

But Cheyenne weathered the barrage, getting three early 3-pointers of their own from Johnny Wheeler (19 points) to pull ahead 22-21 after a fast-paced opening period.

"We were just hoping they could not continue to shoot the basketball the way they were (early)," Shields coach Larry Johnson said. "We made some adjustments to step out on the screens and get out on their shooters."

Lorenzo Wade wound up with 13 points for the victors, while Jon Osborne and Jones scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Green Valley. Chris Holm had nine rebounds and Ron Dunlap added eight boards for the Gators.

Tonight's game will mark the third meeting this season between the Gaels and Desert Shields. Gorman won 67-61 in November, with Cheyenne evening the series with a 62-56 victory in last Saturday's Sunset Region championship.