Hannah Evans tries to slap the ball from Truckee's Stephanie Randall.
One year ago, the Lady Wave made history by bringing home their first state championship since joining the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association — this weekend they travel to Reno to defend that title.
Fallon’s first game of the competition is tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Reno High School against Virgin Valley’s Lady Bulldogs (9-3 in league). The winner plays Saturday against the Mesquite Lady Rattlers (7-3 in league) or Lowry’s Lady Buckaroos (12-4 in league).
The Wave currently stands 16-0 in the 3A league, their only losses coming against teams in the 4A division or to California teams.
Fallon coach Anne Smith said she isn’t looking at this weekend’s tournament as defending their title, but going for a new one.
“We really try to say that we’re a new team,” she said. “We’re not defending a title. That trophy will stay. We’re trying to get a new one.”
Smith noted there’s a chance they’ll face Lowry in the championship round — the Lady Buckaroos were last year’s state runners-up. She said they’ve been preparing for every possibility and added she’s watched film from the first half of their last Lowry game “second by second.”
The coach said Lowry’s full-court press is good along with a 1-2-2 trap that threw them off during the last game. She added that Lowry is always on the ball and ready to give it their all.
“Lowry’s not a team that will ever shy away from you,” Smith said. “They always come ready to play.”
Smith said they received video of the Southern Nevada teams this week and have been reviewing it to build their game plan. Fallon played Virgin Valley during last year’s state semifinal, so both teams have some familiarity with their opponent. Last year, Fallon defeated Virgin Valley 52-40.
Smith noted the Lady Bulldogs graduated four starters last year.
“I only know what they showed us last year, and I don’t know if that’s what we’ll see from them this year,” she said before they had watched game footage. “We’ll have to study film and make some adjustments for that this week.”
Virgin Valley will still be fielding an experienced team, though. The Lady Bulldogs feature five seniors and two juniors, most of whom are experienced players. Smith said the southern team is also tall and has averaged more rebounds than the Lady Wave this season.
Smith did not know much about Mojave’s team going into this week. After reviewing game footage, however, she noted they make good shots on the basket.
“Mojave shot well from the outside,” she said.
Either way the games turn out, it promises to be a great weekend. Head to Reno to cheer them on and grab next week’s LVN for post-game coverage. The Fallon games will also be broadcast on KKTU radio 99.5 FM with Larry Barker giving the play by play.