‘Firecracker’ Desi-Rae Young leads Desert Oasis past Bishop Gorman

By Ashton Ferguson Las Vegas Review-Journal

7 years ago

Bishop Gorman’s Shaira Young dribbles around Desert Oasis’ Eliyjah Pricebrooks at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Tierney Holcombe looks for a shot against Desert Oasis defenders at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Bentleigh Hoskins dribbles past Desert Oasis’ Brianna Clark at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Bentleigh Hoskins attempts to control the ball against Desert Oasis defenders at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Olivia Smith attempts to put up a point while Desrert Oasis’ Kalena Halunajan, left, and Desi-rae Young attempt to block her at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Shaira Young dribbles around Desert Oasis’ Eliyjah Pricebrooks at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desert Oasis’ Desi-Rae Young attempts to recover the ball on a rebound against Bishop Gorman at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Bishop Gorman’s Shaira Young attempts to dribble past Desert Oasis’ Desi-rae Young at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desert Oasis’ Sierra Mich’l looks for a shot while Bishop Gorman’s Olivia Smith, center, attempts to block her at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desert Oasis’ Eliyjah Pricebrooks attempts to dribble around Bishop Gorman’s Shaira Young at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desert Oasis’ Sierra Mich’l attempts to put points up while Bishop Gorman’s Georgia Ohiaeri tries to block her at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desert Oasis’ Brianna Clark attempts to get around Bishop Gorman Defenders at Bishop Gorman High School on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Desert Oasis won 69-61. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie

Desi-Rae Young could hardly speak after Desert Oasis’ road victory Friday night because of her impassioned screaming for four quarters.

“She’s the best teammate you could ever ask for,” Diamondbacks coach Laurie Evans said. “Very coachable and everybody’s biggest fan.”

The heart and soul of Southern Nevada’s fourth-ranked team was also its best player in a pivotal Southwest League game.

Young scored a game-high 17 points and took a momentum-swinging charge late in the fourth quarter to stave off a rally in a 69-61 win over No. 5 Bishop Gorman.

With Division-I bound teammate Dajaah Lightfoot (Tennessee State) out most of the second half with foul trouble, the 6-foot sophomore acted as the firecracker off the bench. Young started the third quarter in place of Lightfoot, who had three fouls at halftime and picked up a fourth with 1:28 left in the third.

“I’m D.J.’s No. 1 fan,” Young said through her raspy voice. “I’m going to play just like her. I look up to D.J. She’s somebody that’s really important to me. She’s going to a (Division) I, so I want to be just like her.”

Gorman clawed within three points twice in the fourth quarter, once with 2:46 remaining, before Young drew a charge against Gaels junior Georgia Ohiaeri, who had been torching the Diamondbacks in the second half.

The charge, and resulting possession change, sparked a 9-4 run to close the game.

Free throws sealed the win and kept Desert Oasis (15-2, 6-0) in a first-place tie with Spring Valley (16-2, 5-0) in the Southwest.

The Diamondbacks made 27 of 31 free throws, including 9-for-11 in the fourth quarter.

Caira Young led Gorman (5-11, 2-2) with 16 points.