Schulte pushed by loss in 2003 final

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004 | 9:57 a.m.

Nate Schulte needed the wrong impression of himself to help make Palo Verde's best basketballl season into a reality.

After last year's loss to Cheyenne in the 4A State Tournament title game, Schulte, then just a freshman, took the blame for Palo Verde's defeat onto his shoulders.

"I've never had that feeling before," Schulte said Tuesday. "That was the biggest game I've ever played in my life and after losing that, I started blaming myself, saying I should have done this better and that better, but I picked myself up and worked out."

This comes from the kid who tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds in the semifinals against Durango just to get the Panthers into the championship game, then spent a summer bulking up in the weight room and improving his offensive game in the gym. And for as ludicrous as the idea seems to Palo Verde coach Phil Clarke, he loves it because Schulte's fire and determination is the hallmark of the Panthers as they prepare to return to Reno to complete what they see as unfinished business.

"I've waited so long to have a kid like that," Clarke said. "I don't know if I've ever had a kid play this hard. He's so focused, so young. He's definitely key. He just sets the tone."

Just as he did Saturday with 20 points, as Palo Verde squeezed by Durango, 77-72, to win the Sunset Region in a game with all the talent and drama of a state championship contest. Palo Verde takes on Northern runner-up Elko in one of Thursday's state semifinals and there will be no satisfaction for the Panthers without a title.

"Last year, we were so happy because we went to state for the first year," Palo Verde forward Amir Ahmad said. "But now we've been there and we know what it's like, so it's our turn to win."

Ahmad totaled 18 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Panthers in the Sunset title game, just another example of Palo Verde's balance that makes it such a difficult team to play against.

Ahmad can move inside or outside to score while Schulte's polished post moves and hunger on the glass are tough to combat. Josh Steffen canned five 3-pointers against Durango to bust any thoughts of zone defense while Jarrell Harrison's athletic game of quickness and leaping at the point make him a tough man-to-man matchup. P'Allen Stinnett is a talented all-around guard just beginning scratch at his abilities.

And when that group still fell behind the Blazers late in the fourth quarter, Luke Gums manufactured a hero with tough defense and timely shooting.

"We're peaking right now at our best ball we've ever played," Steffen said.

That is high praise from a young man who played on last year's squad that came out of nowhere to beat everyone except Cheyenne. The Panthers lost to the Desert Shields four times. They have not forgotten any of them, especially the last one.

"That's been the thing that motivates us," Ahmad said.

The Panthers exorcised that demon this year by eliminating Cheyenne from the playoffs in the Sunset semifinals. However, another looming and more haunting ghost that they thought had been chased out still chases Palo Verde.

That is because Clarke, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 2002, found out last week that he will have to combat a recurrence of the disease. He underwent treatment throughout last season and will undergo more next week. For now, it is just basketball and a group of kids and parents that wants nothing more than to give Clarke a state title.

"That's a big thing we've thought about," Schulte said. "Coach has gone through some tough times. There's nothing better than to get a win. That helps him out as much as we can."

Said Ahmad: "I think we want to win it this year also for coach. Last year, we came up short. He found out that he had the cancer and before I leave, I just want to get a ring for him."

Clarke keeps his focus on the court for now, trying to ride out the tough personal emotions. He summed up his team Tuesday with the same words they would use about him.

"They don't give up and they don't panic."