LAKE MEAD CLASSIC: Rippetoe adds punch to Walker, Lincoln County attack

Dantley Walker has proven he can carry Lincoln County’s boys basketball if he has to.

But the junior guard might not have to do so as much this season with the emergence of senior forward Eric Rippetoe, who has given the Lynx a dynamic one-two punch.

Walker and Rippetoe shined Friday for Lincoln County in a 72-61 win over Basic and a 76-64 win over Beatty at the Lake Mead Holiday Classic.

The Lynx (4-0) will play Lake Mead (4-0) for the tournament title at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Eric’s game is coming along great,” Lincoln County coach Mike Wood said. “He’s been more aggressive this year. (Walker and Rippetoe) play well together; they’re both unselfish with each other.”

Walker scored 31 points and Rippetoe added 29 against Basic. Walker hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 29 points against Beatty, while Rippetoe chipped in with 28 points.

The 6-foot-5-inch Rippetoe has provided a bona fide running mate for the 5-11 Walker. Last season, Walker averaged 26.4 points to Rippetoe’s 16.9.

“I know he played summer ball this year, so that helped him out a lot,” Walker said of Rippetoe. “He got a lot better. Eric is more aggressive and wants the ball more.”

Walker hit three 3-pointers and had 13 points in the first quarter of the Gold Bracket semifinal win over Beatty, which ended with Lincoln County ahead 31-8.

“I just hit a couple shots and was locked in,” Walker said.

Wood also was pleased with the Lynx’s supporting cast. Senior guard Bruce Condie had nine points against Beatty and seven against Basic.

“I’m real proud not only of Eric and Dantley, but some of the other guys like Bruce Condie,” he said. “The other guys are chipping in, and we’re going to need that when it counts.”

In the Basic game, Nick Sangchaloay led the Wolves with 23 points, and Daniel Houlihan added 14.

In the Beatty game, Anthony Regalado led the Hornets with 23 points. Anthony Turner added 14 and Ivan Maldonado had 12.

In other games at the tournament:

Lake Mead 74, Calvary Chapel 51 — Landon Littlefield and Jessie Hehn scored 16 points apiece to lead the Eagles to an easy win in the other semifinal.

De’Quan Thompson added 11 points and L.J. Yamzon had 10 for Lake Mead, which used an 18-3 run in the second quarter to pull away.

Tyler Moore led the Lions with 19 points. Joey Peterson and Kapono Tanaka-Sanders added 11 each.

Lake Mead 67, Boulder City 52 — Littlefield scored 26 points to lead Lake Mead, which won the middle quarters 36-15.

Thompson added 21 points and Yamzon had 12 for Lake Mead.

Kyle Dimpel scored 14 points and Preston Swasey added 13 for Boulder City.

Calvary Chapel 54, The Meadows 49 — Denzel Morris and Peterson each had a steal on two of the Mustangs’ final three possessions to help the Lions hold on for the win.

Brandon Corbett scored 15 points and Peterson had 11 for Calvary Chapel, which rallied from a 14-7 deficit in the second quarter.

Austin Brown hit four 3-pointers on his way to 21 points to lead The Meadows. Garrett Gosse added 15 points.

The Meadows 66, Boulder City 56 — Gosse scored 22 points to lead three double-figure scorers as the Mustangs beat the Eagles.

Max Newman scored 20 points and Brown added 13 for The Meadows, which outscored Boulder City 26-10 in the fourth quarter.

Dimpel led Boulder City with 20 points, while Swasey added 13.

Beatty 66, Trinity 62 — Regalado scored 23 points to lead the Hornets past the Thunder.

Turner added 13 and Ramiro Hernandez had 10 for Beatty.

Budweiser Hawkins scored 19 points to lead Trinity, which also got double-figure scoring from Gage Neuwohner (14) and Tyler Watts (12).

Beatty outscored Trinity 36-24 in the second half.

Basic 73, Trinity 64 — Sangchaloay had 29 points and 14 rebounds to lift the Wolves past the Thunder.

Toney Jones added 23 points for Basic, which outscored Trinity 12-4 in the second quarter.

Hawkins poured in a tournament single-game high 35 points to lead Trinity. Neuwohner added 17.

Spring Mountain 48, Indian Springs 38 — At Calvary Chapel, De’Andre Hampton scored 23 points as the Eagles beat the Thunderbirds.

Brock McQuade added 16 points for Spring Mountain.

Junior Baker scored 17 points and Brock Roadhouse had 12 for Indian Springs.

Henderson International 48, San Diego Lutheran 30 — At Calvary Chapel, Jay Sutorius poured in 25 points to carry the Wolverines past the Knights.

Henderson International scored 36 points in the middle quarters after being held to two in the first.