Nevada high school boys basketball preview: Liberty, Gorman favored

Bishop Gorman had already defeated Liberty 4 occasions coming into final 12 months’s Class 5A boys basketball state championship recreation.

Their fifth assembly was an in depth one, however the Patriots prevailed in additional time 63-62 to finish the Gaels’ streak of 9 straight championships.

Liberty enters this season with returning guards Angelo Kambala and Dedan Thomas. But Patriots coach Kevin Soares mentioned his group must make some modifications after final season’s main scorer, Joshua Jefferson, graduated.

“We have a lot of players coming back from last year, but it will be a new look,” Soares mentioned. “We have to play a little differently this year. It’s been a bit of an adjustment, but it’s been fun working with them and seeing the progress they’re making.”

Liberty and Gorman are the favorites in 5A because the Southern Nevada high school basketball season begins with a full slate of video games this week.

Soares expects this 12 months’s Patriots group to be extra up-tempo and guard-oriented, as they do not have the apparent inside edge that after beat opponents final season.

Gorman coach Grant Rice mentioned he likes the combo of youth and expertise on this 12 months’s Gaels group. He additionally likes their depth and believes he can get contributions from anybody in his 10- to 12-man rotation.

The Gaels gained their first recreation Saturday, defeating Bishop O’Dowd 76-57 in Oakland, California. Rice mentioned Gorman’s non-conference schedule is the hardest he has completed and may have the Gaels able to attempt to regain the state championship.

“It’s about getting us in a position where we have a chance to get back there, but there are a lot of good teams,” Rice mentioned. “Many local teams have raised their level of play and talent.”

There are a number of different contenders in 5A that can look to problem Liberty and Gorman.

Durango misplaced simply three seniors from final 12 months’s group that went 20-6 and misplaced to Liberty within the Southern League semifinals. Guards Taj Degourville and Tylen Riley return as Durango’s main scorers from final season.

Former Durango and UCLA guard Sebastian Mack joins Coronado and can fill the void left by departing guard Richard Issacs.

In 4A, Mojave returns 10 gamers from final 12 months’s state championship group, together with its main scorer, sophomore CJ Shaw.

Las Vegas, a 4A state semifinalist final season, gave Mojave suits final 12 months. The groups cut up their two common season conferences, which have been determined by a mixed three factors.

Spring Valley, final 12 months’s 4A runner-up and Desert League champion, returns with a youth-heavy roster attempting to get again to the title recreation.

Contact Alex Wright at [email protected] Follow @AlexWright1028 on Twitter.