The Northern Nevada regional playoffs are underway with the large-class 4A division completing the play-in games Monday. The 3A bracket has almost completed its quarterfinal matchups, too. Here is an overview of the bracket with regional champions being crowned at the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A level Saturday.
No. 1 Damonte Ranch vs. No. 8 McQueen, 7 p.m.: The Mustangs won their first regular-season league title this season, going 15-1 in conference with the lone loss at Reno. All but three of those wins came by double-digits, making the Mustangs the favorite at regional, although Reno, Reed and Manogue could challenge them. Four players average double-figures, including Jace Anderson (16.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg). McQueen is led by Kade Snyder (21.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg), arguably the region's top player. Truck Leaf Spring Shackle
No. 4 Spanish Springs vs. No. 5 Bishop Manogue, 7 p.m.: After going 3-6 in non-conference, Spanish Springs turned things around to finish 10-6, a tie for third in the Northern 4A. That included a season sweep of Bishop Manogue with wins of 60-42 and 67-44. The Cougars will aim for one final win over the Miners, the defending regional champions who have had ups and downs with a young roster this season. Sophomore James Williams (12.8 ppg) leads the Miners in scoring.
No. 2 Reno vs. No. 6 Galena, 7 p.m.: Reno went 20-5 overall and 14-2 in league, handing Damonte Ranch its lone league loss. Harvey Smerdon drives this team, averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The Huskies won the two regular-season games over Galena by a combined 55 points. Both teams are coached by Nevada Wolf Pack basketball alums, Matt Ochs for Reno and Olek Czyz for Galena, which went 4-12 in league.
No. 3 Reed vs. No. 6 Douglas, 7 p.m.: Reed came on strong late in the season, winning 12 of their final 14 games, the only losses to Damonte Ranch (in a close one) and Spanish Springs (which it avenged in a regular-season finale win). T.J. Coulter is averaging a region-best 28.7 points per game with Dominic Williams chopping in 19.5 per game. These teams split the season series with each winning single-digit games on the road. This should be tightly contested.
Damonte Ranch-McQueen winner vs. Spanish Springs-Bishop Manogue winner, 7 p.m. at higher seed
Reno-Galena winner vs. Reed-Douglas winner, 7 p.m. at higher seed
At Carson High, 6 p.m.
No. 1 Bishop Manogue vs. No. 9 Carson, 7 p.m.: Bishop Manogue is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as the regional champions after going 21-1 overall and 16-0 in league, those wins coming by an average of 32.9 ppg. With the North large class dropping from the 5A to the 4A, the Miners are in prime position to win their first state title since 2003 in the 3A. Carson upset Reed in the play-in game and will try and pull off the upset after losing to Manogue by 33 and 37 points this year.
No. 4 Damonte Ranch vs. No. 5 Reno, 7 p.m.: Damonte Ranch went 12-4 in league after going 5-11 last season. The Mustangs are led by senior Quinn Garrett (10.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.4 spg) and sophomore Mya Ghisletta (9.3 ppg, 2.5 spg). Damonte Ranch ranked fourth in the 4A in scoring offense and defense and play a Reno team that went through a rebuilding year that included two losses to the Mustangs in the regular season, by scores of 49-28 and 65-41.
No. 2 Spanish Springs vs. No. 6 Galena, 7 p.m.: Spanish Springs won six of its last seven games, including a 58-44 victory over Galena. The Cougars also beat the Grizzlies, 58-33, earlier in the season and will be a big favorite in this one. Layni Noonkester led Spanish Springs with 11.7 ppg while freshman Aaliyah Vance added 9.3 ppg. Mia Turner paced Galena with 11.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game as one of the North's top all-around players.
No. 3 Douglas vs. No. 6 McQueen, 7 p.m.: Douglas finished in a three-way tie for third place along with Spanish Springs and Damonte Ranch. The top four in the Northern 4A girls bracket are clear-cut better than the bottom four, so it'd be a shock if there was a quarterfinal-round upset. The Tigers, led by Zora Simpson (8.8 ppg), beat the Lancers by 29 and 21 points during the regular season. Caitlin Hilson scored a team-best 8.9 ppg for McQueen.
Bishop Manogue-Carson winner vs. Damonte Ranch-Reno winner, 7 p.m. at higher seed
Spanish Springs-Galena winner vs. Douglas-McQueen winner, 7 p.m. at higher seed
At Carson High, 4 p.m.
Friday - Semifinals (at Elko)
Fernley-North Valleys winner vs. Spring Creek, 4:40 p.m.
Hug vs. Elko, 8 p.m.
Saturday - Championship (at Elko)
Title game at 2 p.m.
Friday - Semifinals (at Elko)
Fernley-Hug winner vs. Churchill County, 6:20 p.m.
North Valleys vs. Lowry, 3 p.m.
Spring Hangers Truck Saturday - Championship (at Elko)