By David Hoffman
CoachesAid.com. Nevada Content Coordinator
This will be a playoff-defining week for both the North and South as key games dot the landscape in the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A divisions. And we are not just talking football although there are plenty of big games we could list here in Game Tracker that would blanket the state. We are also talking volleyball. So get out your calendar and be ready to see the games that will define who is going to be moving on and who may just be moving on to next year.
Let’s start with the ladies of the “Kill Zone”. Four big matches really jump out as must see, four bags of peanuts, check out MapQuest and get ready to roll, encounters.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
(# indicates current CoachesAid.com 4A Ranking)
#7 Reno (13-5) at McQueen (12-7), Thursday, 6 p.m.
The Huskies are sitting pretty in first place in the High Desert League while McQueen is locked in a duel for second with Reed and Elko. Reed handed McQueen a 3-1 defeat earlier this week so the Lancers need to take care of business in this one. Lindsey ball and Kathryn Authier will need to duplicate their performances from the Reed match and hope they get some help from their teammates. The Huskies have won nine matches in a row behind the play of Aubrey Mitchell and Lauren Bradley.
#1 Bishop Manogue (17-4) at #5 Douglas (24-4), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
The rematch of a classic five game marathon, won by Manogue, played just two weeks ago. The top ranked Miners feature the power of the Anxo Sisters (Grace and Sofia) and some fine backcourt play from Sondra Arnett. The Tigers are gearing up for battle and hope to stake their claim for playoff seeding recognition. Jackie Harper, Jourdan Burke, and Mysta Townsell have to step it up to another level if Douglas gets the job done.
Coronado (16-10) at #3 Silverado (21-6), Tuesday 5 p.m.
Silverado's Taylor Richard hopes to led the Skyhawks past Coronado. (Image courtesy NOS Prep Sports)
The Cougars gave Green Valley all they could handle earlier this week but fell just short. This is a huge opportunity for Coronado to make a statement against the third ranked Skyhawks. If Katie Gamsky, Kuulei Piena and Kristen Herlosky can get fired up and take no prisoners this one could get really interesting. As for the Skyhawks, the “Twin Towers” combo of Kaitlyn Keathley and Madison Harper will have to dominate at the net and allow Taylor Richard to showcase her all-court ability. Much like they have done all year.
#8 Palo Verde (17-4) at #9 Centennial (20-8), Wednesday, 5 p.m.
This is a HUGE match… They share first place in the Northwest and winner will most likely take that title and the seeding that goes along with it. Tori Lounsbery, Ainsley Lovejoy and Cheryl Iddings drive the Panther machine, while Lacy Miyahira, Morgan Vieira and Alli Tatom are the key cogs for the Bulldogs. Will home court advantage sway the outcome?
FOOTBALL
(# indicates current CoachesAid.com 4A Ranking)
Basic and Green Valley square off in the "Henderson Bowl", Omar Valenzuela hopes to have the Wolf Pack faithful howling after the game.
#11 Basic (5-1) at Green Valley (3-3), Thursday, 8 p.m.
It’s the “Henderson Bowl” game on this week’s installment of Thursday Night Lights (Channel 12 MYLV TV). The Wolves are coming off an overtime thriller last week against Liberty. A Kevin Aviles field goal won it. But Basic showed very little offense and will need to put some more on the scoreboard this week when they face their arch-rival Gators. Will it be howling, or chomping, at the moon after this one?
ROP (6-0, 3-0 league) at Battle Mountain (4-2, 2-0 league), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
The #1 ranked team in 2A faces #5 Battle Mountain in a battle of Northern 2A unbeatens. QB Darrion Garry and RB Jeremiah Wright lead the explosive ROP offense while Battle Mountain’s Michael Lake hopes to control the ball and the clock in an effort to upset the “Top Dog”.
#7 Bishop Manogue (5-1, 4-0 league) at #13 Douglas (5-2, 4-0 league), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
If Douglas pulls the upset they should take the Sierra crown. Regardless of the outcome Manogue will make the playoffs, but an unbeaten league season is what every team shoots for at the start of the season. So it’s the Miners and QB Zac McElroy against the Tiger defense led by Garrett Tenney and Johnny Pollack. Oh and Pollack does run the ball rather well.
Moapa Valley (3-3) at Boulder City (5-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Winner of this one will be the King of the 3A Southern Mountain. The Pirates and QB Kelen Weiss are coming off a big win over 4A Foothill. Now they face an Eagle team that has its sights set on the title. RB Devin Combs needs to have a big day and the Eagle defense must stop Weiss. Should be a real good ball game.
#5 Las Vegas (4-1) at #15 Canyon Springs (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
If Canyon Springs wants some respect for putting together a 4-1 mark here is the game they need to win to earn it. Pioneer quarterback Tyler Ward threw for 252 yards and two scores as Rancho went down last week. Marquice Turner added three running TDS, scoring from 54, 14 and 15 yards out. Sophomore QB Hassan Henderson leads the Wildcats. Riyaadh Nevins rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns last week while . Michael Glenn added 111 of his own, 35 of those coming on a scoring run in the second quarter. Winner will take all in the NE after this one is over.
Mineral County (5-2, 2-0 league) at Coleville (7-0, 2-0 league), Saturday, 1 p.m.
#1 (1A) Coleville brings its high-octane offense to the forefront. #5 Mineral County counters with stud Logan Espinosa (314 yards of total offense last week). A battle for 1A supremacy hangs in the balance.
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