Damonte Ranch (12-1) unseated powerhouse Reed last week to capture its first Class 4A Northern Region title and takes on Liberty in the state semifinals at 1:15 p.m. Saturday at McQueen High in Reno.
Softball
Christian Marshall returned to running back after being injured in a season-opening loss and will carry a streak of five consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards into Friday’s Class 4A Sunset Region semifinal against top-ranked Bishop Gorman.
Four high school football teams in Washington state have made news in recent weeks for forfeiting games rather than taking the field against a private Catholic school that features college and NFL-sized players.
Here is a recap of every team that won a state title during the 2016 spring sports season and will be looking to defend this upcoming season.
Bishop Gorman’s football team was approved by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association on Wednesday to play an 11-game regular-season schedule.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal announces its 2016 all-state softball teams.
Follow the link for postseason softball honors, as selected by coaches. All-league and all-region teams will be posted as they are received.
Rancho junior pitcher Sam Pochop has been named the Gatorade Nevada Softball Player of the Year.
Centennial rising senior Jamaal Evans became the second area QB to make an oral commitment for 2017 when he recently pledged to UNR.
Spanish Springs’ Cami Moore belted a pinch-hit two-run homer to left field to lift the Cougars to a 2-1 win over the Rancho at UNR’s Hixson Park and to their fourth state title in 10 years.
Vivian Quiroz-Montano looped a two-out RBI single into short left-center field to score Michaela Hood with the winning run in the ninth inning of Spring Valley’s 6-5 victory over Boulder City in the Division I-A state softball championship game at UNR’s Hixson Park.
Pershing County finished with a combined 29 hits in two games, and the Mustangs knocked off the two-time defending Division III state champion Lincoln County 7-5 in the second game of the state final at Shadow Mountain in Sparks.
Pahranagat Valley got two strong pitching performances by sophomore Ashlyn Wadsworth, and used a small-ball approach in the second game to beat Wells 3-2 for the Division IV state title at Shadow Mountain in Sparks. It was the school’s fourth consecutive state championship.
Rancho, which defeated Shadow Ridge in its first game Friday, used a seven-run outburst in the second inning to oust defending state champion Reed 12-0 in five innings in the losers’ bracket final at Hixson Park. Seeking their first state title in 36 years, the Rams will face Spanish Springs (27-14) for the crown at noon Saturday. Spanish Springs needs one win to claim the title. Rancho must win twice.
Michaela Hood pitched three innings of relief and went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs to help Spring Valley’s softball team to a 13-3 win over Boulder City in six innings in the winners’ bracket final of the Division I-A state tournament Friday at Shadow Mountain in Sparks.