Spartans gun for state tourney run

      Since winning the state championship in 1994, Cimarron-Memorial High's boys basketball program has failed to make it back to the state tournament.
      But this year, which has been a tightrope thus far (1-3 through Dec. 16), the Spartans are being led by an optimistic junior guard, considered one of the valley's "best-of-the-rest."
      Brian Lang, whose 6-foot-3 frame moves bodies from the paint, was averaging 22 points and 8.8 rebounds through Cimarron's first seven games.
      "This year, Lang has had a good start," said Cimarron coach Hank Girardi. "Not that it worries me ... it's not like everything is going to him. He's just aggressive, he's attacking the offensive boards, making things happen. It's not worrying me in a sense that everything is designed for him to get all our points, because that's not gonna get us to the playoffs.
      "It's because of all the little things he does extra. Half those points come off the offensive boards. He's remaining active within the system and he keeps the other kids involved."
      After building confidence during his ninth-grade season with the Spartans' freshman squad, Lang moved to varsity as a sophomore.
      "(Coach Girardi) didn't cut me no slack or nothing," Lang said. "(He) just got on me and told me what I had to do and how to progress. Coach believed in me and gave me a lot of confidence."
      Lang said although he doesn't try to prove his worth, he feels slighted when it comes to respect.
      "I'm trying to prove myself to myself that I can play to the best of my ability and I can do the things I know I can do," he said. "If they don't look at me like I'm one of the top prospects in Nevada, they just don't look at me that way, I just understand that."
      And that's just fine with him.
      "I like to keep a low profile anyway," he said. "I don't like to attract too much attention to myself. Basically I like the focus to be on them."
      Girardi said Lang and point guard Justin Gaines (3.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4.2 assists) are the keys to getting Cimarron back to the state tournament.
      "There is no question this duo ranks right up there with any other duo in town," Girardi said.
      Blending Lang's frontcourt ability and spot-up shooting, with Gaines' knowledge of the system should make Cimarron a contender when division-play begins next month, Girardi said.
      "(Gaines) is the one who sets the tone," Girardi said. "He could easily take it out of people's hands. He understands where we've got to go to improve some situations, what we're supposed to do. He's an extension of our (coaching) staff on the floor, and that's what I feel the point guard has to do.
      "His job is to get everybody in the right spot and make sure everyone is filling in the roles."
      Gaines said the Spartans are tough to beat when he and Lang are in sync, but added the supporting cast is vital.
      "There (are) a lot of duos, but I think it's really a team effort, it doesn't matter who is in sync," Gaines said. "You've got to have role players to win a state championship."
      Joining Lang and Gaines are Jason Johnson, who attacks the boards and can score, Tyler Bennett, who helps Gaines pass the ball and Travis Harper, a scrappy guard who can penetrate and pass.
      "One does the job scoring points and the other one does the job of just dishing out the ball," Gaines said. "Each of them are role players, they communicate real well."
      Added Lang: "We've got some young guys that have to step up. We have a supporting cast ... we have the talent."
      Off the bench, Marcus Banks may be one of the conference's best sixth men. Meanwhile, reserve point guard Darrel Jordan is a menace on defense and Josh Engelhart could challenge Johnson for a starting spot by the end of the season.
      "If we come together, we gel together, we work hard together, I think there is no reason we can't take state," Gaines said. "If we don't, we won't even make it to state."