Columnist Nick Christensen: Gaels get high marks on midseason report

Nick Christensen

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

Nick Christensen covers high school athletics for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at nick.christensen@lasvegassun.com.

It's all-star break time for the high schools, with basketball teams having about six games remaining, give or take a Vo-Tech. There have been more than a few surprises -- most of them on the east side of town -- and a couple of disappointments, sprinkled throughout the city.

So in the spirit of the semester exams that give the prepsters their midseason break, it's time for Mr. C's early returns on the first half of the season for a few teams.

Head of the class

BISHOP GORMAN BOYS -- B-plus: What, the 19-3 squad that's ranked No. 1 in the state isn't having an A+ year? No way. A's come from effort, and sometimes it seems like the Gaels aren't giving it their all -- particularly when teams cut huge leads down to narrow margins in the later parts of games.

CENTENNIAL GIRLS -- A: Still need to break that state single-game scoring record of 119 points in order to get a perfect grade.

PALO VERDE BOYS -- A-minus: This Panthers squad looked strong in the first half of the season, but stumbled in a tournament in Reno. So far, chemistry issues seem to be going well, but they get docked for that 56-foul debacle against Cheyenne.

BISHOP GORMAN GIRLS -- A-minus: The more I see the Gaels girls, the more I think they're going to be a very, very tough team to beat come February.

GREEN VALLEY BOYS -- B: They started the year as possibly the first 0-3 team to get ranked in the state Top 10, but now they're showing why -- a 7-0 start to league play with some very talented individuals.

LAS VEGAS GIRLS -- B-minus: Still, they look like the team to beat coming out of the East.

RANCHO BOYS -- A-minus: The Eldorado game was a blemish that is looking more and more forgivable.

GREEN VALLEY GIRLS -- C-plus: The team that's impossible to understand. They'll go out and hold Centennial to 47 points then lose to a not-so-great Basic team.

Quick learners

BONANZA BOYS -- B-plus: Hanging tough in a historically competitive division is no easy feat, especially with Nigel Moore just a memory.

SHADOW RIDGE GIRLS -- B: Life's not that bad living in the Shadow of Centennial.

CENTENNIAL BOYS -- C-plus: They've done well for themselves with key wins, but struggled with other strong teams.

DURANGO GIRLS -- B-minus: We will, we will LaRocque you.

CANYON SPRINGS BOYS -- A-plus: Grades are issued on a sliding scale, and any expansion team that starts out 12-7 is at the head of the class.

BASIC GIRLS -- C-plus: They're not going to win state, but they've had some big wins against tough teams. Kudos for keeping heads up after opening night.

SILVERADO BOYS -- B-minus: Sophomore Heiden Ratner is one of the city's top scorers. They're not an A-team yet, but the seeds are planted.

CANYON SPRINGS GIRLS -- B: This is a team that was losing to 1A schools not long ago. Now they're 6-10 and that's no small feat.

Study hall

Don't take it personally, kids. Some schools have rough years. But our humble grading's worthless if everybody passes.

FOOTHILL BOYS -- C-minus: Ransacked by turnover, the Falcons' wings have been clipped thus far.

CHAPARRAL GIRLS -- D-plus: The team that had to forfeit last season could have proved itself better than last year. It hasn't.

VEGAS BOYS -- D: The roster being sacked by a late football season worked as an excuse last month. Now it's just ugly.

DEL SOL GIRLS -- D: It's easy to pick on an expansion team, especially one with a bench shorter than a middle school point guard. But is it too late to schedule a game against Calvary Chapel or Warren-Walker to at least get one win?

SPRING VALLEY BOYS -- D: They got one win, a milestone for an expansion team.

CIMARRON GIRLS -- D-plus: Unlike the Dragons and Grizzlies, they have no excuse.

MOJAVE BOYS -- C-minus: But they were nearing probation until they beat Cheyenne.

SIERRA VISTA GIRLS -- D-plus: Can't seem to get it together on the same night.

A bunch of teams were left out, and others may feel cheated. But don't feel too bad -- no teams have clinched yet and final grades won't be posted until late February.