Columnist Adam Candee: Seven Bishop Gorman athletes sign letters of intent

Adam Candee

Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 9:39 a.m.

Adam Candee covers high school sports for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

A number of winter and spring sport athletes from Bishop Gorman recently accepted scholarships to continue their careers at the collegiate level.

Gaels four-year varsity basketball player Mark Hill earned a ride to UC Irvine, choosing the Anteaters over the University of Portland. Hill earned Sun All-State second-team honors after his senior season, and he won 4A state titles with the Gaels in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.

Hill's fellow Gorman senior, guard Robert Porter, will head north to Dixie Junior College in St. George, Utah, for the next two seasons.

On the girls' hardwood, Gorman center Charity Renfro will also head to the JC level, signing with Yavapai College, a traditionally strong outfit from Prescott, Ariz. Renfro and Breona Gray, who earlier signed with national power Notre Dame, helped lead the Gaels to the 4A state championship game last season.

Gorman soccer players Katie Burton (Sacramento State) and Danielle Ghaffari (Cal State Fullerton) will also move to the next level. Ghaffari was a four-year varsity player in goal for the Gaels.

Golfer Robert Massi signed with St. Mary's College outside San Francisco.

"We are very proud of all our student-athletes," Gorman athletics director Kevin Hickman said.

While the school district did not reveal the specific code violation committed by the students, Northern web site Nevadaprep.com reports that the infractions have to do with alcohol.

"Six players admitted to breaking the athletic code and at least six more were implicated," said Brad Daum, Churchill County School District athletics administrator.

The team, which would have qualified for the region playoffs from the High Desert Division, will forfeit its final three games of the season. Fallon will finish with a 14-15 overall record, but a 10-5 mark in division play.

"Obviously, (the players) made mistakes, and there will be consequences for their actions," Fallon coach Brooke Hill said.

The local high school basketball senior all-star game will take place May 30 at 7 p.m. at Bishop Gorman High School. The team will be mainly comprised of players who earned first or second team All-Region honors this year, with the regions facing off. Cheyenne's Larry Johnson and Rancho's Mel Shivers will coach the teams.

Preceding the all-star game, the spring league championship will be contested at 5:30 p.m.

The following night will be the 32nd Annual Lions Club High School All-Star Game, which begins at 7 p.m. at Green Valley High School. That game will also feature a Sunrise vs. Sunset format.