Centennial gets chance to defend its state title

Adam Candee

Friday, Feb. 28, 2003 | 10:17 a.m.

Thursday's Nevada State Basketball Tournament capsules:

4A girls

"We call her 'Mo Money' for a reason," Gaels coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. "She is a true leader."

Gorman faces defending state champion Centennial in tonight's title game.

Gorman took possession with 1:01 remaining and drained the clock down before Knight drove to the basket and drew a foul on the baseline. Knight, who finished with 19 points, said the contact was minimal.

"I didn't feel anything actually," Knight said. "They were fouling me harder than that (earlier), and I didn't get the call."

Kim Etol drove to the hoop on Las Vegas' last chance, but her running shot missed as she crashed into the Gaels' Charity Renfro.

The defending state title holders will take on Bishop Gorman tonight.

Rachael Schein scored 12 of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead Centennial. Karissa Fernandez pitched in with 14 points.

Western trailed for much of the game before pulling even early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors had two players foul out down the stretch, including LaMesha Walker, a standout senior forward who scored just two points.

Ra Chauna Randle again led Western with 21 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Renita Mitchell scored 14 points for the Warriors.

2A Girls

Genesis Lightbourne's 11 points were tops for the Crusaders, and Abby Lynch added eight points for Faith Lutheran.

4A Boys

Fuller scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but his biggest contribution came on defense. Fuller locked up Rancho offensive star DeMario Butler throughout the second half, holding Butler to seven points after the break.

"I just can't say enough about that kid," Johnson said. "We definitely put him on the best offensive player on the other team."

Lorrenzo Wade led all players with 22 points and 15 rebounds for Cheyenne, which defeated the Panthers in all three previous meetings this year.

Rancho used an aggressive, gambling defense to turn the tide through the late third and early fourth quarter, when Cheyenne went to its bench. Greg Burrell hit a breakaway layup with 1:30 to play to pull Rancho within 57-53, but the Rams would draw no closer down the stretch.

"They're just kids, so that last 20 seconds was pretty scary," Palo Verde coach Phil Clarke said.

The Panthers turned the ball over twice in the final 30 seconds to give Durango its chances. With eight seconds left, Lamar Falley's 3-pointer from the right wing missed and Kenny Anderson's 3-point try off the offensive rebound missed the rim.

Josh Steffen scored 10 points for Palo Verde, including two free throws with 15.6 seconds remaining to extend the Panthers' lead to three points.

2A Boys

P.C. Youngblood led Meadows with 14 points and Mike Wynn scored six of his eight points in the final period as the Mustangs outscored White Pine, 19-9. Meadows grabbed the lead midway through the period, and Wynn canned a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Mustangs ahead 47-42 with 50 seconds to play.

Howard Smith scored 12 points and Taylor Verhaalen 10 for the Mustangs.

The Crusaders won the previous three matchups, including a victory in the 2A Southern Region title game.

Travis Tuls scored six of his 15 points in the decisive fourth quarter, as Faith Lutheran gradually stretched out the 37-34 edge it held after three quarters.