Frank Burlison

LAS VEGAS — Is it possible that a preview of the 2014 California State Open Division championship games is going to be played Saturday night at 7:30 in Bishop Gorman High gymnasium?

It doesn’t take a leap in faith to answer “Yes, there will be” to that question.

Oakland Bishop O’Dowd and Santa Ana Mater Dei cruised to semifinal victories Friday evening at the Orleans Arena, setting up “Northern vs. Southern California” finale in the second Tarkanian Classic.

Both the Dragons (68-54 over Las Vegas Bishop Gorman) and Monarchs (while overwhelming one of Southern California’s better teams, Redondo Beach Redondo, 84-38) looked the part of teams that will compete for California’s ultimate team hoops prize in Sacramento on March 29.

[Click to continue reading]

LAS VEGAS – The top five seeds in the National Division won by an average margin of 21 points during Round of 16 games Friday on the second day of the second annual Tarkanian Classic at Bishop Gorman High.

Defending championship Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei (72-58 over Las Vegas Clark), 2012 runner-up Gorman (65-49 over Sacramento Sheldon), Oakland (CA) Bishop O’Dowd (78-34 over Las Vegas Durango), Highland (UT) Lone Peak (70-54 over Modesto Christian) and Redondo Beach (CA) Redondo (63-46 over Portland Central Catholic) advanced to the quarterfinals that will be played Friday morning and afternoon.

[Click to continue reading]

LAS VEGAS – The abbreviated “first day” of the second annual Tarkanian Classic tipped off in impressive – if relatively lopsided – fashion Wednesday at Bishop Gorman High.

The host Gaels and the Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Monarchs– who played for the title in the Platinum Division finale a year ago – opened with 20- and 39-point victories, respectively – in Platinum games Wednesday evening.

Then, in a Prep School Division contest, Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep – after an hour or so delay while their opponents made their way to the gym after a late arrival at McCarran Airport from Atlanta – cruised with a litany of dunks and dazzling passes.

[Click to continue reading]

PHOENIX – It’s not going to be very far into the future when foes are going to have to dread playing the Phoenix Shadow Mountain team.

With an all-sophomore starting lineup, the Matadors took their 6-0 record and boundless promise and enthusiasm into the Grand Canyon University Pavilion Saturday nigh.

And they made things extremely difficult for the four seniors and state’s best junior that the 5-0 Tempe Corona Del Sol Aztecs put on the floor for the tip-off in the final game of the two-day inaugural Hoophall West.

[Click to continue reading]

PHOENIX – It took the last of the day’s four games to provide a contest whose outcome was in question to the end during Friday’s Hoophall West High School Invitational at Grand Canyon University.

The Scottsdale (AZ) Desert Mountain Wolves – behind the jump shooting of senior Will Goff – built a 15-point advantage after a quarter then had to hold their collective breath as Gilbert (AZ) Mesquite’s Nick Daley missed a 3-point attempt with a second to go for a 62-59 victory.

The Wildcats actually went up by four points early in the fourth quarter before Desert Mountain, led by senior guard Roland Rhymes (14 points and six assists) and senior posts Jordan Higgins (nine points and six rebounds) and Jordan Lossman (10 and six), regained possession of the lead.

[Click to continue reading]