For the Spanish Spring boys basketball team, this was supposed to be the year. Led by Marcus Loadholt, who averaged 3.7 points per game as a freshman and 20.3 ppg this winter, the Cougars and their eight seniors were going to win the first regional title in program history. That’s the way it was written out, at least, for the team that won all 16 of its 4A North games … [Read more...]
Scheels Athlete of the Week (Feb. 13-18): Marcus Loadholt
Marcus Loadholt, Spanish Springs boys basketball The highest scorer in Spanish Springs boys basketball history nearly added another incredible anecdote to a brilliant prep career. Down 12 in the final 90 seconds of Thursday’s 4A North semifinal against Bishop Manogue in Carson, Loadholt brought the Cougs all the way back, tying the game at 51 with just 22 seconds left on a … [Read more...]
Raiders, Cougars stuffed in semifinals
CARSON – Reed allowed Bishop Manogue to hit 10 triples in Friday night’s 4A North semifinal and saw its season come to a close, 62-45. The Raiders (19-6) were outscored by 18 points from beyond the arc in the 17-point defeat. “That’s your offense, shooting threes. That’s what their offense is,” Reed coach Sara Schopper-Ramirez said. “When (Katie) Turner drives, everybody … [Read more...]
Cougs suffer crushing semifinal defeat
CARSON – At first glance, it would be easy to say Spanish Springs lost because Aidan Cantwell hit a game-winning triple inside of 10 seconds left. Cantwell’s three ball lifted Bishop Manogue over Spanish Springs, 54-51, in Thursday night’s 4A North semifinal and turned away a herculean effort from Marcus Loadholt. That’s how the Cougs lost. That’s now why they … [Read more...]
Cougs, Raiders advance to 4A North semis
MINDEN - The last time the Cougars were in the postseason (2014), they opened with an upset road win as a three seed at second-seeded Douglas. History repeated itself on Wednesday night. Spanish Springs went to back to Minden and once again ended the Tigers season with a 60-50 quarterfinal victory. Calling it an “upset” may be a stretch though. The Cougars improved … [Read more...]
Tuesday Hoops: Raiders bounced, Cougs cool Tigers
RENO – It was over early. It was over before the Reed boys trailed 41-15 late in the second quarter. It was over before the Raiders fell in a 19-2 hole to start. In fact, it was likely over before the starting lineups were announced. Playing without their two leading scorers, the third-seeded Raiders (8-17) didn’t have much of a chance against the second-seeded Miners … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Five fearless predictions for 4A North regional tourneys
One of the few ways to make watching postseason basketball more fun is to try to predict how it’s going to unfold. That’s why we fill out March Madness brackets year in and year out. Well, and in attempt to win a fraction of Warren Buffett’s fortune. It is unclear if Buffett is offering a billion dollars for perfect 4A North regional tournament brackets, but that’s … [Read more...]
Scheels Athlete of the Week (Feb. 6-11): Jacob Ruiz
Jacob Ruiz, Spanish Springs wrestling The odds were stacked up against Ruiz on Saturday afternoon. After already losing to Las Vegas High’s Antonio Saldate twice this year, it was Saldate, a two-time state champ, who stood between Ruiz and the 120-pound 4A state title. Ruiz changed his approach and it resulted in a resounding 9-3 victory. Ruiz and the Cougs finished second at … [Read more...]