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Tigers trounce El Do in rivalry game, 54-33, primed for finale
Billed as the school’s annual rivalry game, the Nevada Tigers made quick work of the visiting El Dorado Springs Bulldogs Thursday night at Wynn Gym, upping their record to 19-3 with a 54-33 non-conference thumping.
Despite Nevada freshman cheerleader Blair Wilson’s soaring rendition of the National Anthem, the Tigers were slow out of the gate, with El Do’s offense also lacking punch.
Fortunately for Nevada, All-State forward Clay Gayman rescued the Tigers in the early-going, with a soft-touch mid-range fadeway jumper, followed by a steal and coast-to-coast reverse dunk. Gayman’s early highlight show handed the Tigers a 4-0 lead with two and a half minutes having elapsed off this first quarter clock.
El Do began to pick up the pace offensively near the mid-point of the opening frame, with Derek Hayes’ slashing lay-in, followed by a 3-pointer, knotting the contest at 8-apiece.
“I thought we were a little sluggish early and not as locked down on the defensive end as we could have been,” noted Nevada head coach, Shaun Gray, as his club had been idle for six days heading into the contest. “All-in-all, it was nice to get back into action and hopefully shake some of the rust off.”
The Tigers held a 14-10 lead entering the second, but used a 16-3 run, in which Gayman scored seven consecutive points, and was punctuated by freshman point guard Logan Applegate’s trey from the right corner. After the dust had settled, Nevada led 30-13, en route to a 34-19 halftime advantage.
Both offenses fizzled in the third quarter, with Gayman’s slam dunk off an offensive rebound handing the Tigers a 38-22 edge with under two minutes to play in the frame. The third quarter concluded with NHS junior guard Will Johnson doing his best Steph Curry imitation, and draining a 25-foot 3-pointer from the deep left wing as the horn sounded.
Johnson’s crowd-pleasing triple put the Tigers in front 50-29. The final stanza mainly consisted of Nevada’s junior varsity team putting on a passing clinic, as El Do’s varsity managed to play the JV Tigers to a 4-4 draw.
“One positive from tonight was the ability play a deeper lineup,” said Gray. “Especially in the second half, so guys didn’t have to extend for a full four quarters before what will probably be a high-intensity type game tomorrow against K.C. Center.”
Gayman, who was honored prior to the game for becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer, finished with a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds in his penultimate appearance at Wynn Gym.
“Clay came out with a ton of energy and aggression,” explained Gray. “He was the hardest-working, highest-motor player on both ends of the floor. You can tell it means a lot to him finishing strong and playing as hard as he can play down the stretch.”
Gayman, possibly the highest profile boys player to ever pass through the Nevada basketball program, will set foot on the Wynn Gym hardwood one final time — as a victory tonight over the Center Yellowjackets will deliver the program its first West Central Conference championship.
Nevada’s perfect 9-0 conference record has the Tigers with a two-game lead over second-place K.C. Center. With three conference games remaining, including two against Center, a victory tonight hands Nevada the outright WCC crown. After joining the conference in 2014, this is Nevada’s final season of competition in the WCC, as they’re set to join the Big 8 next season.
Gray’s club has yet to secure a conference crown, coming close last season, but ultimately finishing second to Center.
Also making his final appearance in front of the home faithful, is starting shooting guard, Braeden Hinton. Nevada’s other remaining senior, Hunter Mason, is sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury.
“For Clay and Braeden, they have one more chance to step onto this floor and play in front of this home crowd,” said Gray. “And Hunter, even though he’s not able to play, to be here with these guys — that’s something special to them, and you can tell it means a lot to them and it should be a special night.”
The Center Yellowjackets enter tonight’s marquee matchup 16-6 overall and 7-2 in WCC-play. Center’s most recent loss came on the road Feb. 6, when they were nipped 61-60 by conference foe, St. Pius X. Nevada opened the season Nov. 21 with a 51-36 road victory over St. Pius, and last month knocked off the Warriors at Wynn Gym, 55-41.
“They are very quick and athletic,” said Gray of the Yellowjackets, who experienced some major roster turnover from last season’s WCC champion squad. “They have the best speed and size combination of any team we’ve played thus far this year. They can roll a lineup out that is just as big and athletic as we are. And they can roll a lineup out there that is quicker at times than we are.”
Added Gray: “They throw three or four different full-court presses at you — a 2-2 box, 1-2-1 diamond press and they’ll go full-court man as well. Then, they’ll also fall back into the half-court and set traps. They really want to speed the game up, get deflections, tips and turnovers.”
Gray’s squad will look to slow 6-foot-2 senior shooting guard Amaun Ryan-Robinson.
“He’s lightning-quick when attacking the basket,” said Gray. “He also has good shooting ability from the outside, scoring 15 and 17 against us last season.
Gray added that Nevada will also look to clamp down on 6-foot-4 senior forward, Daryl Wright. “He’s a long athletic scorer who can shoot and attack. He is a do-it-all scorer and finisher at the rim. Gray said 6-foot-6 senior power forward Isaiah Washington, will be a handful in the post. “(Washington) can stretch the floor by knocking down perimeter shots.He can also score inside with his big frame."
JV and C-team
The Nevada High junior varsity team defeated El Do, 39-27 Thursday night. The JV Tigers (10-9) were paced by freshman guard Logan McNeley’s game-high, 11 points.
Meanwhile, the NHS C-Team (13-3) made it a clean sweep of El Do, rolling to a 53-39 victory. Nevada was led by freshman forward Ben Hines’ team-high 12 points, while freshman guard Lane McNeley chipped in 11.
Up next
A boys-girls WCC varsity doubleheader with the visiting Center High School Yellowjackets. The Homecoming/Senior Night twinbill opens with the girls game at 5:30 p.m., while the boys contest is slated to tip at approximately 7-7:30.