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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Appropriately enough, the final game of the evening was the most compelling during Friday’s Day III of the inaugural Jerry Tarkanian Las Vegas Classic at Bishop Gorman High.

Trailing by as many as 10 points very late in regulation the host Gaels – behind the magnificent play of scintillating senior wing Rashad Muhammad and sensational sophomore Stephen Zimmerman – pulled out an improbable 83-80 overtime-victory over Morgan Park of Chicago.

I write “improbable” because, like so many other states (unfortunately), games in Nevada are played without a shot block and, with a 10-point deficit late in the game, a whole lot of things had to go right for the Coach Dave Rice’s team to pull the thing out.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Ca. – The “Challenge Night” of the 14^th Mission Prep Christmas Classic didn’t provide any challenges from one perspective:

One didn’t have to struggle to find any major college prospects on the floor.

From the tip to start the 2 o’clock game between San Marcos (CA) Mission Hills and Highland Ranch (CO) ThunderRidge, until the final buzzer of the 8 o’clock contest between Torrance (CA) Bishop Montgomery and the host Royals, outstanding players – and, of course, exceptional teams – were on display.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Ca. – My high school hoops travels this week take me to the California central coast town of San Luis Obispo and then on to Las Vegas.

The respective events, the Mission Prep Christmas Classic and Jerry Tarkanian Las Vegas Classic, both get underway on Wednesday.

I’ll be at Mission Prep Wednesday and Thursday, before busting South-bound on the 101 Freeway very early Friday morning – as in 12:30 or 1 – for LAX and a 5:40 a.m. flight to Las Vegas, where I’ll be on Friday and Saturday.

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – I’m writing this from Casa de Julia y Paco Saturday night but got reports from those were in attendance.

Over at AB Miller High in Fontana, Etiwanda came from five points down at intermission to overtake fellow Baseline League member Rancho Cucamonga, 67-59, in the championship game of the Inland Empire Tournament.

Six-foot-four senior Sheldon Blackwell, who might be the best man-to-man defender in the Southland, was selected the event’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 16 points while teammates Kenny Barnes and Dominic Alexander – both juniors, FYI – added 20 and 17, respectively.

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FONTANA, Ca. – A couple of teams from the Baseline League with contrasting styles will hoop up for the championship of the Inland Empire Tournament Saturday night at 7:30 at AB Miller High.

Etiwanda and Rancho Cucamonga won their semifinals in different – but equally impressive – fashions Friday evening.

Rancho Cucamonga improved to 8-1 with its 73-46 victory over Victorville Silverado, getting 29 points (including five 3s) from senior wing Malcolm Drumwright and 13 more from junior point guard Victor Joseph.

And then Etiwanda (6-2) avenged one of its two defeats with a 54-49 decision over previously unbeaten Corona Centennial, which knocked off the Eagles (76-67) on Nov.

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