Centennial plan: Win title No. 3

Adam Candee

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.

Today

Lawlor Events Center, Reno

Boys' semifinals

(SS-1) Palo Verde vs. (N-2) Elko, 4:40 p.m.

(SR-1) Foothill vs. (N-1) Reed, 8 p.m.

Girls' semifinals

(SR-1) Desert Pines vs. (N-1) Reno, 3 p.m.

(SS-1) Centennial vs. (N-2) Reed, 6:20 p.m.

Friday

Boys' championship

Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

Girls' championship

Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

RENO -- It is a question that Centennial coach Karen Weitz hears all the time, especially during the playoffs. And she really does not care to discuss what her team needs to do to prepare for any specific opponent, be it a team from Las Vegas or Reno.

In part, Weitz makes it clear that she is not about to reveal her game plan in the newspaper. But mostly, it is because Weitz believes her two-time defending state champion Bulldogs are more concerned with taking care of their own team and not worrying about the opposition.

"Us being as well-rounded as we are, I hope that gives us a little edge," Weitz said.

The Bulldogs are looking forward to tonight's semifinal matchup with Northern power Reed in the 4A State Tournament at Lawlor Events Center. The Raiders' upset loss in the Northern Region championship dropped them into a semifinal with the Sunset Region champion Bulldogs, who survived a big scare from Bishop Gorman to advance and go for a third consecutive state title.

According to Weitz, Centennial enjoys the challenge of going against Reno's best. The North owned girls' basketball bragging rights for two decades before Centennial broke the stranglehold with its 2001-02 and 2002-03 titles. Now, Centennial will have to go through the Reed team that clearly dominated this region for most of the year.

"These kids kind of get into that rival with those North teams, obviously not in a mean or vindictive way," Weitz said.

That rivalry stepped up a bit last season, and not just for Centennial. For the first time in the history of girls' basketball in Nevada, the South swept all four girls' quarterfinals, with Centennial, Gorman, Western and Las Vegas pulling the trick. This year, the tournament is reduced to two semifinals, meaning that there is even less margin for error against top competition.

"We've got to go up there with high regard and respect for the North teams," Weitz said.

Centennial is a different team than it was a year ago. The Bulldogs feature mostly interchangeable players at the guard and forward positions, all with the ability to drive to the basket or step out and shoot from long distance. Freshman Italee Lucas stepped in to help a core group of Ashley Blake, Whitney Price and Karissa Fernandez keep the Bulldogs undefeated against in-state competition since last year's Sunset Region tournament.

Desert Pines enters the state playoffs with considerably less fanfare than Centennial, but the Jaguars also stand just two wins away from a state championship. Starting with its semifinal contest against Northern champion Reno, Desert Pines faces a steep challenge.

The Jaguars, winners of the Sunrise Region by way of upsetting Green Valley and outlasting Valley, likely have not faced such stiff competition in back-to-back contests this season. Katie Williams, a legitimate scoring threat against any team, paces the Desert Pines attack and she will need a huge game for the Jaguars to win.

Western eliminated the Huskies in the opening round of last year's state tournament.