The race for the Class 5A boys basketball state title is wide open, with contenders across the league, including Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Coronado and Arbor View.
Liberty
Centennial, the eight-time defending state champion, will seek to keep its title streak alive without three starters as the high school girls basketball season begins.
Many talented boys high school basketball players have emerged from Southern Nevada. These are the next prospects on the rise.
Liberty’s Ali’a Matavao was the Gatorade Nevada and Class 5A Southern League basketball player of the year, and won two state titles at the 5A state track and field meet.
Liberty junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. announced Sunday that he is committing to UNLV, choosing the Rebels over Arizona, Florida, Gonzaga, Houston and UCLA.
Liberty junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. is still pondering his college choices and possibly graduating early to reclassify for 2023.
The Durango boys basketball team defeated defending champion Liberty to win the Class 5A state title Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Durango found its offensive rhythm in the second half as the Trailblazers rolled past Douglas in the Class 5A state semifinals, while Liberty handled Bishop Manogue.
Durango’s Taj Degourville and Tylen Riley combined for 38 points to outlast Dedan Thomas Jr. and Liberty in the Class 5A boys basketball Southern League title game.
Liberty junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 23 points as the No. 1-seeded Patriots rolled past No. 4 Coronado in a Class 5A Southern League semifinal Thursday.
Coronado hit nine 3-pointers as it defeated Liberty in a Class 5A Southern League semifinal Wednesday night. The Cougars are headed to the state tournament next week.
Senior forward Ali’a Matavao scored 20 points as the Liberty girls basketball team rolled past Desert Oasis for a home victory Thursday night.
Liberty senior forward Adrienne Puletasi scored 23 points to lead the Patriots to a 59-53 win over Bishop Gorman last Wednesday.
Liberty point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 26 points as the Patriots whipped Bishop Gorman on the road in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state title game.
Liberty plays at Bishop Gorman on Wednesday night in a rematch of last season’s Class 5A state basketball championship game won by the Patriots.