Start of Sunset Region boys playoffs delayed by legal issues.
After days of uncertainty and legal wrangling, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association 4A Sunset Region boys basketball playoffs are still in jeopardy.
A temporary restraining order filed on behalf of a Western (Las Vegas) player was dissolved in district court on Tuesday, paving the way for the playoffs to begin as scheduled on Wednesday. But hours later, Western filed yet another appeal, which could delay the start of the playoffs for as long as three weeks.
Western was forced to forfeit four games two weeks ago for using an ineligible player, which dropped the Warriors from second to fifth place in the Southwest League. The top four teams in each league qualify for the playoffs.
Western appealed the decision, arguing that the player did not contribute to the team's victories, but it was denied by NIAA executive director Eddie Bonine. Western then could have used a second-level appeal, which entails an independent hearing officer deciding on the case, but didn't do so at the time. Instead, a temporary restraining order was filed on Friday.
District Court judge Stefany Miley ruled against Western on Tuesday, but following the decision, several Western supporters asked the school's administration to file the second-level appeal, according to Nevadapreps.com.
Bonine said Western did file the appeal late Tuesday, although it is not certain when the case will be heard. Bonine told Nevadapreps.com that it usually takes seven days to prepare arguments once the hearing officer is in place and the officer then has up to 14 days to make a ruling.
"We’re probably looking at a minimum of a one-day delay," Bonine told Nevadapreps.com.
As it stands right now, Spring Valley (Las Vegas) is the No. 4 seed from the Southwest and travels to Northwest League champion Palo Verde (Las Vegas) for a first-round game. However, should Western win its appeal, the Warriors would be in the playoffs and Spring Valley would be eliminated. 
Shabazz Muhammed, Bishop Gorman
File photo by Louis Lopez
In the other side of the bracket, Bishop Gorman is expected to roll and is on a collision course with Palo Verde (19-3) for the Sunset Region championship. Gorman (25-2) beat the Panthers in the region and state title games last year, but DePaul signee Moses Morgan and the Panthers will have a home-court advantage should the teams meet as the region championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Palo Verde.
Predicted winner: Bishop Gorman
SUNRISE REGION
The drama here is on the court, rather than in the courtroom, as at least three teams appear to have a legitimate shot at advancing to the state tournament.
Northeast League champion Canyon Springs (Las Vegas) has not lost to a team from Nevada and the Jaguars (22-3) take a 12-game winning streak into their game against Silverado (14-12). Should Canyon Springs advance, a semifinal matchup against 22-6 Coronado (Henderson) and its talented 6-foot-5 center Brandon Glanz is looming.
Foothill (Henderson) earned the top seed from the Southeast League and the Falcons (21-6) appear to have the smoothest path to the title game, although a potential semifinal meeting with Valley (Las Vegas) could be interesting.
Predicted winner: Canyon Springs
NORTHERN REGION
Bishop Manogue (Reno) has been the most dominant team in the region as the Miners (22-4) have won 16 straight games and are unbeaten against in-state competition. Manogue and standout senior Robert Hunter get an interesting first-round game against North Valleys (Reno), which reached the postseason under first-year coach Garry Hill-Thomas after winning just four games a year ago.
Should Manogue advance, the Miners are expected to face Hug (Reno) and its 6-7 center Tre Johnson, who has scholarship offers from Boise State and Montana State, among others.
High Desert League champion Reno (15-10) has flown under the radar a bit after getting off to a sluggish start, but the Huskies have plenty of playoff experience and should get past Galena (Reno) in the opening round. After that, a matchup against the Douglas (Minden)/McQueen (Reno) winner is all that stands between Reno and a berth in the state tournament, as the top two teams in the Northern Region will advance.
Predicted winner: Bishop Manogue
GIRLS
SUNSET REGION
Powerhouses Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and Centennial (Las Vegas) have combined to win the last eight 4A state titles, so it's no surprise that they are prohibitive favorites to reach the region title game. Each side rolled in its first-round game on Tuesday and neither team is expected to stumble Thursday in the semifinals. That sets up a potentially epic showdown on Friday at Palo Verde.
Centennial (24-4) is led by Portland-bound guard Alexis Byrd, while the Gaels (23-5) feature Oklahoma signee Aaryn Ellenberg. Byrd hit two free throws with less than a second remaining in the state title game last year to beat Gorman.
Predicted winner: Centennial
SUNRISE REGION
This has turned into the Southeast League tournament after it went 4-0 in the first round on Tuesday. Top seed Liberty (Henderson) won the regular-season crown and is the favorite considering the Patriots (23-4) play their next two games, including the region championship should they advance, at home.
Green Valley (Henderson) lost both of its matchups with Liberty during league play and the Gators (23-4) have to get by Silverado (19-8) in the semifinals. Green Valley will be looking for a bit of revenge after falling to the Skyhawks 70-68 in the regular-season finale.
Predicted winner: Liberty
NORTHERN REGION
Reno has been the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps state rankings for much of the season and the Huskies (22-4) cruised through the High Desert League. A semifinal game against either Bishop Manogue (Reno) or North Valleys awaits, but a loss before the regional title game would be a huge upset, especially considering Reed (Sparks) is in the other half of the bracket.
Galena (25-2) went undefeated in the Sierra League and is riding a 14-game winning streak. The Grizzlies are expected to see Reed in the semifinals with a berth at the state tournament on the line since both region finalists advance this year. Galena already owns a 59-48 win over the Raiders, but still has to prove it can keep it close against Reno. Galena lost 62-37 when the teams met in December and also lost by 14 in last season's region semifinals.
Predicted winner: Reno
SHARP BREAKS STATE RECORD
West Wendover guard Danika Sharp broke the Nevada state girls basketball scoring record on Friday night, surpassing the mark of 2,678 points set in 2008 by Lindy La Rocque of Durango (Las Vegas).
Sharp scored 36 points against Agassi Prep (Las Vegas) to break the record and added 45 points the following night against Calvary Chapel Christian (Las Vegas), giving her 2,746 points in her career. Sharp, who has signed with Nevada, can add to her record when West Wendover meets Needles (Calif.) in the 2A Southern League playoffs on Friday.
"I'm actually glad I get at least one more game so I can make it a little tougher to be broken," Sharp told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
GRAPPLERS HEAD TO STATE
The NIAA state wrestling tournament will begin Friday and continue Saturday at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas won its 11th consecutive Sunrise Region team title on Saturday and will send 10 wrestlers into the 4A tournament. Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas) captured the Sunset Region crown, while two-time defending Northern Region champion Spanish Springs (Sparks) and Carson (Carson City) also figure to be in the mix.
Individually, the biggest storyline comes at 152 pounds, where Bishop Gorman's Steven Hernandez looks for his fourth state title.
David Schoen works at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and is a former Associate Sports Editor and Turn2 columnist for the Oakland (Calif.) Tribune. You can reach him at ByDavid1@aol.com.
