Spanish Springs girls basketball players were feeling pretty good about themselves late last July after completing a highly successful summer offseason program that saw them compete in tournaments locally as well as in Boise, Sacramento and San Diego.

That left the Cougars with realistic dreams of a competing for a Northern 4A championship this winter. Then came mid-August and SSHS standout Jordan Rogers, learned she'd miss her senior season after tearing an ACL. That meant Spanish Springs would have to learn to play without the High Desert League's reigning player of the year.

Despite that big blow, Spanish Springs currently sits 17-10 overall and 6-4 in High Desert League play while clinching just the third playoff berth in the school's eight-year history.

“I think nobody gave up. I put a lot of that credit on our coach,” Spanish Springs senior all-league post Courtney Darby said, alluding to veteran Cougars coach Christine Eckles. “No matter what happened, she was always pushing us to play as a team. She always believed in us. We finally realized we have to believe in ourselves too.”

It has been a roller coaster ride to this point for Spanish Springs. The Cougars got off to a 7-2 start this winter only to lose five in a row and fall back to the .500 mark. The final three of those defeats were the first contests in an eight-game suspension for three senior starters.

There were more peaks and valleys ahead for Spanish Springs. Despite being shorthanded, Spanish Springs put together seven straight wins to improve to 14-7. But after the suspended players returned, the SSHS squad lost three straight, including a disappointing loss to McQueen, its first to the Lancers in almost three years.

That loss seemed to be a bit of a wake-up call. Or maybe Spanish Springs is just finally getting adjusted to a consistent lineup. Either way, the Cougar girls have won their last three games, all in High Desert League play, and all by double digits. The mini streak has helped Spanish Springs lock up consecutive playoff invitations.

“It's really rewarding to know, that as a group, we have gone back-to-back,” Cougars senior guard Caitlin McKinney said. “We've overcome some tough things, stuck it out and done what we've needed to do. That feels good.”

Eckles, who started the Spanish Springs girls basketball program when the school opened in the fall of 2001, had similar sentiments.

“I'm most proud of the mental fortitude of the kids to overcome a lot of obstacles that were thrown in front of them,” she said. “I'm proud that we kept the expectations high. This group can be proud of itself.

“Sometimes I think you find out more about your character when things are tough. This season definitely shows that this is a group of fighters, who are very determined. That has paid off with what they've earned and will pay off in the future in more than just basketball.”

Spanish Springs has two regular season games left. It will host McQueen tonight on senior night and celebrate the prep career of four seniors, who have led the program to its three most successful seasons. Then it goes to Reed for both schools’ finale Saturday.

Spanish Springs has already locked up the HDL's No. 3 seed and will travel for a first-round playoff affair Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Cougars will open the postseason against the Sierra League's runner-up, which will be the loser of tonight's Galena-Bishop Manogue game.

Reed (15-7, 9-2 HDL) is going into the regional tournament as the HDL's runnerup. The Raiders will host a first-round tourney tilt Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Sierra League's No. 3 seed. That will be the winner of tonight's Carson-Douglas meeting.

The RHS girls have had another stellar season, dropping only two games in league, both overtime heartbreakers to defending state runner-up Reno. Reed is 80-5 in league play over the past seven seasons.

Boys

Spanish Springs still has some work to do. It clinches a second-straight playoff bid by winning either of its last two games — at home against McQueen tonight or at Reed Saturday. An Elko road loss to either Hug or Reno the next two nights would also ensure the Cougar boys a regional invite.

Spanish Springs looks to be in a good spot as it has already beaten McQueen and Reed and Elko has not won a league road game this season.

“Our kids are deserving of the spot they have themselves in,” Spanish Springs boys basketball coach Kyle Penney said. “They are working, listening and trying to improve on our deficiencies. They are ready and relaxed to simply play basketball and make plays within our philosophies. The hay is in the barn.”

Assuming the Cougars qualify for postseason play, they could still wind up anywhere from second to fourth. They need Elko to beat Hug to finish second. If Spanish Springs wins both of its games this weekend, or even just beats Reed, it will be the HDL's third seed.

While the Cougars (17-8, 6-4) have the two league games on back-to-back days, Reed does not play Friday and will have had a trio of practices to prepare solely for Spanish Springs.

“My job is to make sure my team is ready to play a game at any time, whether that be Friday, Saturday or whenever,” Penney said. “We can only focus and play one game at a time. We have to be able to play and execute the things we spend time working on and talking about on Friday night first and then see where that leaves us.”

Considering Reed (12-1, 7-4) and Spanish Springs both have four league losses and play each other, their playoff scenarios are nearly identical.

Reed could finish as high as second if it beats Spanish Springs and Elko upsets Hug. It could be third if it wins and Hug wins. The Raiders cannot be knocked out of the postseason field, but could be the fourth seed if they lose Saturday.

“We have something to play for and that's everything we've wanted,” Reed coach Dustin Hall said. “We are glad we are in the position we are in and we anticipate Saturday being an intense game with a good environment.”

The HDL's No. 2 seed will play the Sierra League's third seed, which will be either Galena or Carson. The HDL's third seed will go to SL No. 2 seed Fallon for a first-round playoff game. The HDL's fourth seed will travel to face SL champion Manogue. All first-round boys regional matchups will be played Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Hall admits he's thrilled with how the schedule has worked out, stressing three days to prepare for Spanish Springs is good for his club.

“It was nice to play Tuesday because that gives us three days to get ready,” Hall said. “Spanish Springs has the other game Friday. They can't key in on us and just worry about us. That's definitely to our advantage.”

At Sparks High, the SHS boys could finish second or third in the final 3A North League standings. The top two teams receive first-round byes into next weekend's regional tournament.

Sparks (10-15, 7-4) will be the second seed if it beats Dayton tonight or if Lowry loses at Truckee. If it loses and Lowry wins, the Railroaders will finish third.

The 3A Northern Region Tournament tips off Thursday at Reed.