Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 10:11 a.m.
With money down, the importance of the region basketball playoffs is up -- way up.
Only the two Southern region champions will qualify for the 4A State Tournament in Reno. That is down from the five berths that the South had last year when the eight teams made the state playoffs.
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association scaled back all state tournaments in an effort to reduce travel costs for schools and operating expenses for the governing body.
Here is a look at next week's region playoffs, which get under way with Tuesday's quarterfinals, hosted by the first and second place finishers in each division.
Boys Sunrise Region
Favorite: Coronado's combination of inside and outside play makes it the best bet to emerge from the Sunrise. With Mike Kale in the post, underrated Sid Stanley at the point and Travis Stuman gunning 3-pointers, Coronado can score in a variety of ways. The Cougars are high on confidence right now after running the table in the Southeast Division and look to be on a collision course with Las Vegas in the region final.
Sleeper: Foothill qualifies here, if only because of Jamaal Smith. The Falcons' high-energy point guard is a one-man wrecking crew when he stays out of foul trouble. Do not overlook improving Green Valley or erratic Valley either, but Foothill is the most dangerous team if it plays to its potential.
Key quarterfinal: (SE-3) Green Valley at (NE-2) Valley. This is a rematch of the season's biggest stunner from last year, when the Vikings eliminated favored Green Valley. The Gators struggled early in the season, but appeared to find some identity later in the year. Josh Rivers leads a talented Valley squad that made the state playoffs last season.
Sunset Region
Favorite: No other team features the balance or grit of Palo Verde. Looking only at talent, Durango should run away with the Sunset Region, but the Blazers are horribly inconsistent. The Panthers, buoyed by the experience of last year's run to the state title game, are tough to beat because so many players can hurt you. A Palo Verde-Durango final would really be the de facto state title game.
Sleeper: Call it a tie between the third-place teams, Bonanza and Cheyenne. It's the same story in both places: Talented teams that have not put it all together late in the year. Both the Bengals and Desert Shields are capable of causing problems in any matchup, but both draw difficult quarterfinal games. Either team could win the region or be out by Tuesday night.
Key quarterfinal: (NW-3) Cheyenne at (SW-2) Bishop Gorman. The past two 4A state champions meet to start the playoffs. The Gaels have been quietly solid in what first looked to be a rebuilding year and there is no reason to count them out. Cheyenne needs the kind of big-time performance that Harvey Perry, Jr., is capable of giving in order to make state.
Girls Sunrise Region
Favorite: By a hair, Las Vegas is the favorite ahead of Green Valley. The Wildcats are a bit more tested, by way of both a tougher division schedule and their experience from last year's state tournament. Kim Etol and Jimilia McNeal form a good dual threat and Las Vegas looks to have a fairly easy road to the region final.
Sleeper: Desert Pines is a team that can surprise. The Jaguars handed Las Vegas its only loss in division play and they appear capable of mounting a smiliar threat against the Wildcats or Green Valley. Katie Williams is a young, big-time player who can turn a game by herself.
Key quarterfinal: (NE-4) Chaparral vs. (SE-1) Green Valley. You need not look any farther than Chaparral freshman post Precious Robinson to know why this is an interesting game. Robinson is already a force inside that Green Valley will need to contain. The Gators' Jabrenta Hubbard is a handful at the point, and she must work hard to fight off defenses geared to overguard and shut her down.
Sunset Region
Favorite: Three guesses and the first two don't count. Centennial is the state's best team. Any one of their starters can lead them in scoring. Any one of their bench players could start on any other team in the city. Karen Weitz's machine churns with amazing efficiency, but with this one warning: No slip-ups like the one in last year's region tournament because only the champion goes to Reno.
Sleeper: That would be last year's heartbreak kids at Bonanza. Just about three seconds separated the Bengals from Reno when Gorman's Moneka Knight hit a miracle halfcourt shot to eliminate Bonanza. The Bengals are back, though, with Jennifer Davey, Stacey Pena and Mahina Gago forming a solid core.
Key quarterfinal: (NW-3) Mojave at (SW-2) Bonanza. By herself, Mojave's Sequoia Holmes can make this a close game. Holmes must be respected because she can make her teammates better when she is on. The Bengals are eager to erase last year's sour taste, but will likely have to go through Mojave, Centennial, and Gorman to do so.
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