Needles boys seek to regain momentum in 2A state basketball tournament

It would have been hard for the Needles (Calif.) boys basketball team to enter the Class 2A Southern League tournament title game with more momentum.

The Mustangs went 14-0 in league during the regular season, were riding a 19-game winning streak and just had five players receive all-league honors.

But Agassi Prep slowed Needles’ fast break on the way to a 74-64 upset win Saturday. The loss cost Needles not only the tournament trophy but also the South’s No. 1 seed for this weekend’s state playoffs.

But that’s OK, Needles senior guard Stevie Kidd said.

“We’re recharged; we’re ready to go,” said Kidd, who was named league Player of the Year last week. “We hadn’t had a loss in a long time. Now we know how a loss feels.

“We’re going to play hard and try to get a 'W.’”

Needles (29-6), the No. 2 seed from the South, opens the state tournament in the semifinals against North No. 1 Incline (22-8) at 4:40 p.m. Friday at Sierra Vista.

The Mustangs are gunning for their first state title since 2002. They lost last year in the title game, 78-69 to Lincoln County.

Needles coach Jeff Plank said the loss to Agassi Prep has led to no major changes but has helped the Mustangs refocus nonetheless.

“We’ve been going back to the basics, fundamental basketball,” Plank said. “That’s what we’re going to strive for on Friday.

“We’re going to be looking for better shots, more assists and just quality play.”

Kidd has been at the controls of Needles’ up-tempo scheme all season. The four-year starting point guard leads the Mustangs in points per game (22.9) to go along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals.

“He runs the show, he sets the tone,” Plank said. “When he pushes the ball and runs our fast break, we’re tough to beat. He’s lightning quick with and without the ball.”

Arguably the Mustangs’ best all-around player is senior wing Darra Russell, who averages 17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.2 steals.

“We’ve been pretty blessed with the combo of Darra and Stevie,” Plank said. “(Russell) is more of a slasher-rebounder type. He can play all five positions on the court.”

Kidd said he and Russell have become leaders and are not afraid to “get on our team.”

Kidd and Russell spearhead an offense averaging 71.3 points per game, including a mark of 80.3 in the last nine games.

“I like that, pushing the ball and getting the other team tired,” Kidd said. “A lot of teams can’t keep up with our fast break.”

On Friday, the Mustangs will play a Highlanders team riding a six-game winning streak. Incline is led by 6-foot-4-inch forward Josh Dykstra and a platoon of perimeter shooters.

“Incline is very well coached,” Plank said. “I have a lot of respect for the Highlanders. It’s going to be a solid state tournament.

“We’ve got to do business on Friday. Friday is do or die.”