Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.
Nick Christensen covers high school athletics for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at [email protected].
The 8-ball is disappointed.
It has been a week since the 8-ball called for questions with guaranteed answers to any and all inquiries related to high school sports.
Not one response came in.
I'm puzzled. We cover about 30 high schools in Southern Nevada, and cover them well. Each of these schools has at least 200 student-athletes playing ball this season. And each of those 6,000 or so kids has family and fans that, supposedly, are interested.
It left me to wonder -- who cares about high school sports?
It wasn't long ago that I didn't. I grew up here, went to a local magnet school for high school. We had two sporting events each year -- a flag football game against the other magnet school and a basketball game at the end of the year.
I was just content to sit at home and watch Prime Ticket, nee Fox Sports West, and ESPN than go to nearby Clark or Durango to watch anything.
My family didn't go to school here. I didn't go to those schools. Why do I care?
I was skeptical -- at best -- when I started covering this beat. I still viewed prep sports as a big waste of gas, a big waste of land, a big waste of money. Can't these kids do something else with their time?
It took me one high school football game to get sold -- Eldorado at Foothill, the first game of last season. The stands were about two-thirds full. Both bands put on a great show. The game ended on a game-winning field goal.
I was convinced. Not only was the game great, but the atmosphere was something else.
And to me, that's what's the most important thing about high school sports -- it brings communities together. At the Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas High game earlier this year, generations of former students came out to cheer on the current ones, with future students sitting and watching and waiting for their chance to shine.
The Bone Game, tonight at Las Vegas High, will have an even more intense atmosphere, as Las Vegas' two oldest high schools compete for their prized cow bone.
High school sports tell the story of a community's pride -- its children -- on display, six nights a week. From the intensity of wrestling, to the strategy of baseball and softball, to the power of volleyball, to the finesse of tennis and golf, to the endurance of cross-country and soccer, the hard work of kids is there for parents to see -- and to bring back fond memories of days gone by for generations now out in the real world.
And as this city grows and gets older, as the zones and traditions at the new schools build and patina, the passion and excitement of high school sports will continue to grow.
From the fans who sit on the hill outside Green Valley High to watch baseball games to the parents that quietly show their support at golf matches, even the fans at Las Vegas High football games that have never liked a play any coach ever called, they are providing the foundation for what, one day, is going to become a beautiful tradition.
Even the 8-ball said so --
"Without a doubt."
So, it's time for the last picks of the season. The bookies are on their own setting lines for the rest of this year. Thanks for all the fish.
All games are 7 p.m. today.
Coronado at Del Sol: The Cougars are the surprise playoff contenders in the Southeast, while Del Sol is learning the ropes of what it's really like in the 4A.
The call: Coronado 38, Del Sol 21
Green Valley at Foothill: I can't pick Green Valley to get off the schneid anymore. I can't, I can't, I can't. Not against the class of the Southeast... can I? I'll have to think about this one for a while. Keep reading.
Silverado at Liberty: aby steps for the Patriots -- one win for this year... two next year?
The call: Silverado 42, Liberty 14
Eldorado at Canyon Springs: Seriously, Eldorado will finish .500 this year. After the first month, that's not that bad of a thing.
The call: Eldorado 27, Canyon Springs 20
Valley at Chaparral: The Vikings better watch out, or they could be a Wildcat slip-up away from taking the Northeast.
The call: Valley 37, Chaparral 22
Rancho at Las Vegas: The Bone Game -- The Rams just don't have enough to compete with the potent Vegas offense. I know, I know, put everything rational aside in this a rivalry. Fine. I'll say Vegas gives up 30.
The call: Vegas 42, Rancho 33
Bonanza vs. Bishop Gorman at Valley: Hopefully, the Gaels don't feel the urge to pile it on this week -- otherwise we're looking at a 100-point game.
The call: Bishop Gorman 55, Bonanza 6
Clark at Western: The Warriors look solid, yet again. Maybe even enough for a playoff win.
The call: Western 32, Clark 14
Durango at Spring Valley: Welcome back to the real world, Grizzlies and Blazers.
The call: Durango 33, Spring Valley 28
Centennial at Palo Verde: Honorable showing by Bertsch's boys at the start of the year. The fun's over now, though.
The call: Palo Verde 31, Centennial 21
Cimarron-Memorial at Shadow Ridge: If Galena's defense can hold the Mustangs to under 100 yards, Cimarron's defense can, too. The Ridge D, meanwhile, has to be tired.
The call: Cimarron 28, Shadow Ridge 14
Mojave at Cheyenne: While Cheyenne didn't look good two weeks ago at Moapa, they've had a week off to rest and prepare for the Rattlers. We don't doubt the Shield will be ready.
The call: Cheyenne 33, Mojave 10
Sierra Vista at Basic: Finally, a match of equals for both squads. We're picking the Wolves to come out on top.
The call: Basic 28, Sierra Vista 24
Green Valley at Foothill: OK, so we have to pick this one. I can't pick Green Valley. I just can't. I'm so going to get burned by this.
The call: Foothill 48, Green Valley 21
Arbor View at Boulder City: Aggies fans got their first win, but that team 40 miles away in Boulder City, well, they're a lot better than Pahrump Valley.
The call: Boulder City 44, Arbor View 14
Reed at Desert Pines: I don't think the Raiders were expecting things to be this bad for the Jaguars when they booked this.
The call: Reed 51, Desert Pines 14
OFF THE UPRIGHTS: Moapa Valley at Faith Lutheran, Virgin Valley at Pahrump Valley, West Wendover at The Meadows.
OUT OF BOUNDS: Liberty (Brentwood, Calif.) at Carson, North Valleys at Douglas, Bishop Gorman at Elko, Spanish Springs at Galena, Churchill County at McQueen, Hug at Reno, South Tahoe at Wooster.
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