Balanced attack puts Rams in Sunrise final

Nick Christensen

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 10:28 a.m.

Rancho coach Melvin Shivers has said all season that he wants a state championship for the 50th anniversary of the opening of his school.

On Thursday night, his Rams took a huge step in that direction, with four players scoring in double digits in a 73-61 victory against Green Valley at Coronado High School in Henderson.

"That's our offense," Shivers said. "I've said it in the past; each night it's a different kid. If we can get five kids to score in double figures, I'll take that anytime."

Tyrell Timpson led the Rams with 25 points, and Ariece Perkins added 17 more. Terrance McGill and Jermaine Frederick also scored in double figures.

"This was huge," Timpson said. "Since we haven't been past this part since a couple of years ago, we had to step up. We don't want our season to go out that way -- we're just keeping the intensity up and having the killer instinct to put it away."

Timpson has scored 44 points in Rancho's past two games.

The Rams advanced to today's 7 p.m. Sunrise Region championship game against Valley at Coronado High School. The winner plays in next week's state semifinals at the Orleans Arena, and the loser will play the Sunset Region runner-up on Saturday at Coronado.

Rancho has lost to Valley three times this year, but Shivers said he's watching for the Vikings' outside play, led by guards Josh Rivers and Justin Everett.

"We're going to put more pressure on the perimeter," he said. "Hopefully Kaylone (Riley) can help us inside. ... We've got to do something different."

Green Valley's Billy White had 29 points Thursday, and Matt Gonzales added 13. But it was the absence of the Gators' Thomas Racioppo, who left in the first quarter after breaking his nose on a rebound attempt, that left coach Adam Patai stinging.

"He's probably our best rebounder; he's a good inside defender," Patai said. "It would have been a different game."

Green Valley ended the season 21-6 after going undefeated in Southeast Division games.

Silverado's comeback kids led as late as 5:21 left in the fourth quarter, but were unable to hold onto their lead as Valley went on a 15-6 run to earn a berth in today's Sunrise Region final.

"We've won 18 straight, and we haven't had very many close games," Vikings coach Tom Farnsworth said. "This one we had to battle from behind to win. It's good to get a close one under the belt, going into the finals here."

Chuck Jackson led Valley in scoring with 16 points, and Justin Everett added 13. Heiden Ratner's 22 points led the Skyhawks.

Despite a second-quarter leg injury, P'Allen Stinnett had 29 points for the Panthers, with 16 coming from the free-throw line, before he fouled out late in the game. Teammate Jarrell Harrison added 14 points. Palo Verde will play Bishop Gorman in the boys' Sunset Regional championship at 7 p.m. today.

Anthony Burton led the Bulldogs with 18 points and teammate Jimmy Banks had 10 points.

Kashif Watson and Martell Fantroy were too much for the Trailblazers to handle. Watson had 25 points and Fantroy added 20. The Gaels advanced to today's Sunset Region championship game at Mojave High.

Jeff Neubert contributed to this report.