2A BOYS: Walker, Rippetoe look for one more after routing Rite of Passage

RENO — Dantley Walker had a message for Eric Rippetoe as the two Lincoln County basketball players hugged each other Friday in the final minutes of a 100-83 rout of Rite of Passage in a Class 2A state semifinal at UNR’s Lawlor Events Center.

“One more, Rip,” Walker said.

Walker poured in 43 points, Rippetoe had 35 points and 11 rebounds and the Lynx (25-4) cruised into the title game against Incline (25-3) at 8:20 p.m. Saturday. Lincoln County is gunning for its seventh state title, which would be its second in three years.

Walker broke his own 2A state tournament record for points in a game, eclipsing the mark of 36 he set against Rite of Passage in 2008.

All seven of his 3-pointers came in the first half, in which he scored 29 points.

But Walker wasn’t caught up in his performance against the Rams (18-7). All the junior guard could think about was returning to the top of the 2A mountain Saturday.

“Now we get to play one more instead of going home,” Walker said. “The only big goal I had this year was to win it, and now that we’ve got the chance, it’s like a dream come true.”

Lincoln County coach Mike Wood was impressed with how focused Walker and Rippetoe were following the win.

“It just speaks to the team goals and to them being there before,” Wood said. “This doesn’t really mean anything if we don’t win (Saturday). Nobody remembers second, especially where we live.”

Devontay Williams’ layup at the third-quarter buzzer narrowed the deficit to 74-66, but Rite of Passage didn’t get any closer.

Tyler Wadsworth added 10 points for Lincoln County, which has gone 3-0 since suffering its only league loss in the regular-season finale against The Meadows on Feb. 12.

Clarence Loftin led Rite of Passage with 16 points.

Incline 71, Needles 60 — Josh Dykstra scored 25 points to lead the Highlanders past the Mustangs.

Needles pulled to within 56-51 midway through the fourth quarter, but Michael Ceragiolo hit two 3-pointers to highlight a 7-0 run that helped Incline pull away.

Michael Hills led Needles (17-9) with 16 points, and teammates Anthony Ramos and Andrew Hooper added 13 points each.