Stories for November 2005

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Wednesday, November 30

BCS may be lucky this year

It would appear for once that college football's Bowl Championship Series poll will actually work! Fans of college will get lucky as long as undefeated favorites Texas and USC win by just one point tomorrow, because those teams would deservedly meet in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4, for the BCS national title.

Taylor-Hopkins bout could be close again

The last time they met, Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins made it tough on the judges before Taylor took a 12-round split decision to win the undisputed world middleweight championship.

Kansas is truly the Oz of college basketball

LAWRENCE, Kan. - When I pulled into the Allen Fieldhouse parking lot Wednesday night, I admit I was bit taken aback.

Galena beats defending state champ Centennial

The Galena High girls basketball team last won the NIAA 4A State title in 2000. While it's still early, the Grizzlies made a huge statement that they're ready to contend for the crown again.

Douglas boys basketball wins

Rob Streeter picked up his first win as the Douglas boys coach at the Buchanan-Clovis West Tournament in Fresno, Calif. Douglas rebounded after a 76-33 loss to Memorial of Fresno, ranked No. 19 in the nation. "We'll take an ugly win," Streeter said.

St. Nick gives Nevada early Christmas present

LAWRENCE, Kansas - Eight losses at home in the past 11 years. Suffice to say, beating Kansas at home is no easy task.

Charlo shows remarkable poise

LAWRENCE, Kansas - The only fault coach Mark Fox really found with his team was the way it played in the second half when Kansas went to a zone defense.

Tuesday, November 29

Carson wrestling among the teams to beat

Based on its performance at the Damonte Ranch Duals, the Carson High wrestling team had been the team to beat.

For Nevada, there's no place like Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kansas - It's been one year and one day since Kansas spanked Nevada by a whopping 33 points in front of a national television audience and 16,300 adoring fans.

Douglas boys fall to No. 19 team in the country

The Douglas High boys basketball team ran into one of the best teams in the country in a 76-33 loss to Memorial of Fresno, Calif., in the Buchanan-Clovis West Tournament on Thursday in Fresno.

Dayton basketball beats Douglas JVs

T.W. Cunningham won in his debut as coach of the Dayton boys basketball team at the Sutro Tournament on Thursday in Dayton.

Tigers rally to edge Senators in Sierra League dual meet

MINDEN - Aided by two late pins and some last-minute lineup maneuvering, the Douglas High wrestling team rallied for a 36-31 Sierra League dual meet victory against Carson in an early season showdown on Wednesday night.

Monday, November 28

Locals qualify for nationals

Annie Brinson, Nick Schlager and Gloria Sosa of the Sierra Flyers youth running club all punched their tickets to nationals thanks to top-five performances in their respective age group races at the Junior Olympic Region 14 Cross Country Championships held on Sunday in Fresno, Calif.

Silver Sox name manager, pitching coach

RENO - Two former Major League pitchers - Les Lancaster and Mike Hartley - have been named manager and pitching coach, respectively, by the fledgling Reno Silver Sox.

Yerington boys beat ROP

The Yerington boys basketball team, coming off a season in which it advanced to the NIAA 3A State semifinals, got off to an impressive start on Tuesday with a 58-50 win over 2A power Rite of Passage.

Nevada prefers Hawaii or Las Vegas

RENO - Nevada coach Chris Ault made it perfectly clear Tuesday afternoon. The only bowls he's interested in attending are Las Vegas and Hawaii.

Galena girls top Carson in season opener

RENO - All things considered, the final outcome probably shouldn't come as any big surprise.

Sunday, November 27

Wolf Pack's bowl status on hold

RENO - Nevada's bowl status is on hold for another several days, according to Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson.

1984: Aboxingodyssey

Big Brother - whose black mustachio'd face adorned the poster across the street - seemed to stare in contempt at Winston Smith as he darted through the glass doors out from the chill of the icy November night into the Victory Mansions.

Pack's Hubbard, Jaekle honored

RENO - Nevada reaped the benefits of the program's biggest football win since becoming a Division I-A school in the early '90s.

Saturday, November 26

Wolf Pack volleyball has NCAA invitation

RENO - It was a great weekend if you're a Wolf Pack fan.

Friday, November 25

Still plenty of interest in Chase

Well, another NASCAR racing season is in the history books, and it was a mixed bag. First, I want to add my congratulations to Tony Stewart, who is, to my mind, one of the most talented and versatile drivers not only of this era, but of all time.

Carson wrestling wins Damonte Ranch event

The Carson High boys wrestling team made an impressive statement to begin the season by winning the Damonte Ranch duals on Saturday.

Pee Wees fall in regional finals

A return trip to the National Championships wasn't to be for the Carson Senator Pee Wee Pop Warner football team as it lost to Hollister, Calif., 23-0 on Saturday in the regional finals in Santa Clara, Calif.

Hawai'i wins volleyball title

RENO - The University of Hawai'i proved once again they are among the elite in college volleyball.

Nevada's win may have opened another door for a bowl game

Nevada's 38-35 win Saturday over Fresno State may have opened another door for a bowl game.

Nevada shocks Fresno State

RENO - The Wolf Pack found a way to muzzle the Bulldogs Saturday in a highly charged Western Athletic Conference football game at Mackay Stadium before an announced attendance of 17,765.

UNLV names court after Tark

LAS VEGAS - The speech barely lasted 30 seconds. The fans at Thomas & Mack Center didn't care.

Nevada hangs tough in win over UNLV

LAS VEGAS - Mental toughness is one ingredient of a good road basketball team.

Thursday, November 24

Nevada travels to face UNLV

LAS VEGAS - Nevada puts two different streaks on the line tonight when it visits arch-rival UNLV (2-0).

Nevada volleyball takes Hawai'i to four games

RENO - The University of Nevada volleyball team had two chances to force a fifth game and possibly upset the eighth best team in the country.

Wednesday, November 23

Nevada volleyball rolls past Idaho

RENO - Facing a 29-24 deficit in the second game, the University of Nevada volleyball team fought back to win the game and match in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

Tuesday, November 22

Nevada volleyball opens play in WAC event

RENO - The Nevada volleyball team can only hope its "new" home will be just as comforting as its old.

Moreland, Updegrove honored

Carson High freshmen Blake Moreland and Adam Updegrove have been named to the Nevada State Olympic Development Program soccer team.

Carson girls basketball ready for season

It's to be expected that the Carson High girls basketball team should go through some growing pains at the beginning of the season under first-year coach Ric Garcia.

Colts will not go undefeated

Usually by Thanksgiving, NFL fans aren't still talking about there being any undefeated teams. But this year's Indianapolis Colts have earned themselves a chance at surpassing the 1972 Miami Dolphins' perfect record of 17-0.

The showdown: Nevada vs. Fresno State

RENO - Championship games at Mackay Stadium in November have been few and far between for the Nevada football program since it went to Division I-A status back in 1992.

Fans need to show up for today's game

It's a big game for Nevada's football program, probably one of the biggest in school history.

Monday, November 21

Salave'a near the end of her career

RENO - Salaia Salave'a is probably one of the best volleyball players to grace the floors of the Virginia Street Gym.

Nevada begins four-game road trip

Four games in 10 days, and to make it worse all of them are on the road.

Nevada football to play for title

RENO - Saturday is a huge day for the Nevada football program.

Sunday, November 20

Bulldogs were there to win the game

The atmosphere was electric, and Fresno State came within an eyelash of pulling off an upset of mammoth proportions on Saturday night.

Carson baseball duo picked for preseason All-American tournament

Carson High can boast of not just one, but two preseason All-Americans heading into the 2006 baseball season.

Pack entertains bowl prospects

RENO - It's been widely speculated for the past two weeks that Nevada's football team was headed to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24.

King of the Mountain returning to Squaw Valley

With snow guns poised to fire, Sierra Nevada mountain resorts are gearing up for another season.

Saturday, November 19

Friday, November 18

Stewart looks to be a lock

There are two topics I wish I didn't have to write about this week, but I don't see how I can avoid them.

Carson Pop Warner advances to regional semis

The Carson Senator Pee Wee Pop Warner football team moved one step closer to returning to the National Championships with a 14-8 win over the San Marin Ponies in the regional semifinals on Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.

Truckee repeats 3A state championship

RENO - It was cold and Bob Shaffer was soaked, but the Truckee High School football coach didn't mind in the least after being doused by his Wolverines at the end of their 37-23 victory against Virgin Valley in the NIAA 3A State Championship game, presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Saturday night at Mackay Stadium.

Nevada basketball wins opener

RENO - Nick Fazekas makes no bones about it. He's comfortable in the spotlight.

Nevada wasn't in 'Sessions' that much

RENO - Ramon Sessions was conspicuous by his absence late in the game Saturday night in Nevada's 82-74 season-opening win over Sacramento State.

Thursday, November 17

Wednesday, November 16

Bulldogs will cover vs. USC

It is an excellent time of year to be a college football fan, as the regular season approaches its climax with huge rivalry games.

Nevada opens with Sacramento State

RENO - During the 1990s, Sacramento State was the proverbial laughingstock of college basketball.

Tuesday, November 15

Carson boys hoops set for season

Not much has changed for the Carson High boys basketball team over the years. The Senators again will be an athletic team with relatively little size who will be going up against mostly bigger squads.

Nevada set to face Utah State

It's been a long time since a Nevada football team won seven games in a season - eight years to be exact.

Baseball steps up to the plate

Those words are addressed to the baseball fraternity for its recent decision to have tougher penalties on drug use. These penalties have teeth.

Monday, November 14

Scurry signs to play baseball with Nevada

Galena High graduate Rod Scurry is among six players the University of Nevada baseball team who has signed during the fall signing period.

Nevada spikers cruise past Davis

RENO - Emotions ran crazy, but then the University of Nevada volleyball team focused and took care of business.

Aigbogun dedicated to soccer

Don't be misled by his soft voice and easy-going demeanor because on any soccer field, Paul Aigbogun is a dedicated man who has a passion he wants to pass on to others.

Sunday, November 13

Bulldogs face another big test - this time No. 1 Trojans

For the second straight week, Fresno State finds itself in a huge game with important bowl implications.

WAC honors Pack's Mitchell

RENO - B.J. Mitchell's fifth 100-yard game of the season earned him the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Resorts to open in a week or so - hopefully

In just a week or so mountain area resorts are expected to open. But don't count on it.

Saturday, November 12

Tigersharks bring home high-point trophies

Holly Burton, Abby Niehoff and Tallon Rauch captured high-point trophies in their respective age groups for the Carson Tigersharks during their own Sextathlon Invitational multi-event swim meet over the weekend at the Carson Aquatic Facility.

Friday, November 11

Roush takes it personally

NASCAR has dropped the other shoe on topic of limiting team size. Thursday, NASCAR announced the new policy, which will limit an owner to a maximum of four teams.

Nevada volleyball crushes Fresno State

RENO - The University of Nevada volleyball team avenged a five-game loss last month in Fresno by knocking off the Bulldogs 30-13, 30-14 and 30-26 Saturday afternoon before 368 fans at the Virginia Street Gym.

Senator youth football wins Snow Bowl

The Carson Senators Pee Wee football team is one game away from returning to the Pop Warner National Championships.

Nevada women win in exhibition

RENO - Four players scored in double figures to lead the Nevada women's basketball team to an 81-55 exhibition win over Sonoma State Saturday afternoon before 1,047 fans at Lawlor Events Center.

Dayton football falls in semifinals

The Dayton High football team looked like it was well on its to another huge offensive day, but then Virgin Valley was able to control the ball.

Galena beats Carson girls soccer for title

RENO - Carson High's quest for a perfect 20-0 season came to a disappointing end Saturday night.

Sessions sits out of exhibition

RENO - The Pack played without sophomore guard Ramon Sessions, who re-aggravated a hip injury during the afternoon shootaround prior to Saturday's 78-72 win over Humboldt State.

Nevada not 'Humboldt' this time

RENO - Marcelus Kemp is back, and that's bad news for opponents on the Nevada basketball schedule.

Thursday, November 10

Galena spikers advance to finals

The Galena High volleyball team is one match away from defending its NIAA 4A state title.

All all-Northern state final in soccer

They can be called aggressive. They can be called opportunistic. And now, the Elko Indians can be called finalists in the NIAA 4A State Boys Soccer Tournament, presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wednesday, November 9

Carson girls soccer to play for title

19-0. Carson High girls soccer coach Randy Roser maintained perspective as his team goes for the perfect season.

Looking at college football

Unlike every other major team sport, Division I college football has failed to produce any kind of playoff to determine who wins its championship. Instead, the heads of the six major conferences have schemed together to create the highly controversial Bowl Championship Series Poll.

Shiloh still competing for playing time

RENO - Another basketball season is here, and nothing has changed for Kyle Shiloh. He's in another tough fight to get significant playing time for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Nevada spikers beat Idaho

RENO - Five-game matches seem unavoidable for the University of Nevada volleyball team.

Galena falls just short again against McQueen

RENO - The night started out on a promising note for Galena when Jake Hess blocked a McQueen punt and the Grizzlies drove the length of the field for an early score.

Tuesday, November 8

Dayton and Galena set for playoff football games

Dayton High's football team has made road trips before, but never as long and as important as the one they will embark on Friday morning.

Scott and McAlman ready to move on

Carson High's Nicole Scott could be called a Renaissance woman. She has kept a busy schedule which has included playing three sports in high school, not to mention club basketball, and maintaining a job.

Klitschko announces his retirement

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko announced his retirement in a press release Wednesday.

Galena spiker set for state

After losing seven key players from last year's NIAA 4A State championship team, the Galena High volleyball team could have been considered somewhat of a long shot to defend its crown.

DeMars ready for more playing time

RENO - Nevada linebacker Jason DeMars has been anxiously awaiting a chance for some serious playing time, and that time appears to be now.

Nevada men's basketball to host Humboldt State

At the end of the game, Humboldt State players and their small enotourage of fans celebrated like they had won a national championship.

Monday, November 7

Local Racer Takes Step to the Big Time

Four years ago local racer Mackena Bell, then barely 11 years old, took to the track in a Box Stock Outlaw Kart, a scaled-down dirt sprint car powered by a glorified lawnmower engine.

The hazards of being a fantasy football coach

No doubt, the expression on Norv Turner's face said it all after the Oakland Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-23, on Larry Johnson's touchdown plunge as time expired on Sunday.

Analysis - a look at Carson High sports

When 23 players suited up for the Carson High football team on Sept. 30 for a game at Hug, it could be viewed as a microcosm of what's happening in prep sports at many athletic programs.

Nevada expected to sign three today

RENO - The University of Nevada men's basketball team is expected to sign at least three players to national letters of intent today, including McQueen High's Matt LaGrone.

Locals moving on to next level

While today is the first day of the fall signing period for high school athletes to sign with four-year colleges, it really just begins a recruiting journey that will last until the spring and even beyond.

Nevada football takes on New Mexico State

The toughest job Nevada football coach Chris Ault might face is not preparing to beat New Mexico State, but making sure his team doesn't overlook the winless Aggies today when they meet at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Sunday, November 6

Pack looking for win at New Mexico State

RENO - Barring a major meltdown in the last three weeks, a bowl game is a good possibility for Nevada's football team.

Bulldogs, Broncos collide Thursday night

The eyes of Western Athletic Conference coaches and fans, and much of the nation, will be on Thursday night's Fresno State-Boise State game which will likely decide the conference championship.

Just how impressive was Lacy?

My fight coverage of Saturday's Showtime-televised card was devoid of quotes and some other things you ought to know. Here they are:

Saturday, November 5

Late free throws help Nevada women win

RENO - Thanks to eight free throws in the final minute, the Nevada women's basketball team was able to ice an 87-83 exhibition win against Bay Area Pro-Am on Sunday afternoon before 314 fans at Lawlor Events Center.

Friday, November 4

NASCAR may limit size of teams

There's an old military saying, "God is on the side with the biggest battalions." Jack Roush of the NASCAR Nextel Cup wars would certainly agree with that sentiment.

Shroy takes fifth, Carson girls third at state

RENO - The symbolism of the Carson High boys cross country team's effort could been at the top of their heads.

Gloude earns first team honors for WNCC

Western Nevada Community College's Dominique Gloude was named to the all-Scenic West Conference first team in women's soccer.

Galena spikers beat Douglas for zone title

Midway through the second game, holding a 17-13 lead and having already stole away the first game with five unanswered points to close it out, the Douglas volleyball team appeared to be well on its way toward reversing the outcome of the 2004 regional and state finals.

Spencer has a big day for Nevada

RENO - Nevada wide receiver Caleb Spencer spent most of the week trying to scrounge tickets from his teammates for approximately 40 friends and family members coming over from Hawai'i to watch him play the Rainbow Warriors.

Carson, Galena girls advance

Being down by one goal late in the first half on Saturday was no problem as far as the Carson High girls soccer team was concerned.

Nevada football beats Hawai'i

RENO - Nevada coach Chris Ault admitted he was concerned about his young team's resiliency following a blowout loss at Boise State last weekend.

Lacy defends his title

STATELINE - IBF super middleweight king Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy turned in perhaps his most impressive victory as a professional, knocking down Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton with a vicious right hand at 2 minutes, 59 seconds of the second round.

Thursday, November 3

Wednesday, November 2

Local high school football playoff capsules

Notes: Both teams rely on punishing ground games for the bulk of their yards. The Huskies are led by Brennan Locker, who has gained 804 yards on 136 carries.

Douglas football to face McQueen

Douglas' football team must travel to Reno tonight to take on the McQueen Lancers, ranked first in the Sierra Nevada Sports Media Poll all season, in the opening round of the playoffs.

Picking the NBA season

Instituting a dress code for employees would be no big deal for most every business or sport. In the National Basketball Association, however, it was the story of the preseason.

Senators ready to run in state meet

Qualifying for the state meet has been a season-long goal for both the Carson High School girls and boys cross country teams. Now that the Senators have accomplished their missions, coach Dennis Brinson has laid down one more goal.

Nevada basketball beats Rockhurst

RENO - Defense and rebounding.

Elko defeats Carson in soccer semifinals

This time, there were no late fireworks show to light up the sky when the Carson and Elko high school boys soccer teams collided in the Northern 4A Regional Tournament.

Junior Pee Wees win

The Carson Junior Pee Wee Silver youth football team defeated the Reno Cardinals 27-0 last Friday in the first round of the playoffs.

Ikovlev makes strong debut

RENO - Dennis Ikovlev's debut in a Nevada basketball uniform was a big hit.

Nevada hosts Hawai'i today

Coaches: Nevada coach Chris Ault is 172-73-1 in his 21st season; Hawai'i coach June Jones is 43-30 in his 7th season

Tuesday, November 1

Carson girls soccer jumps into semifinals

RENO - The weather was more fitting for Eskimos, but it didn't seem to faze the Carson Senators girls' soccer team.