Eagles play for third title-game appearance

Jeff Neubert

Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

For the first time since 1989, Las Vegas is hosting the state basketball tournaments, and it's not just the big schools participating.

The small high schools also get their chance to play for state basketball championships this weekend at the Orleans Arena.

Two local schools, Lake Mead Christian Academy in Henderson and Trinity Christian High School, take their places in the 1A bracket.

The Eagles of Lake Mead hope the third time is their good-luck charm. They lost in the 1A championship game last year against Pyramid Lake and the year before against Mountain View Christian School.

They will get their chance to get even with Pyramid Lake in the semifinal game at 8 p.m. today at Del Sol High School.

"We are looking forward to the rematch," Lake Mead coach Jeff Newton said.

Newton said he posted articles of the team's championship losses from 2003 and 2004 for the boys to see. He hopes reading about how close they came to being state champions motivates them, particularly the five seniors who played on the team last year.

This year Lake Mead has an advantage against Pyramid Lake -- home court. In previous years, the championships have been played in Reno.

Trinity Christian, also a 1A school from Las Vegas, will play a very tough Virginia City team at 4:40 p.m. today, also at Del Sol.

Del Sol plays host to both boys' and girls' 1A semifinal games, starting at 3 p.m. today. Their championships will be played Saturday at the Orleans Arena, starting at 6:40 p.m. for the girls and 8:20 p.m. for the boys.