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Findlay Prep storms past Bishop Manogue

Two years ago, Findlay Prep marched to a 33-0 record and a bushel of No. 1 national rankings.
The Pilots won’t be able to match that perfection this season, but in recent weeks they just might be playing at an equal level.
Findlay Prep (16-1) continued to tear through its schedule with a 93-75 win over Reno’s Bishop Manogue at South Point on Saturday night.
“What we’ve seen the last couple games is a real camaraderie and togetherness with our guys,” Findlay Prep coach Michael Peck said. “They’re helping each other, pulling for each other and playing hard. We’re really pleased in that regard.”
Sophomore guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who gave an oral commitment to UNLV on Wednesday, led the Pilots with 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting.
“Nigel just has a knack for scoring,” Peck said. “He can score the basketball in a multitude of ways. His mid-range game is so good, and we needed that (Saturday).”
Ethan Dillard hit six 3-pointers on his way to 30 points to lead Manogue (4-2). But the Miners, who reached last season’s Class 4A state semifinals, were unable to overcome an early 13-2 deficit.
Brennan Hogan’s put-back pulled Manogue to within 53-43 early in the third quarter, but the Pilots responded with a 16-7 run to pull away.
Findlay Prep’s Landen Lucas tallied 14 points and nine rebounds, and teammates Amir Garrett (13 points), Anthony Bennett (13), Nick Johnson (12) and Kevin Kaspar (10) also scored in double figures.
Texas signee Myck Kabongo supplied seven points and nine assists for the Pilots.
It has already been a historic season for Findlay Prep, which is ranked No. 4 in the country by ESPN and No. 5 by USA Today.
The Pilots garnered national attention Thursday with a 95-69 win over Yates of Houston at Texas Southern, emphatically ending the Lions’ 66-game winning streak.
It was a dominant showing in front of an ESPN television audience that demonstrated how far the Pilots have come since a 56-50 loss to Academy of the New Church (Pa.) on Nov. 27.
“It was an unbelievable job down there,” Peck said. “We did exactly what we practiced and preached all week. We made plays against pressure, knew when to pull back and when to put the gas on.”
NOTE — Peck said Findlay Prep’s annual showdown with Bishop Gorman has been scheduled for Jan. 22 at Cox Pavilion. The Pilots won last season’s game against the eventual state champion Gaels, 65-52 at the Orleans Arena.

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