FIELDER’S CHOICES: I rocked in football, now onto basketball
Football season was almost too much fun to handle.
I had a 91-22 record picking games, had my face imprinted on the coin tossed before the small-school state championships, and even drove off with a game ball after Collin Ditsworth kicked a touchback next to my car.
But all good things must end (and all good ends must ... never mind). But wait ... hoops season is back.
This week, I’ll tell you which boys team should win each league. Check back next week to see my picks for girls basketball.
Northwest League
Champion: Centennial
Runner-up: Cimarron-Memorial
Darkhorse: Palo Verde
Pretty much everyone lost tons of players, but the Bulldogs have the best one back in Aaseem Dixon.
Cimarron eventually will find its scoring, but will have to fill a huge vacancy created when Kevin Olekaibe headed to Fresno.
And Palo? Well, never count out any team coached by Jermone Riley.
Runner-up: Cimarron-Memorial
Darkhorse: Palo Verde
Pretty much everyone lost tons of players, but the Bulldogs have the best one back in Aaseem Dixon.
Cimarron eventually will find its scoring, but will have to fill a huge vacancy created when Kevin Olekaibe headed to Fresno.
And Palo? Well, never count out any team coached by Jermone Riley.
Northeast League
Champion: Canyon Springs
Runner-up: Valley
Darkhorse: Las Vegas
This might be the deepest league in town, but I see the Pioneers as a clear favorite. They have the best backcourt, the best athletes and loads of motivation to get back to the state title game.
Runner-up: Valley
Darkhorse: Las Vegas
This might be the deepest league in town, but I see the Pioneers as a clear favorite. They have the best backcourt, the best athletes and loads of motivation to get back to the state title game.
Southwest League
Champion: Bishop Gorman
Runner-up: Western
Darkhorse: Sierra Vista
The Gaels have put together a good resume for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA … er, Sunset tournament.
The Warriors and Mountain Lions also are stacked in a league where at least one quality team will be left out of the playoffs.
Runner-up: Western
Darkhorse: Sierra Vista
The Gaels have put together a good resume for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA … er, Sunset tournament.
The Warriors and Mountain Lions also are stacked in a league where at least one quality team will be left out of the playoffs.
Southeast League
Champion: Coronado
Runner-up: Foothill
Darkhorse: Silverado
This league is a bit of a mystery, but I like the Cougars because Michael Louder and Austin Nelson form the best inside-outside duo in the Sunrise Region.
Runner-up: Foothill
Darkhorse: Silverado
This league is a bit of a mystery, but I like the Cougars because Michael Louder and Austin Nelson form the best inside-outside duo in the Sunrise Region.
Class 3A Southern League
Champion: Virgin Valley
Runner-up: One of the other two teams
Darkhorse: The one that isn't the runner-up
The Bulldogs lost the league’s best player last season in Jason Wittwer, but they might have this year’s MVP in Cameron Jensen.
The Bulldogs lost the league’s best player last season in Jason Wittwer, but they might have this year’s MVP in Cameron Jensen.
Class 2A Southern League
Champion: Agassi Prep
Runner-up: Needles
Darkhorse: Lincoln County
Agassi Prep has all the pieces to win a state title, and Needles has the most impressive group of returning players.
No. 30 at Lincoln County might as well wear a cape because I don’t think a normal human can shoot like that.
Runner-up: Needles
Darkhorse: Lincoln County
Agassi Prep has all the pieces to win a state title, and Needles has the most impressive group of returning players.
No. 30 at Lincoln County might as well wear a cape because I don’t think a normal human can shoot like that.
Class 1A Southern League
Champion: Pahranagat Valley
Runner-up: Beatty
Darkhorse: Round Mountain
It’s easy to think the Panthers will run away with this league, but the Hornets are loaded with talented seniors who could be poised for the same kind of breakthrough Pahranagat Valley had last season.
Runner-up: Beatty
Darkhorse: Round Mountain
It’s easy to think the Panthers will run away with this league, but the Hornets are loaded with talented seniors who could be poised for the same kind of breakthrough Pahranagat Valley had last season.
