Wave basketball home opener highlights weekend

One test down, another to go.

And the season is only just begun.

After passing the first test last weekend, the Greenwave basketball teams encounter another challenge this weekend when two of the top schools in the 3A Northern visit the Lahontan Valley. Spring Creek plays in Fallon this evening at the Elmo Dericco Gymnasium followed by Elko on Saturday.

Both Fallon teams won two of three in last week’s tournament in Reno where the Lady Wave was four points away from sending its game against Reno to overtime while the Greenwave boys rebounded nicely from a double-digit loss to post 80-point winning efforts in its next two games.

They are exciting to watch and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t grab a seat at the gym this weekend.

The Lady Wave is coming off its first NIAA state title and nearly defeated last year’s 4A regional tournament runner-up on its home floor. Fallon led Reno in the first quarter, trailed by double-digits late and then came a couple shots away from upsetting the Huskies. Fallon’s shooting wasn’t sharp, especially at the free throw line, but still almost pulled out the win. What’s scary is if Fallon shot 10-15 percent better, it would have been a blowout win for the Lady Wave against one of the 4A’s best.

Fallon is that good and it showed even when the team was having an off night.

Spring Creek and Elko will give Anne Smith’s team an early-season challenge, especially after how both teams fared in the Reno tournament last weekend. Spring Creek blew out Carson by 19 points but struggled against two California teams. Elko will be on the watch list after the Indians defeated Carson by 20 and Damonte Ranch by 14. However, Elko lost by four points to Douglas, a team Fallon defeated 62-32.

The Greenwave boys are going to turn some heads this season.

While the talk of the town has been focused on the girls since winning the state title, don’t be surprised if Chelle Dalager’s cagers create chaos in the league this season. Fallon’s offense is potent and outside of its lone loss, the team averaged 79 points per game. The Greenwave has the potential to be the best boys team since Fallon moved to the 3A and the best since Corey Williams’ group finished second in the 4A in 2009.

This team can be that good.

Like its counterparts, Fallon will face a tough challenge with Spring Creek and Elko. The Spartans won their first three games of the season, including an eight-point win over Moapa Valley, but lost to Boulder City by 30. Elko is always tough and it defeated Reno, 71-51, but lost to Reed by only two points in overtime in the Red Lion Tournament.

This weekend provides the community its first opportunity to watch last year’s state championship team and a team on the rise with hopes of reaching the state tournament for the first time since the 1970s. You’re not going to want to miss high-quality 3A basketball this weekend, or this season.

Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.