2A BOYS: Motivational words lift Agassi Prep

Agassi Prep’s boys basketball team heard two motivational messages before its Class 2A state title game against Incline on Saturday.

One came from Andre Agassi, who founded the independent public charter school. Agassi couldn’t attend the game, but told players by phone how to own the moment.

The other came from coach William Hopkins, who told his players 11 of Incline’s strengths before listing 11 strengths for his team he thought would win out.

“I said if you go out and challenge shots, play tenacious man-to-man defense and give good help, this game is over,” Hopkins said.

The Stars must have been listening.

Agassi Prep dominated defensively on its way to a historic 89-50 win at Orleans Arena.

The Stars (17-8) not only won the first state title in program history but the school’s first in a team sport since it opened in 2001.

“I probably won’t even sleep tonight. I can’t stop smiling,” said Agassi Prep forward Curtis Watson, who had 18 points and eight rebounds. “It feels good. People don’t know what we’ve been through to get to this.”

There was little suspense after the Stars jumped to a 21-4 lead as Incline (22-6) missed 13 of its first 15 shots.

By the time Kalinn Jackson drained a 3-pointer from the right wing just before the halftime buzzer for a 39-12 lead, the party was on in the Agassi Prep student section.

“It’s unbelievable, I’ll tell you. We rose to the occasion tonight,” said Agassi Prep post Quincy Brown, who tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. “We just wanted to start the game with a lot of pressure on them. We just wanted to be relentless in taking it to them.”

The win was especially emotional for Brown, Watson and center Anson Williams, who played in Agassi Prep’s 81-78 loss to Needles in the state title game two years ago on the same floor.

Watson called Agassi’s pregame talk with the Stars “inspiring.”

“He said if we weren’t feeling nervous that we weren’t ready to play,” Watson said. “Us being nervous showed that we cared and really wanted this victory, and we came out ready and got the victory (Agassi) told us we would.”

The Stars were stellar all night with help defense, holding the Highlanders to 18-for-72 shooting (25 percent).

Jackson had 23 points and four steals for the Stars, who got nine points from Ta’aje Jackson, eight from DeMadjeo Simon and seven points and nine rebounds from Williams.

Patrick Howe paced Incline with 14 points.

After receiving their championship medals in a ceremony at halfcourt, Agassi Prep’s players surrounded nearby athletic director Carl Britt to celebrate as hugs were exchanged and tears shed.

“I told Mr. Britt, 'I’m going to get you one,’ ” Brown said of the school’s first state title. “I had to get him one before I leave. I couldn’t leave Agassi without getting us a championship.”