Italee Lucas Centennial senior guard sets Class 4A scoring record with 57 points in victory over Cheyenne

Centennial High girls basketball coach Karen Weitz put her team through two days of intense defensive practice to prepare the Bulldogs for Thursday's Sunset Regional semifinal.

That dedication to defense probably was unnecessary as senior guard Italee Lucas scored a Class 4A girls state-record 57 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 102-57 victory over Cheyenne at Arbor View.

The win set up a long-awaited championship showdown between Centennial (29-3) and Bishop Gorman (28-1), scheduled for 5 p.m. today.

"Our defense did a poor job the last time we played (Cheyenne)," said Weitz, whose squad dropped a 65-63 decision to the Desert Shields last month. "We worked a lot on defense over the last two days because we knew we were going to have to do a better job."

In the early moments, Weitz's pregame concerns appeared justified as Cheyenne kept the score close. But the Bulldogs finished the first quarter with a 13-2 scoring burst and Lucas never allowed the Desert Shields back in the game.

Lucas' point total established a Class 4A state record, according to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record book, breaking the previous mark of 46 set by Anita Burdick of North Valleys in 2005.

The state record for points in a girls game is 62 by Arena Tapija of Class 1A Pyramid Lake in 2002.

"We felt we had to come out and show them what we were made of," said Lucas, who made nine 3-pointers. "It's playoff time, and you've got to bring your 'A' game."

Lucas, who also had 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists, had 33 points at halftime as her team went into the break with a 51-18 lead.

She scored six points in the first 1:15 of the third quarter to quickly erase any hopes the Desert Shields had of rallying.

"When a shooter's hot, a shooter's hot," Weitz said. "You've got to put the ball in her hands."

Sophomore forward Johnna Brown also came up big for Centennial, scoring 22 points.

Monique Oliver led Cheyenne (14-7) with 27 points, a performance that might have worried Weitz before the game.

"We've done no preparation for (the championship matchup against Gorman)," Weitz said. "We had to spend the whole week preparing for Cheyenne."

• Bishop Gorman 92, Sierra Vista 41 -- The defending state champion Gaels looked impressive in cruising past the Lions to earn a spot in the final.

Darriel Gaynor had 25 points and seven steals to help Gorman take command from the start.

Gaels coach Sheryl Krmpotich said her squad was careful not to underestimate Sierra Vista.

"You can never overlook any team," Krmpotich said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Even so, the game's outcome became increasingly predictable late in the second quarter as Gorman rattled off nine straight points to build a 46-19 lead.

That margin only widened in the early minutes of the second half, as a 14-0 run put the game out of reach at 62-24.

Yahindra Edwards helped the Gaels with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and teammate Dannielle Diamant added 14 points and seven rebounds.

Jessica Mojica scored 22 points to lead Sierra Vista (19-12).

Though the Gaels and Centennial both are guaranteed berths in next week's state tournament, Krmpotich said today's game will be another installment in a long line of late-season battles between the teams.

"You've always got to have a rivalry," said Krmpotich, whose team eliminated the Bulldogs last year. "It's going to be a great game."