Throw out the records, the unbeaten streak and major dominance. They don’t’ matter anymore.
The new season begins this weekend for the Greenwave basketball teams as they embark on the second season with the regional tournament at North Valleys High School in Reno.
The Lady Wave are coming off its first undefeated regular season since the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association was founded and will be the favorite to win this weekend’s regional tournament. Fallon opens with the winner between No. 3 Elko and No. 6 Truckee tonight at 6:20 p.m.
The boys team, on the other hand, squeaked into the postseason after a midseason shake-up and opened the tournament on Thursday night in a play-in game against cross-valley rival Fernley. A win would put No. 5 Fallon against top-seed Elko tonight at 8 p.m.
The school’s strongest chances at winning a basketball title will be put to the test today and Saturday with the girls team having the best chance at not only winning the regional but possibly state. Both titles would be the first-ever in the program’s history for girls basketball.
But while records are meant to fall and undefeated streaks are impressive, none of that will matter if Fallon cannot take care of business this weekend.
The Lady Wave have dominated every league opponent this year, winning all 16 games by double-digits and all but two by 20 or more points. No other team in the state has been able to match that dominance.
The formula to success for Anne Smith’s team has been simple and the girls haven’t strayed away from one of the most overlooked concepts — playing team basketball. Not one player is selfish and wants to score all the points. These girls look out for each other, like a family, and they’ve been able to dominate the Division I-A as well as a few Division I teams in December.
The defense and pressure have been unmatched this season and have created many turnovers that led to easy buckets. The wealth has been spread across the floor as a mixture of upper- and lowerclassmen have contributed to this year’s success. Not only do teams have to worry about Fallon this season but this club is built to start a dynasty, similar to the softball program that has won the state title every year but one since joining the Division I-A. The 2015-2016 basketball squad loses only two seniors.
If you haven’t already, be prepared for great things to come to this town every winter.
The boys’ story is nearly an opposite tale from their counterparts.
Brad Barton’s team was in top four of the standings early in the season before an off-court issue nearly derailed the Greenwave. Down to a few of its remaining starters and bench, Fallon kept an even keel in the second half of the year as it almost missed out on the postseason. Instead, Fallon grabbed the last playoff berth and faced Fernley on Thursday. With its new look, Fallon defeated Fernley on the road by double digits last month.
The Greenwave have shown perseverance multiple times this season and encountered a welcomed fresh start in the playoffs and a win gets Fallon one away from qualifying for state.
Both the girls and boys teams have a chance to add to Fallon’s postseason success, including the football team’s state championship. It’s only a matter of time when the Greenwave can boast a state basketball championship.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.