We’re a couple weeks into the basketball schedule so there is a lot of basketball to be played, but a couple themes are developing. Here are a couple things we’re learning in mid December. 1. The Sierra League is stacked This is going to be a really fun race to follow. Galena started the season as the front-runner coming off a DI North championship but looked … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Telling week for Spanish Springs boys looms
We all knew the Spanish Springs boys basketball team was going to be good this year. Led by Player of the Year candidate Marcus Loadholt, and fellow all-region selection Josh Prizina, the Cougs brought plenty back from last year’s squad that won the program’s first league title. Coach Kyle Penney’s bunch is off to a 3-1 start but could easily be 4-0 if not for some late … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Five fearless predictions for DI North football postseason
Depending on your perspective, the DI North football regional tournament is either already starting, or it’s finally starting. I’m in the prior camp. It’s strange to think that it was 10 weeks ago many of us rejoiced at the fact football season was coming to life. Now it’s taking its final breaths. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of exciting football to be played. … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Nevada’s comeback quiets Polian’s critics—for now
I mixed things up on Saturday. I didn’t go to the Nevada-Hawaii football game. Instead, I hopped in the car with my brother and drove to Palo Alto to watch our hometown University of Washington football team play No. 10 Stanford. We don’t need to talk about the outcome (the Cardinal rolled). We hit the road just as the game was kicking off at Mackay Stadium. I checked … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Reed on upset alert Friday night
With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Reed football team is still rocking the goose egg in the loss column. The Raiders know it. So does McQueen. But the Lancers aren’t going to be scared when they travel to Reed on Friday. McQueen is a quiet 5-2, 3-0 in High Desert League play and all of a sudden is starting to look like a contender. Reed better not … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Local non-football storylines to follow
Sure, it’s football season. Reed is flirting with an undefeated regular season. Carson isn’t far behind. And McQueen all of sudden looks like a contender. But those aren’t the only local prep storylines to follow this fall. Here are the top three local non-football stories to keep an eye on as regular seasons begin to wind down. 1. Spanish Springs volleyball fighting for … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: Different year, same story
The fun part about the start of each season is the eternal geyser of optimism that flows from each team’s camp—regardless of sport. After six weeks of prep football in Northern Nevada, that gushing hope has slowed to a trickle for the vast majority of DI North teams. Once again, Reed and Carson are the teams to beat in the High Desert and Sierra Leagues … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: DI North football league titles likely up for grabs Friday night
Prep football teams in Northern Nevada finally begin league play Friday night after dabbling in non-league action the last five weeks. High Desert and Sierra League teams will go at it for the next month. But as far as determining who will take the two No. 1 seeds into the postseason, Friday night is it. On the HDL side, Reed hosts Reno. The Raiders and Huskies have … [Read more...]