There were a number of statements made last week by the top girls basketball teams in Nevada, but no team's was more emphatic than Liberty (Henderson).
The Patriots, ranked No. 8 in the MaxPreps rankings, routed third-ranked Green Valley (Henderson) 86-60 and No. 9 Silverado (Las Vegas) 68-48 to take over sole possession of first place in the Southeast League.
The win over Green Valley snapped the Gators' 33-game league winning streak and was arguably the biggest in Liberty's rather brief history. It also avenged a 95-80 loss to Green Valley in an early-season tournament.
Green Valley and Silverado handed the upstart Patriots (16-3, 7-0) six of their 10 losses a season ago, when Liberty finished 19-10 and won a playoff game for the first time. With nearly everyone back from that squad, including all five starters, the Patriots were expected to contend in the Southeast under first-year coach Quintin Lester.
After last week, Liberty, which opened in 2003, could be the favorite in the Sunrise Region and in line for its first berth at the 4A state tournament. The Patriots are balanced offensively, with four players averaging double figures, led by junior Amanda Delgado at 18.3 points per game and senior Daynice Cochran (10.3 points, 10.6 rebounds). And they start three juniors in Delgado, Jade Washington (11.2 points) and Destiny Whitehead (10.4 points), which means the team hasn't even reached its full potential yet.
Liberty doesn't figure to be tested in its next three games, but has a huge three-game stretch beginning Feb. 3 against third-place Foothill (Henderson) followed by a Feb. 5 showdown at Green Valley and a game Feb. 9 at Silverado.
While Liberty was making noise in the southern part of the state, two teams up north solidified their spots atop the league standings. In the High Desert League, top-ranked Reno (18-4, 7-0) got 17 points from Stephanie Rovetti and 16 from Sarah Finlay to hold off second-place Reed (Sparks) 46-37. Meanwhile in the Sierra League, No. 5 Galena (20-2, 9-0) used a big second half to beat Bishop Manogue (11-10, 7-2) 47-35 and take sole possession of first place. Galena was led by 12 points, eight blocked shots and five rebounds from junior Emily Burns.
GORMAN TO PLAY DE LA SALLE
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), which captured its second 4A state football title in three years, will take a step up in competition next season when the Gaels travel to Northern California to meet powerhouse De La Salle (Concord, Calif.). The Las Vegas Sun reported the teams will meet on Sept. 25 and Gorman could possibly host De La Salle in 2011. De La Salle won the CIF State Open Division title this past season and is a six-time mythical national champion.
ELKO HIRES SELLERS
Luke Sellers, who was an assistant at Elko from 1998-2004, was hired last week as the Indians' new football coach. Sellers takes over for Mike Tournahu, who was fired after going 5-23 in three seasons.
"I love the opportunity. I'm excited to get started," Sellers told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Sellers, the son of former Bishop Manogue, Hug and Wooster coach Joe Sellers and a former baseball player at Nevada, was the school's defensive coordinator before taking five years off to spend more time with his family.
Elko is expected to move from Class 4A to 3A under the NIAA's latest realignment proposal.
PALO VERDE EMERGES FROM PACK
The Palo Verde (Las Vegas) girls soccer team beat Arbor View (Las Vegas) 4-3 last week in a battle of unbeatens in the Northwest League, leaving the Panthers as the only undefeated team in southern Nevada.
Palo Verde (9-0-1, 7-0) became the first team all season to score against the Aggies, who had outscored their opponents 28-0 entering the game. Freshman Lauren Kaskie scored twice, including the game-winner in the 69th minute. The Panthers tied Green Valley in the season opener and beat Bishop Gorman 1-0, making them the early favorite for their first southern Nevada championship since 2006. There is no true state championship for girls soccer in Nevada as the Northern Region continues to play in the fall.
NIAA INDUCTS 10 INTO HALL OF FAME
The NIAA will induct three athletes, five coaches, one official and one contributor to the Nevada high school Hall of Fame on Feb. 25 during the state basketball tournament at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
The athletes are: Jack Beach (Churchill County, 1968, football-basketball-baseball), Bob Gallagher (Virginia City, 1972, basketball-baseball) and Glenn Carano (Wooster, 1973, football), a former backup QB with the Dallas Cowboys and father of mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano.
The coaches are: Ken Dalton (football at McQueen), who won six state titles, Lyle Damon (boys basketball at Virginia City & Hug); the late Wint King (boys basketball at Mineral County, Churchill County and Reno); Phil Persons (track and field at Yerington, Wooster and Sparks) and Alana Williams (girls basketball at Carson), whose teams won six 3A state championships and posted 61 consecutive wins from 1988-90. 
John Loyd, Bishop Gorman
File photo by Louis Lopez
The official is Glenn Miers (football and basketball chapters of the Northern Nevada Officials Association), while the contributors is Link Piazzo (Reno High School, the NIAA and the general high school athletic community).
SNEAK PREVIEW
* Spring Valley (Las Vegas) at Bishop Gorman, girls soccer: The Gaels (6-1-1, 6-0-1) continue to dominate the Southwest League and could take a commanding lead in the race for the top seed with a win over second-place Spring Valley (5-2-1, 5-1-1 at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Gorman already owns a 4-0 win over the Grizzlies back on Dec. 16.
* Western (Las Vegas) at Bishop Gorman, boys basketball: Gorman (18-1, 9-0) hasn't been tested much lately in the Southwest League and is up to No. 16 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 boys rankings. The Warriors (13-4, 8-1) and Kentrell Washington are the only league team to stay with Gorman thus far, losing 81-71 in the first meeting, and will try to do it again at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
* North Valleys (Reno) at McQueen (Reno), boys basketball: The battle for second place behind Reno in the High Desert League lost some steam when North Valleys fell to Hug (Reno) on Tuesday. Still, the Panthers have been a nice turnaround story under first-year coach Garry Hill-Thomas. The former Nevada player has North Valleys at 13-6 (4-3) after a 4-21 record last season. McQueen (12-6, 5-2) will look to slow down senior Aaron Short, who leads the Panthers in nearly every statistical category.
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.
