There’s a phrase that’s universally accepted in sport. Big time players make big time plays in big time moments. Spanish Springs junior Marcus Loadholt is a big time player. With the Cougars’ league title aspirations hanging in the balance, with his squad clinging to a 48-46 fourth-quarter lead over first-place Reno, Loadholt scored seven-straight points and led the … [Read more...]
Shoup Shots: High Desert League boys title up for grabs tonight
Okay, so the High Desert League boys basketball title isn’t literally up for grabs tonight. But it may as well be. At least for one team. Spanish Springs hosts Reno tonight in a contest that will either determine the league champ, or sprinkle extra drama on the final three games of the regular season. The Huskies enter in first place at 11-1 in the DI North. The … [Read more...]
Dumbing down the tiebreaker (at least trying to)
It’s become part of the prep athletics fabric in Nevada. Total confusion when it comes to busting deadlocks in final standings. No league title chase down the stretch is complete without coaches, players and fans trying to describe why their team in fact holds the tiebreaker over the team that shares a record with theirs. Media members are not exempt, either. There’s … [Read more...]
Boys hoops: Reed comes up short against McQueen
Reed had played McQueen twice already this season and lost by a combined 48 points. But there’s an old cliché in basketball that nearly resulted in a resilient upset Friday night at Reed. “It’s tough to beat a team three times,” Reed coach Zach Sanford said after his Raiders’ upset bid fell short in an 82-75 home loss to McQueen. “They know that. We knew that coming in. … [Read more...]
Spanish Springs boys handle Reed
Spanish Springs had no problem against its crosstown rival on Tuesday night, rolling to an 83-39 home win over Reed that featured running clock much of the fourth quarter. With the victory, paired with McQueen’s loss at Reno, the Cougs (12-7, 8-3) moved into sole possession of second place in the High Desert League. “I’m just proud of our guys,” Spanish Springs coach … [Read more...]
Get a load of this guy
He’s played basketball his entire life. But it wasn’t until two years ago he realized his gift. Now’s he the best player in Northern Nevada. “My freshman year, when I made varsity, when I got pulled, up I was like ‘I need to start working at this because I know eventually in a couple years I’m going to have to take over this team,’” Spanish Springs junior Marcus Loadholt … [Read more...]
Boys hoops: Sparks snaps skid
The Sparks boys used a 16-4 run late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to snap a four-game losing streak with a 64-51 home win over Truckee on Friday night. The Railroaders improved to 5-11, 4-5 in the DI-A North to remain in the playoff picture. The Wolverines dropped to 2-15 overall and remained winless, 0-9, in league contests. “We had four-straight … [Read more...]
Boys hoops: Spanish Springs picks up much-needed W
They needed that one. For at least one more game, Spanish Springs kept realistic hopes of defending its league title alive with a 70-56 home comeback victory over McQueen on Tuesday night. The Cougars improved to 10-7, 6-3 in the DI North with the win while the Lancers dropped to 12-8, 6-3. Spanish Springs holds the head-to-head tiebreaker for second place over McQueen … [Read more...]