Markuson out as Bonanza boys’ coach

Eric Markuson led Bonanza's boys basketball team to its first winning record in seven years last season, and the Bengals appear well on their way to repeating that this year.

But they'll have to finish that job without their head coach.

Markuson was fired as boys basketball coach Wednesday, a day after the team's 78-77 home loss to Shadow Ridge.

"We appreciate all that coach Markuson has done for Bonanza High School," Bonanza athletic administrator Todd Nelson said. "We just wanted to move the program in a different direction."

Nelson declined further comment on the matter, but confirmed there was no investigation ongoing and Markuson's dismissal was not because of any criminal conduct.

Markuson was in his fourth year on the Bengals' bench and had a career record of 41-45, but that included a 6-19 mark in his first season.

He led the Bengals to a 19-8 overall record and the team's first postseason appearance since 2008 last year.

Dan Savage, who began the season as the Bengals' girls basketball coach, takes over the boys program. Mike Moulchin takes over as the girls head coach.

Moulchin, Savage's assistant this year, was head girls coach at Clark for the last five years.

Savage led the Bengal boys to a 65-35 win at Moapa Valley on Thursday. The team is 7-3 and idle until it begins play in the Vegas Invitational on Dec. 26 at Mountain View.

A message left for Markuson was not returned.