Size, depth and experience are crucial to having a chance to win a state title on any level in Nevada high school basketball. Palo Verde has all of the above and will again be seen as the team to beat in the Sunrise Region's Northwest Division this season.

After losing Phil Clarke -- the only coach the 9-year-old school had ever known and the one who led the school to its only state title against Foothill in 2004, to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last Dec. 29 at age 53 -- the Panthers rallied behind new coach Paul Aznarez and almost defended their state title.