Canyon Springs, Centennial win Nevada 4A basketball titles

Canyon Springs (North Las Vegas) didn't get the opportunity to avenge its loss to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in last year's Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Class 4A boys basketball state final.

But the Pioneers didn't mind one bit.

Canyon Springs ran and ran, and then ran some more, to earn a convincing 82-47 win over Bishop Manogue (Reno) in the 4A state title game at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It is the first state crown in any sport for Canyon Springs, which opened its doors in 2004.

"It's going down in history," senior forward Chris Willis told Nevadapreps.com. "The first ones in seven years. We've been here twice, but there's something about this team that's special."

Manogue (25-6) upset Gorman, the pre-tournament favorite, 45-44 in the semifinals. The Miners ran out of magic in the championship game, however, hitting just 33.3 percent of their shots (17 of 51) and committing 21 turnovers against Canyon Springs (29-2).

Manogue was 5 of 27 from the field in the first half and made just one of 17 3-pointers. Miners guard Niles Lujan scored five points after going for 23 in the win over Gorman.

Senior guard Ethan Dillard led Manogue with 17 points and senior guard Brennan Hogan finished with 16.

"We just didn't play our game," Lujan told Nevadapreps.com. "We didn't run like we wanted to. We didn't defend. They killed us on the boards. They beat us in every facet possible."

Canyon Springs was able to push the pace all game, using its defense to create easy baskets on the offensive end. Senior guard Michael Thompson, who signed with Boise State, had 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first half as the Pioneers opened up a 29-14 halftime lead.

Senior forward Jared Brandon added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers, who outlasted Sierra Vista (Las Vegas) 70-68 in the state semifinals.

"We were the underdogs the whole season," Willis said. "Everybody thought Gorman was going to take it. But as you can see, we're better than Gorman. We blew these cats out and they beat Gorman."

CENTENNIAL GIRLS RALLY TO WIN SIXTH STATE TITLE
Centennial (Las Vegas) was expected by many observers to cruise to the Class 4A girls basketball state title.

When the Bulldogs routed previously undefeated Reed (Sparks) 84-57 in the state semifinals, it certainly appeared to be the case. And when Centennial jumped out to a 32-20 lead late in the second quarter of the state final against Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), it looked as though nothing was going to stop the Bulldogs from yet another state championship.

It turned out to be anything but easy for Centennial, however.

Thanks to the outstanding play of Courtney Hayes and Shannon Brown, the Bulldogs rallied from a late five-point deficit to beat Liberty 71-65 in overtime at Orleans Arena. It is the sixth state championship since 2002 for Centennial (32-1).

"I'm a senior, and I have to step up in these types of games, because they're going to look for you for guidance," Hayes told Nevadapreps.com. "This was our moment. We don't panic. This is what we practice for, the overtime games."

Hayes, who signed with Louisiana Tech, and Brown combined for 19 points and 12 rebounds in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Patriots (27-3) led 55-50 with a little more than 2 minutes left in regulation before Hayes sparked an 8-3 run that forced overtime. Centennial was 21 of 27 at the free throw line in the second half, including 14 of 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Liberty closed to within 66-65 with 53 seconds remaining in overtime on two free throws by Tia Chai, but Hayes and Ashley Klemz combined to go 5 of 6 from the line in the final 35.5 seconds to clinch the victory.

"We told them at halftime we had to empty the tank, and they responded well," Liberty coach Quintin Lester told Nevadapreps.com. "It really comes down to execution. A couple balls bounce here, a couple bounce there, it's a different outcome."

Hayes and Jada Brown finished with 16 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Shannon Brown added 13 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end. Tamera Williams chipped in with 11 points for Centennial.

Alena Evans led Liberty, which topped Bishop Gorman 58-53 in the semifinals, with 20 points and nine rebounds. Oregon signee Amanda Delgado had 16 points and Jade Washington scored 12 before suffering a severe knee injury late in overtime.

"Courtney Hayes has been telling me that this was how it was going to end," Centennial coach Karen Weitz told Nevadapreps.com. "Usually what Courtney Hayes says is the way it goes."

Other state title game results:

* Moapa Valley (Overton) had a 15-0 run and outscored Lowry (Winnemucca) 28-12 in the fourth quarter to notch a 68-56 win in the 3A boys title game. Josh Thompson had 25 points and Hayden Cooper scored 23 for the Pirates (17-11), who won their ninth state title overall and first since 2003. Undersized Spring Creek overcame Utah signee Rachel Morris and Virgin Valley (Mesquite) 51-37 to take the 3A girls championship.

* Inspired by a pre-game phone call from school founder Andre Agassi, Agassi Prep (Las Vegas) got 23 points from Kalinn Jackson and rolled to an 89-50 win over Incline (Incline Village) for the boys 2A state title. Quincy Brown and Curtis Watson Jr. finished with 18 points each for the Stars (17-8), who won the first state title in school history. Sophomore Sarita Jo Condie had 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds as Pershing County (Lovelock) captured its first 2A girls state title in the school's 102-year history by beating White Pine (Ely) 67-47. White Pine advanced to the final with a 41-40 upset of Needles (Calif.) on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Alex Hall.

* Cody Hosier scored 25 points to lead Pahranagat Valley (Alamo) to a 61-44 victory over Virginia City. It is the second straight 1A boys title for the Panthers (26-4). Senior Halie Lewis scored 19 points and Dakota Day finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pahranagat Valley (Alamo) girls to the 1A championship with a 51-42 win over Eureka. The win gave Panthers coach Amy Huntsman her 10th state title, which ties the NIAA record for most by a girls coach.

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.