Manogue girls reach state championship

LAS VEGAS – Bishop Manogue’s girls team is hoping the third time is a charm.

After losing the past two years in the state semifinals, Manogue finally got over the hump, and the Miners did it in convincing fashion with a 74-37 win over Foothill on Thursday night at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.

The Miners earned the right to play eight-time champ Centennial for the state title today at 6 p.m. The Miners haven’t won a state title since winning in the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons as a 3A team.

Centennial, led by Jayden Eggleston’s 23 points and 22 by Justice Ethridge, rolled past Liberty, 76-51.

Malia Holt, one of the leaders of the team, said the Miners were hoping to get a shot at Centennial.

“There’s been a lot of talk about them and we want to come out and beat them,” she said. “(Manogue) hasn’t been in this position yet, so we’re excited.”

And, Manogue coach Carlnel Wiley said he will change nothing, which means full-speed ahead. Wiley expects a high-scoring and wide-open game. Blink and you might miss a couple of baskets. “I only know how to play one way, and that is to attack,” Wiley said after Thursday’s contest.

“That is who we are. We are really locked in (right now).”

There was talk among some Vegas-area writers Centennial would hammer whomever walked onto the court today in the finals.

Don’t bet on that, especially if Malia and Kenna Holt (20 points) and Katie Turner (16 points) play like they did against Foothill.

Simply put, the Falcons never knew what hit them. The Miners forced four turnovers in the first three minutes and took a quick 9-0 lead on two hoops by Turner, a trey by Malia Holt and a hoop by Kenna Holt.

The Miners came out trapping and pressing, and the Falcons were bothered by it. Malia Holt said that’s by design.

“Our defense sparks our offense,” Malia Holt said.

Manogue led 17-6 after the first quarter, and the closest Foothill got was 21-15 when it put together a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter.

The Miners retaliated with a 13-4 run to take a 34-19 lead with 2:16 left in the half. Turner had five straight points in the surge, Malia Holt had a trey and Ashley Sprouse threw in a 3-pointer.

The game was played with a running clock for approximately the final 12 minutes.