NCAA championship is lawmakers' pre-game

No need for basketball lovers to despair just because the NCAA season ended last night: There's another big game tonight in Carson City.

OK, maybe that's stretching it a bit. It's the biennial Battle of the Legislature Basketball Challenge between Democrats and Republicans.

But it's usually good for a few laughs and it's certainly good for the Nevada Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs. All proceeds from the $10 admission fee go to those groups.

Republicans have won the game three out of four times but the "D's" have vowed to change that. This year, they may have a chance with the addition of Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas, who was a college star and drafted by the NBA at one point. Others on the Democratic team include Speaker Richard Perkins, Senator John Lee and Assembly members Moose Arberry, John Oceguera, William Horne, Mo Denis and Kelvin Atkinson.

Perkins has taken some ribbing in the past for his play but has made it clear in earlier games ball handling isn't his game.

"I've got five fouls, baby," he told reporters two years ago.

The GOP team is anchored by Secretary of State Dean Heller and Sen. Mark Amodei - both of whom starred in their high school days at Carson. They will be joined by Sen. Barbara Cegavske and Assembly members Heidi Gansert, Joe Hardy, Garn Mabey and Rod Sherer.

Tip off is 7:30 p.m. at the Carson High gymnasium.