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Findlay Prep forward Matt Willms reacts after Nigel Williams-Goss got a basket and was fouled by Bishop Gorman during their game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at Cox Pavilion. Findlay won the game 73-61.
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 | 6:57 p.m.
Findlay Prep topples Bishop Gorman
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KSNV coverage of Findlay Prep's victory against the crosstown rival Bishop Gorman, Jan. 21, 2012.
Prep Sports Now
Breaking down the Bishop Gorman, Findlay Prep showdown
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Las Vegas Sun reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer take a look at Saturday's high school basketball game between Bishop Gorman and Findlay Prep. They also break down the Palo Verde-Centennial game.
Related Coverage
- Local, national dignitaries in the stands to watch Findlay beat Gorman, 73-61
- Tickets remain for sold-out Findlay-Gorman game on StubHub … for $201
- Toughest ticket in town: Gorman, Findlay Prep ready for anticipated showdown
- Findlay Prep’s Anthony Bennett talks about his recruitment, will be a game-time decision against Gorman
- Link to highlights of Shabazz Muhammad’s dunk, which was selected as one of SportsCenter’s top Monday plays
- Showdown will include more than annual Gorman, Findlay Prep basketball game
- Weekly basketball picks
- High school basketball section
Findlay Prep senior forward Winston Shepard has the reputation of being one of the nation’s elite high school basketball defenders.
On Saturday, his performance in guarding the nation’s consensus top recruiting prospect solidified those claims.
Shepard served as the primary defender against Bishop Gorman High’s Shabazz Muhammad during the annual Gorman-Findlay game at Cox Pavilion, holding Muhammad scoreless in the third quarter while Findlay opened a double-digit lead in a 73-61 victory.
Muhammad finished with 19 points — including 11 in the fourth quarter — but wasn’t able to affect the game like he does seemingly every other contest. Shepard was motivated to prove he belongs mentioned in the same sentence as Muhammad when talking about the top players for the class of 2012.
“I played good defense because I took it personal,” Shepard said. “Our coach printed off some stuff and showed us what the media was saying and how people were trying to say how he is unstoppable and this and that. I just wasn’t buying into that, to be honest with you.”
Muhammad typically thrives on aggressively taking the ball to the basket, almost always attempting double-digit foul shots in averaging nearly 30 points per game. Saturday, he went to the line just twice and only made 9 of 26 field goal attempts.
UNLV coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian watches the Findlay Prep game against Bishop Gorman Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at Cox Pavilion. Findlay won the game 73-61.
A sold-out crowd of around 2,500 fans packed into the Cox Pavilion for the highly anticipated game of nationally ranked local foes, including notables such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, and UNLV coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian.
Several UNLV fans, most wearing Rebel scarlet and gray, packed the stands to get a look at Muhammad, a prized recruiting target for UNLV. Shepard, who is also being courted by UNLV, partially stole the show.
“It’s his size and speed,” Findlay Prep coach Mike Peck said. “You look at his size and ability to move. He can guard multiple positions and players. He has real great hands and can move his feet.
“He is one in a million for us,” Peck continued. “He will be sorely missed for us when he graduates.”
The 6-foot-8 Shepard, who is teammates with Muhammad on the AAU circuit with Dream Vision, usually draws the assignment of guarding the other team’s top player. He’s super athletic, and as he showed Saturday, always up to the challenge.
“He knows all of the strengths and weaknesses of (Muhammad's) game and tried to take advantage of that,” said Findlay junior guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who shared the duties in guarding Muhammad. “There is no question: If you ask me, I don’t think there is a better defender (in the nation) because he can guard (positions) one to five.
“He is 6-8, 6-9 and can guard every position on the floor. When you can do that, you to have him on your team.”
Findlay trailed by one point at halftime after Gorman’s Ben Carter buried a heave from beyond halfcourt to cap the Gaels’ second-quarter rally — they erased a seven-point deficit. In the locker room during the break, Peck took to the role of master motivator in getting his players ready for the final two quarters.
“This group has been great in terms of responding to motivation.,” Peck said. “It wasn’t necessarily a technical Xs and Os thing. It was more a motivation thing. (I told them) ‘Look, guess what guys, you put them in the position where they are jacked up and they have the motivation. What are you going to do to change it?’”
Findlay proceeded to hold Gorman in check during the third quarter, outscoring the Gaels 20-5 in taking the lead for good. Offensively, backcourt mates Williams-Goss and senior Dominic Artis were able to get several good looks at the basket, helping Findlay lead by 13 points entering the final quarter.
Muhammad had six straight points at one stretch of the fourth quarter to help Gorman trim its deficit to eight points, but the Gaels couldn’t overcome their shaky third quarter.
“I’m just real disappointed with our third quarter,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said. “We just didn’t deserve to win with the way we played in that third quarter.”
Artis had a game-high 21 points and seven assists for Findlay, Williams-Goss scored 20 and Shepard added 12 points and nine rebounds. For Gorman, Rashad Muhammad and Ben Carter scored nine points, and Rosco Allen had seven.
The hype surrounding the game hit an all-time peak this year.
Tickets sold out within days of going on sale in early January. Originally priced at $15 to $30, they were being sold Friday on Stubhub.com for up to $201. One fan purchased six tickets for $500 outside the arena a few minutes before tip-off.
It’s the fourth consecutive year the nationally ranked local powers have played, with Findlay — a team of players from around the globe that plays a national schedule — winning every meeting. Last year’s contest went to double overtime and was decided on a buzzer-beater, creating much excitement for this year’s contest.
Prior to the game, Peck attempted to get his team to relax by asking them a simple question: “I tried to give them an irrelevant question. How many stars are on the flag? 50. What do they represent? Ok, let’s go play.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
I've always said that Shabazz is the most over-hyped, over-rated player I've ever seen in high school hoops. He's a 6'5" power forward that dominates against smaller opponents. He is not a guard, let's just get that straight. He can't shoot, period! Winston Shepard took his heart and handed it to him in the 3rd quarter! Oh well back to playing the Clark's and Bonanza's of the world. Maybe Shabazz can get his confidence back against them, lol!!
That was the most "invisible" 19 points I've ever seen. I watched the whole game and this was my first look at Shabazz. Too bad he struggled, but let's be honest that was serious competition. Keep your chin-up Shabazz... we're all rootin' for ya!
The guy that impressed me was Nigel Williams-Goss... hope he recommits to UNLV.
Shabazz wasn't the problem, it's the coaching and guard play. For a team this talented with guards this bad I don't get it. What is the issue with the coaching staff and shabazz little brother? This kid is 3times the player as these small, non-threatening guards that play so much. He had 2steals 2 baskets in a minute to get BG back in game scored more than #14 #4 and the other little guard combined. And all 3of those kids played quite a bit more than Rashad. This is the same reason they lost in state last year. Bad coaching and too much reliance on these little guards who are just way over matched. (last shot in state loss to BM last year drawn up by coaches for #14 to take shot not Shabazz, not Carter, not even the weak Roscoe. (how do u think Stanford is feeling about that wasted scholarship). Rice Jr is nowhere near his brother in coaching ability. This team should be so much better.
I do give credit to coach Peck, he does a great job of getting his kids to buy in to being team first players. Although he does have tons of talent, he plays a lot of kids, and there's almost a different star each game. Findlay plays harder and more unselfish. Not easy when u have that much talent. Congrats coach Peck. Maybe in offseason you can teach Rice Jr a few coaching tips.
Only watched part of the game but hands down the best thing i saw wasn't senator Reid or the 14,000 division I recruits or even the game. In the middle of the Gorman cheering section with his hair painted Orange yelling and cheering was Shaquille Powell. Great to see that school pride and humility. When was the last time you saw a stud athlete not to mention state player of the year painting himself to cheer on his classmates in another sport? Most guys' egos are too big for that and while they might attend some games I can't recall the last time I saw a star player like that humbly "lower" himself to fan level. Kudos young man.
What kind of offense does Gorman run? If you slow down shabaz game is over. Coaches are inexperienced and over their head. Is Carter still hurt? Unlv got wrong big man!
Williams-Goss was very impressive!!!! How about recommitting to UNLV Nigel? The current team is creating their own legacy - I think you should join them!
thanks canes, for being who you are. that 37 muhammad hung on #5(?) dematha a few days ago must've just been luck. espn and rivals are evidently just throwing darts at a board to determine player ranking. what i want to know is, who's canes' top 50? oh pretty please, with sugar on top.
Hey Canes, dont hate just because your kid goes to a public school where he gets no looks. You and lvfootballfun are haters who are just mad that both your kids dont get to travel to Ft meyers (beat Miller Grove), Myrtle Beach (beat Whitney Young) and Boston (beat Dematha). Instead, your big road trip is down to Pahrump. I dont understand how adult haters can hate on kids who work hard. Im sure you are pissed that your kid doesnt work as hard as Shabazz, but you dont need to hate on the kid. Also, you must not know much about basketball because if you did, you would understand that Gorman lost in the 3rd quarter when they were outscored 20-5 by Findlay Prep. The lineup that got Gorman the lead in the 2nd quarter did not start or even play much in the 3rd quarter. That may be bad coaching, not the kids fault. You Haters should be happy that GORMAN has put basketball on the map in Las Vegas. Thats something your school could never say...Haters
That's funny hatermedicine i was at the game, and have probably studied high school basketball and the AAU scene more than you will ever be able to even imagine. That's what i do, it's my job! Also, to clarify Shabazz played the ENTIRE 3rd qtr and Winston Shepard held him to 0 pts in the 3rd qtr on 0-10 shooting, so I'm not sure where you are getting your information from. And p.s. I don't have any kids, so I'm not a hater, which must be the new street slang word that you just picked up recently, since you like to use the term " hater" so much. I'm simply stating that Shabazz is over-rated, he's a decent player, but he's not the number 1 player in the nation. Frankly, I thought he was the 3rd best player in the Findlay game. I think Anthony Bennett and Brandon Ashley have much bigger upsides down the road than that of Shabazz.
And adrock since you asked I will compile my list of the top 10 players in the country, which is based strictly off my opinion and players that I have seen play in AAU tournaments and high school.
1)Kyle Anderson 2)Anthony Bennett 3)Cameron Ridley 4)Isaiah Austin 5)Marcus Smart 6) Brandon Ashley
7)Shabazz Muhammad 8)Yogi Ferrell 9)Gary Harris
10)Kaleb Tarczewski
Now I know those names are foreign to you, but I've seen all of them play and that's where I would rank them. I don't rely on ESPN to tell me everything in life. I make educated decisions on my own and not wait for ESPN or these other scouting services to tell me everything.
okay, so then i guess since you presume to be better informed in your opinions of these players than espn or the ratings services (or us, since we get most of what we know of these players from them), you'll surely have seen each of these players in their various regular season and summer league games at a number reasonably approaching the amount of times their scouts have? because, and i feel silly telling an independent thinker of your distinction this, of course you would have to have watched a fair sample size of performances to make the truly educated guess you claim to have made. right?
Scouts or no scouts, knowledge or no knowledge, it wasn't hard to see that Shabazz was not the best player on the court in that game. For all of the talk about his motor an how hard he plays he doesn't. He stands around on offense, plays defense reluctantly and really only seems to play hard when it looks like he will get a fast break dunk. Maybe this is because he plays against weak competition a lot vs. in state teams, maybe not. there is no question that he can score the ball when he gets it in the right place on the floor, but he is a flawed basketball player. As others have said, he is a good player and if he picks the right system in college he will do well, but he disappears too much when things aren't going his way. Anyone who saw the semi-final game last season vs. Bishop Manogue knows what I'm talking about. I coached against him in middle school and it was the same story then. Lets also not forget that he was in middle school for 4 years so he is being compared, in large part, to kids he is a year older than. Oh, I also have no kids and we beat them when I coached against him so I have no ax to grind, just an opinion.
Oh hater medicine what do we do w u? First, idiot learn to read. You say I'm hating on Shabazz, to the contrary. My first words were Shabazz WAS NOT the problem. So how do u get that I'm hating on the young man. Personally I don't believe he is overrated. This kid has worked extremely hard to get where he is. Your statement about the 3rd qtr (talking about hater the idiot) is child like. Yes they got killed in the 3rd and that is primarily why they lost the game and they did play the same kids in that qtr. You act like they lost the 3rd qtr but won the game. Your comment is ridiculous. And yes if you read the rest of my comment it WAS the coaching that I blamed. My biggest issue was the lack of play time they r giving Shabazz little brother, Rashad. This kid is probably the 3rd best player on the team yet he sits on the bench most of the game while smaller less talented kids who I know don't work as hard as he does play much more. Two years in a row now Gorman has struggled with their guard play, particularly the point guard spot. What r these coaches waiting for before they fix this. The preferential treatment they r giving these smaller guards is sad to see when you have such a talented team. This Sr class is very special yet it's all being wasted because these coaches can't develop good guard play.
Move Shabazz little bro to the point. Then the team would be bigger plus a much better offensive threat and bigger and much better defender. No brainer.
For the record, I don't have a kid that plays. But ive
Sorry, cut myself off. I was going to say that I've been around basketball a long time. Played in college, father too. Two cousins, including one in the NBA. This doesn't make me an expert. But I do have a little bit of knowledge. What I do see w Shabazz is he gets frustrated because the guards can't get him the ball. W 3 min to play Gorman got a steal, the pt g #14 had Shabazz wide open under basket and he threw it straight to the only Findlay kid that was back. Straight to him. A bucket there would have cut lead to 7. That's what I'm talking about when I talk about the guard play.
Oh, and hater, remember the reigning State Champion is Not Gorman. I believe it's one of those public schools you like to look down on, Canyon Springs.
BBall Fan, I too was at that BM game and I'm not trying to be an apologist for Shabazz, but once again the only blame I give is to the coaching staff. They took Shabazz out w 3 minutes to go in 3rd qtr and didnt put him back in til 3 minutes to go in game. They didn't get him the ball as evident by him only getting 7 total shots in the game. Then they draw a play for final 7 seconds for a freshmen to get ball and take last shot. By the way Shabazz wasn't in foul trouble.
My point is yes, this IS a very talented team. One you won't see very often anywhere in the country. But this coaching staff has ( last yrs team) and is blowing a rare opportunity in the way they are handling this team and the personnel decisions they are making.
Sorry, cut myself off. I was going to say that I've been around basketball a long time. Played in college, father too. Two cousins, including one in the NBA. This doesn't make me an expert. But I do have a little bit of knowledge. What I do see w Shabazz is he gets frustrated because the guards can't get him the ball. W 3 min to play Gorman got a steal, the pt g #14 had Shabazz wide open under basket and he threw it straight to the only Findlay kid that was back. Straight to him. A bucket there would have cut lead to 7. That's what I'm talking about when I talk about the guard play.
Oh, and hater, remember the reigning State Champion is Not Gorman. I believe it's one of those public schools you like to look down on, Canyon Springs.
BBall Fan, I too was at that BM game and I'm not trying to be an apologist for Shabazz, but once again the only blame I give is to the coaching staff. They took Shabazz out w 3 minutes to go in 3rd qtr and didnt put him back in til 3 minutes to go in game. They didn't get him the ball as evident by him only getting 7 total shots in the game. Then they draw a play for final 7 seconds for a freshmen to get ball and take last shot. By the way Shabazz wasn't in foul trouble.
My point is yes, this IS a very talented team. One you won't see very often anywhere in the country. But this coaching staff has ( last yrs team) and is blowing a rare opportunity in the way they are handling this team and the personnel decisions they are making.
Indeed Shabazz is a great player, but UNLV would do very well with the likes of Winston Shepard on the team for next year. I have seen him play a couple times and he possess excellent basketball skills, court savvy, and a great team leading attitude. He is a winner. Go Rebels...