Liberty only beat Bishop Gorman once in four tries, but it came in an overtime classic that netted the Patriots their first boys basketball state championship.
Basketball
Liberty boys basketball coach Kevin Soares is the Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada Coach of the Year after leading the Patriots to their first state title.
Liberty’s Joshua Jefferson averaged 17.7 points and 10 rebounds in his senior season and led the Patriots to the Class 5A state title with an upset win over Bishop Gorman.
Centennial’s Karen Weitz, the winningest coach in Nevada basketball history, has added the title of boys coach to the dynasty she has built with the girls program.
Billy Hemberger is leaving Spring Valley after an eight-year run at the school, where he built one of the state’s premier programs after going 1-24 in his first season.
Here is the All-Southern Nevada boys basketball team. Liberty’s Kevin Soares is the Coach of the Year after leading the Patriots to the Class 5A state championship.
Here is the All-Southern Nevada girls basketball team. Clark’s Laquedra Parks is the Coach of the Year after leading the Chargers to the Class 4A state championship.
Liberty shocked Bishop Gorman in overtime to win the Class 5A boys state basketball championship, ending the Gaels’ nine-year run of titles and their bid to finish undefeated.
Jake Bevacqua scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as The Meadows, which has only two seniors on its team, coasted to the Class 2A boys state title in Reno.
Centennial won its seventh straight state basketball title Saturday, crushing Bishop Manogue in the Class 5A girls championship game at Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
Roman Rose scored 22 points, and the Boulder City boys were outscored by Fernley 15-3 in the third quarter but came back to reach the Class 3A state championship game.
Bishop Gorman cruised past Spanish Springs and Liberty whipped Douglas, and they will meet for the fourth time — with the Class 5A state basketball title on the line.
Centennial will meet Bishop Manogue on Saturday at Lawlor Events Center in Reno for the state championship. The Bulldogs are looking for their seventh straight title.
Joshua Valencia scored 21 points and David Thurman 16 to lead GV Christian to an easy win in the Class 1A boys state basketball tournament Thursday at Cox Pavilion.
Bishop Gorman, 29-0 and favored to win its 10th consecutive state basketball championship, will play Spanish Springs on Friday in the Class 5A tournament in Reno.