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.
Schools
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Centennial will begin its quest for a seventh straight girls state championship and 13th overall when it meets Douglas in the Class 5A semifinals Friday in Reno.
The Class 4A boys and girls state basketball tournaments will be played this weekend, and it’s a chance for new champions to be crowned with two perennial powerhouses in 5A.
Darrion Williams scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to spark Bishop Gorman past Liberty in the Class 5A Southern Region boys basketball championship game.
Top-seeded Centennial clinched a berth in next week’s Class 5A girls state basketball tournament, where the Bulldogs will go for their seventh straight title.
Bishop Gorman went on a 13-2 run in the second quarter and never looked back in a win over Coronado to clinch a spot in next week’s Class 5A state tournament.