The entire Douglas High girls basketball team poses for a photo in front of the Tiger student section, following their state semifinal appearance against Centennial.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
RENO – Resiliency has been Douglas High girls’ basketball’s best trait this season. Along with everything the Tigers’ accomplished on the floor, to be able to close out the season at the Class 5A state semifinals with smiles across the board says more than enough about Douglas. Six-time defending state champion, Centennial, was too strong on the floor, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Tigers. A 65-9 loss was almost an afterthought for the Tigers. After trailing 43-4 at the half, Douglas came out united and soaking in the accomplishments of the season. Despite trailing big in the third quarter, the Tiger bench got down and the floor and mimicked rowing a boat to keep the energy lively. “Riley (Mello) sent us all a Tik-Tok and we were like, we should do this,” said senior captain Katrina Butalon. “Even if we’re down or up, we just have fun with each other,” added fellow captain Campbell Dedmon.
(The Douglas High girls basketball team hops off the bench to break a laugh, while rowing the boat, during the Class 5A girls state semifinal contest at Lawlor Events Center in Reno Friday. / Ron Harpin)
Getting to the biggest stage Outside of the coaching staff, none of the Tiger team was born the last time the Douglas High girls were in the state tournament. From 2002 to 2022, Douglas hadn’t had a chance to present itself on the biggest stage. The Tigers won six straight games in order to clinch their spot in the state tournament. The final win came at Damonte Ranch before the Tigers nearly upset top-seeded Bishop Manogue. Even though the season ends Friday night, the team captains were elated to have accomplished what they did, with the group they did. “I think it was just great being with everyone on this team,” said Butalon. “For us to be here together, it means a lot. It’s unreal.” “I think having the community escort and having so many people back us up, even when we were down as much as we were, I think we just soaked it in,” said Dedmon. “We really just lived in the moment.” Douglas had a police escort on the way to Lawlor Events Center and certainly had the home crowd advantage once the state semifinal tipped off. Ultimately, sophomore Aleeah Weaver led Douglas with four points in the Class 5A state semifinal. Gabrielle Wallace came off the bench and drained a triple as well for the Tigers. “All of us have been coming to games forever, so it’s so cool that we got a chance to play,” said senior Riley Mello. “No matter what the score was, we had fun with it. Plus, our community was with us.” Douglas will end its 2021-22 campaign with an 18-9 record, but all the Tigers have accomplished may not have fully set in for the girls on the team. “I’m proud of us, even without the title, we’ve grown so much in the past four years we’ve been here,” said Dedmon. “It definitely hasn’t sunk in,” added Mello. “I thin it’ll sink in next week when we won’t see each other every day for three hours.” As far as the Class 5A state title is concerned, Bishop Manogue will have the chance to upset Centennial Saturday at 3 p.m. Class 5A girls state semifinal scores No. 1 Centennial 65, No. 2 Douglas 9 No. 1 Bishop Manogue 74, No. 2 Spring Valley 62
(Douglas High junior Camden Miller dribbles up the floor at Lawlor Events Center during the Class 5A state semifinals against Centennial Friday evening. / Ron Harpin)
