North's 4A boys best and only shot at another state title will be decided in two weeks

The snickering won't stop in Reno. All six Northern 4A boys and girls teams lost in the first round. Both 4A state titles were won by Las Vegas teams. That's nothing new for the boys as a Northern Nevada team hasn't won a large school state title since Carson did in 1975. But the girls?

Before Centennial's double overtime win over Douglas last year, the south hadn't won state since 1980. And with the Bulldogs winning again this year, it marked the first time ever a south team has won back-to-back titles.

When it comes to the girls, though, I don't think dominance has suddenly switched to the south. This year was just a anomaly, but it's clear that the north probably won't win 20 consecutive state titles ever again.

The boys, though, is and always has been a much different story.

"I think they're just getting so big," Carson boys coach Bruce Barnes said of the schools in Las Vegas, which is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. "Their numbers are astronomical and if those guys start going to specific schools, which is kind of already happening, look out because we're going to be in trouble."

I think three boys state titles in 27 years is enough evidence to show Northern Nevada is already in trouble. (Even though it's a California school, I'm just throwing South Tahoe winning in 1992 and '87 in there to make the north look a little better.)

The good news is that help might be on the way and not in the form of an influx of ridiculously talented eighth-grade players moving to Reno.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is meeting March 12-13 to discuss a new format for the state tournament in all classifications. The initial idea, for nothing more than cost cutting purposes, was to have a one game state championship, putting one team from the south vs. one team from north for all the marbles. That's the best and probably the north's only shot at ever winning another boys state title.

"Every once in a while then, the north might have a team that could win a state championship," Barnes said. "Maybe you could have that one great game. Maybe."

Since 1997, north teams have a combined record of 4-21 in the state tournament. It's already taking a perfect game for a north team just to win one game, let alone three, in an eight-team state tournament. If a team is going to play a perfect game, it might as well be in the state championship. But just when things were looking promising for the north, the NIAA has changed its mind.

It appears some coaches aren't fond of the south champion vs. the north champion in a one-game scenario, so another format will be introduced at the meeting.

In all classifications other than 3A, when the tournament is played in Las Vegas, the south will have three teams and the north will have one in a four-team state tournament. When the tournament is played in Reno, the south will get two teams and the north will get two teams. In 3A, the scenario will be reversed since there are more 3A schools in the north than the south.

In the second format, a north team would now need two perfect games, which is unlikely. If I'm a coach from the north, my pompoms will be shaking for the first format March 12-13.

STATE TOURNAMENT NOTES

Maybe Virginia City guard Curry Lynch didn't play his last game at Lawlor Events Center when his Muckers lost on Friday in the 1A semifinals. After watching Lynch on Thursday and Friday, Nevada coach Trent Johnson has seen him play almost a half dozen times this season. As impressed as Johnson is of the 6-foot-1 guard and his ability, imagine if he watched him play really well. Lynch was just 3-of-20- this week from behind the 3-point line.

"I try to step up it up when he's watching me and pump myself up," Lynch said. "I try to not let the pressure bother me."

Even if Johnson doesn't offer Lynch an athletic scholarship, he will most likely earn a Millennium Scholarship and then could be a preferred walk on, which wouldn't bother Lynch one bit.

"That would be like a dream. I've watched them play growing up and to be able to play for them would be awesome. Now that they're on the rise, I would love to be a part of it."

As anticipated, David Padgett made the McDonald's All-American Game's West team, which was announced on Friday. Rumor has it, though, that Padgett, who injured his knee at a game in Carson in early February, won't play in the game because his knee won't be ready. I don't think Ronald McDonald was notified of that news before the rosters were announced, but I don't think he was suppose to.

Jeremy Evans is a Nevada Appeal sportswriter.