Meadows’ quest ends in semifinal

RENO -- A funeral-like silence filled The Meadows' boys basketball locker room Friday night.

Cheers of postseason joy rang out from the West Wendover locker room next door.

"A lot of disappointment," The Meadows senior Garrett Gosse said, fighting back tears. "We had a really good team, and we had a shot."

The Meadows led by nine points early in the third quarter, but was unable to finish in a 65-62 loss to West Wendover in a Class 2A state semifinal at North Valleys High.

The Mustangs (22-7) entered the state tournament confident after winning their first 2A Southern League tourney title since 2006-07, but departed with broken hearts.

West Wendover (23-6) rattled off a 30-10 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to build a 57-46 lead, and held on to reach today's 2A final against Agassi Prep at 7:45 p.m. at UNR's Lawlor Events Center.

"We had some blown assignments defensively," The Meadows coach Gary Hannig said. "They went to a zone and changed the tempo of the game up a little bit, and we didn't shoot very well tonight."

The Meadows was held to 24-for-68 shooting (35.3 percent).

Gosse hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to pull The Meadows to within 64-62 in the final minute, but Avery Arrien made 1 of 2 free throws with 13.6 seconds left to make the score 65-62.

The Meadows' Matt Biafore missed a 3-pointer from the right side in the closing seconds, but West Wendover was quickly called for a travel after grabbing the rebound.

The clock was adjusted to 0.5 seconds remaining, and Adam Aziz inbounded from the baseline to Biafore on the left wing. Biafore's attempt at a tying 3-pointer missed as time expired.

"At the end, we had only 0.5 to diagram a play for (Gosse), and if he wasn't there, it was Matt in the corner," Hannig said. "He actually got a good look at the basket, but it's a tough shot with 0.5 to go."

Gosse was held scoreless until 2:55 remained in the first half, but the four-year starting forward finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Point guard Max Newman, another four-year starter, had 15 points and four assists.

■ Agassi Prep 61, Pershing County 55 -- The Stars (26-5) overcame a slow start and early deficit to work their way back into the championship game.

Anson Williams scored 19 points, 11 in the second half, to lead Agassi Prep.

"He came to play," coach Wendell West said. "Kalinn (Jackson) just couldn't get a shot to fall, and (Williams) picked him up."

Terrell Kemp scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Stars, who trailed 12-7 after one quarter and 24-20 at halftime.

"Early in the game, we got caught playing their game," West said. "When we got the lead, the whole game changed. They had to play at our pace, and we were able to speed up the game."

Sergio Gonzalez led Pershing County (25-7) with 12 points.

GIRLS

Lincoln County's girls basketball team used defense as its calling card to reach the Class 2A state tournament.

The Lynx, however, aren't equipped to overcome lengthy offensive droughts.

That was a problem Friday for Lincoln County, which couldn't bounce back from a poor third quarter in a 34-28 loss to White Pine in a state semifinal at North Valleys High.

White Pine (16-11) overcame 32 turnovers to advance to the state final against Pershing County (29-1) at 6 p.m. today at UNR's Lawlor Events Center.

Lincoln County (24-5) shot 10-for-57 from the floor.

■ Pershing County 72, Mountain View 24 -- Claudia Dennler scored 20 points to help the Mustangs eliminate the Saints (16-13).

Sarita Jo Condie added 14 points for Pershing County, which led 48-4 at halftime.

Briana Marruffo scored nine points for Mountain View, which was making its first state tournament appearance since rising to Class 2A in 2008-09.