Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Bishop Gorman advances in Sunset playoffs behind balanced attack

Palo Verde’s strong effort wasn’t enough to hang with Gorman

2010-2011 Boys Prep Basketball - Bishop Gorman Outtakes

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Bishop Gorman basketball players Johnny Brown and Ryan Parks.

Prep Sports Now

Playoff bracket breakdown

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer discuss their way through the Sunrise and Sunset playoff brackets. They disagree on the early rounds, but come to a consensus on who will advance to the state championship.

When Bishop Gorman goes on a run to put an opponent out of a game, it doesn’t do it quietly. The Gaels use their talent to announce it loud and clearly to the whole gym.

Take a 40-second stretch from the third quarter in the Sunset Region semifinal game Thursday against Palo Verde as an example. Rosco Allen started it by lobbing a ball that Shabazz Muhammad thundered down for a dunk.

After forcing a quick turnover, Allen stopped and popped a jumper with his foot on the 3-point line. Then, Muhammad fed Demetris Morant for another dunk.

Those three plays capped off a 14-2 run that helped Gorman dispose of pesky Palo Verde 90-73.

“At the end of the third,” Muhammad said, “we picked it up.”

Muhammad, as usual, paced the Gaels with 31 points and seven rebounds. Allen chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Ben Carter also accounted for 22 points and 14 rebounds.

“He does such a good job with the ball at his size getting to the basket, jump-stopping, finishing and laying it up,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said. “And then he’ll also dish it off. He’s just so versatile.”

But Gorman’s performance featured more than another sterling outing from its usual big three — especially in the first half when the contest was still close.

Palo Verde played some of the toughest defense Gorman had seen all year and knocked down enough shots to tie the game at 16 a minute into the second quarter.

Moments later, Ryan Parks swished an open three-pointer to hand the Gaels a lead it held onto for the rest of the night. Parks hit three more long balls on the night to bury the Panthers with 14 points.

“When Parks hits three or four 3s in a game, we are pretty tough to beat,” Rice said. “The other guys are going to get their points and be a factor, but when Parks shoots the ball and gets open looks, he’s big for us.”

Parks’ contributions could have been the difference after the Panthers put up more of a battle than most expected. They were led by an electric performance from sophomore Eris Winder, who scored 22 points. Junior forward Jordyn Martin had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Palo Verde seemed to consistently find lanes and open shots against a Gorman defense that’s often been impenetrable this season.

“It was a frustrating night defensively for us,” Rice said. “But that’s a credit to the Palo Verde coaching staff and players.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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