Bracket altered: Cheyenne boys out, Boulder City in

Desert Pines fans already had begun filing into Sunrise Mountain’s gymnasium Thursday when they were told they wouldn’t get to watch their boys basketball team play.

The Jaguars, who were scheduled to play Cheyenne in a Division I-A Southern Region semifinal, instead will meet Boulder City at 6 p.m. today at Del Sol after Cheyenne forfeited its final three games of the season and was pulled out of the tournament Thursday afternoon.

The Desert Shields self-reported to the Clark County School District they had used two players who were academically ineligible in regular-season wins over Western and Mojave and in Tuesday’s region quarterfinal win over Boulder City.

Instead of playing Desert Pines for the right to meet Clark in the region final, Cheyenne’s season suddenly ended.

“The most logical solution was just to remove Cheyenne from the bracket and let Boulder City advance,” said Donnie Nelson, assistant director of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. “We didn’t want to harm the integrity of the bracket by going back and replaying it. We didn’t want to take anything away from Clark, which has advanced properly through the bracket.”

Boulder City is back in the tournament, a day after collecting uniforms.

“My principal approached me tonight and asked if we could be ready to play in a game (Friday). I thought he was joking,” Boulder City coach John Balistere said. “We had collected all of the gear, but we get another shot, so we’re thankful.”

The Jaguars hadn’t yet made it to the gym Thursday when they were told their tournament was on hold.

“They stopped us before we could get off the bus,” Desert Pines coach Mike Uzan said. “All this is new to me. They didn’t even tell us who we were playing. It kind of sucks because we were ready to play Cheyenne, but our kids will be ready to play anyone.”

■ Clark 56, Chaparral 35 — Sir Washington had 19 points to help the Chargers (28-1) advance to the final.

GIRLS

■ Faith Lutheran 58, Chaparral 41 — Julia Benko had 23 points as the Crusaders (18-8) stopped Chaparral (19-7) and advanced to meet Boulder City (18-6) at 6 p.m. Saturday in the final.

■ Boulder City 49, Moapa Valley 38 — Alyssa Ybarra had 12 points as the Eagles topped Moapa Valley (15-11).