VEGAS INVITATIONAL: Jenkins’ return helps Bengals build program

Before ever seeing Trane’e Jenkins on a basketball court, Bonanza girls coach Dan Savage wanted her on his team.

“Her freshman year I was not the coach and (the Bengals) went 0-23,” Savage said. “I took the job after that season, and the first person I called was Trane’e.”

That’s when Savage found out Jenkins was moving to Detroit.

“She was the only returning player to help me build my program,” he said. “I was devastated to hear she was moving, but I also understood.”

So when the second-year coach discovered the guard was moving back to Las Vegas for her junior season, he was more than ecstatic.

“She’s our captain, our leader, and she gets the girls going,” Savage said.

Friday was a prime example.

Jenkins had 25 points, seven rebounds and three steals as Bonanza blitzed Chaparral, 65-44 in a quarterfinal of the Vegas Invitational at Mountain View.

“It’s very exciting to be back, because I missed my team,” Jenkins said. “I just couldn’t wait to get back to my school. This is where I’m going to graduate from, and this is who I want to win with.”

Jenkins scored 13 points in the third quarter on 6-for-6 shooting as the Bengals grabbed a 49-21 lead and cruised.

“We kind of have that Phoenix Suns mentality of trying to get a shot in seven or eight seconds,” said Savage, who has no seniors on his roster. “We haven’t had a lot of practice time to get our man-to-man zone offenses down, so we rely a lot on our fast-break offense.”

Bonanza outscored the Cowboys 24-8 in the first quarter, forcing 10 Chaparral turnovers which led to transition baskets.

Tanganika Hunt added 14 points, and Saniah Simpson had 12 points for the Bengals, who got 10 points from Alyssa Powers.

Junior forward Unique Wilson led Chaparral with 16 points.

Castlemont (Calif.) 54, Bonanza 49 — Tynisha Adams scored nine of her 13 points from the free-throw line in the second half to help the Knights advance to the tourney final with a win over the Bengals late Friday night.

Castlemont used a 25-12 third-quarter run to rally from a 21-15 halftime deficit and earn a spot in Saturday’s championship against El Rancho (Calif.).

Hunt, Simpson, and Jenkins each had 13 points for Bonanza.

Chaparral 51, Layton Christian (Utah) 47 — Heaven Anderson had 12 points as the Cowboys bounced back to down the Eagles.

Shayla Simpson led Layton Christian with 14 points.

Pahrump Valley 40, Indian Springs 37 — Alyssa Murphy tallied 19 points, and the Trojans grabbed a 25-14 halftime advantage before holding off the Thunderbirds.

Kayla Skilling added eight points for Pahrump Valley.

Hannah Thormahlen led Indian Springs with 10 points.

Calvary Chapel 50, Rock Academy (Calif.) 23 — Chloe Hammond made four 3-pointers on her way to 20 points as the Lions ran away from the Warriors.

Phallen Nelson contributed 11 points, and Lianne Reyes scored 10 for Calvary Chapel.

Sydney Daniel paced Rock Academy with 10 points.

Beatty 56, Mountain View 34 — Melynda Gross tallied 22 points, and the Hornets outscored the Saints 16-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Nicole Zamora added 13 points for Beatty.

Rose Adkins led Mountain View with 10 points.

Fairmont Prep (Calif.) 62, Pahranagat Valley 52 — Samantha Clement and Blaysen Varnadoe scored 23 points apiece to propel the Huskies past the Panthers.

Bailee Hosier paced Pahranagat with 27 points, and teammate Traci Strong scored 15.