Agassi boys run out of steam late

Agassi Prep boys basketball coach Wendell West wasn’t pleased with the way his team played down the stretch Friday.

But for a team that had no varsity experience at the start of the season, just making it to state was an accomplishment.

The Stars made just one field goal in the fourth quarter and saw a seven-point third-quarter lead disappear in a 53-45 loss to Pershing County in the Division III state semifinals at Orleans Arena.

“In all honesty, I’m so proud of my team,” said West, who graduated all but one player from last season’s state runner-up team. “In the beginning of the season, I didn’t see us being here at any point. And they turned it on at the end of the season. We just had a tough game today.”

Agassi (13-15) led 37-30 after a 3-pointer by Steven Jones with 50 seconds to go in the third quarter. But Pershing County (25-6) went on a 17-3 run from that point.

The Stars were 1-for-16 from the field in the fourth quarter. They were 1-for-8 on 3-pointers, often settling for long jumpers even though West wanted the players to take the ball to the basket.

West said his team’s youth showed down the stretch. “For most of the fourth quarter we had five sophomores on the court, and I think the inexperience kind of bit us in the butt at the end,” West said. “But it’s a learning experience. We’ve got 11 of 13 guys coming back next year.”

Jones led the Stars with 17 points.

Seth Montes scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter for the Mustangs, who play Lincoln County (23-6) in the title game at 12:45 p.m. today at Orleans Arena.

■ Lincoln County 64, Silver Stage 44 — The Lynx held the Nighthawks to 5-for-25 shooting in the first half.

“This is my second year with this group, and the first day I entered practice, I stressed man-to-man defense,” Lincoln County coach Matt Cameron said. “And from Day One, these kids have gotten better and better and better, and it showed tonight. Our defense is what won us that game.”

Chandler Katschke had 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocked shots for the Lynx. Ryan Rippetoe shook off a slow start to add 20 points and 12 rebounds for Lincoln County, which had a 49-39 edge on the boards.

The Lynx will be going for their first state title since 2008, something Cameron said the community is ready for.

“I think it means more to the parents than it does the kids, if you know Lincoln County basketball,” Cameron said. “Most parents have five or six kids, and they’re ready for a state championship.”

Michael Swope led Silver Stage (14-11) with 15 points.

GIRLS

■ Pershing County 61, Calvary Chapel 36 — The Lions won 23 of their first 26 games this season. But they will be at a loss to describe what happened in the final two.

After coming out flat in a loss to Lincoln County last Saturday in the Division III Southern League final, Calvary Chapel fell into a big hole and never recovered in its loss to Pershing County in a state semifinal.

Pershing County (30-2) will meet Lincoln County (18-11) for the state title at 11 a.m. today at Orleans Arena.

“We’ve never been in this setting,” Calvary Chapel coach Kelli Miller said. “The last two games they haven’t played like they did all season, and that’s a bad time to not play well.”

The Lions (23-5) had no answer for Pershing County’s Sarita Jo Condie, one of the state’s top players. The senior hit from the perimeter, medium range and even posting up en route to 31 points and six rebounds. She had 15 points in the first half to help the Mustangs race to a 35-14 lead.

Calvary Chapel got a strong showing from Phallen Nelson, who pumped in 18 points, but the rest of the team struggled. The Lions shot 16 of 53 from the field and had 20 turnovers.

The Lions have no seniors and expect to return everyone next season.

■ Lincoln County 49, White Pine 32 — The Lynx held the Bobcats to 4-for-26 shooting from the field with 15 turnovers in the second half.

“Our biggest (improvement) in the second half was boxing out and getting rebounds when they were on offense,” Lincoln County coach Lori Cheeney said.

Jaycee Wadsworth scored nine of her 13 points in the second half as the Lynx built on a 22-21 halftime lead.

Kourtney Gloeckner added 10 points for Lincoln County, which made 9 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Bailey Moore had 11 points in the first half for White Pine (19-11) but missed all 12 of her second-half field-goal attempts and finished with 13 points.

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.