Former Galena basketball star Lance Buoncristiani, who stood out from a team full of fine players, died May 22 in San Francisco.
He was 41 years old.
Tom Maurer, his coach at Galena, told RGJ that Buoncristiani died after a long illness.
Buoncristiani, a three-time all-state selection, helped the Grizzlies to the state tournament three times.
He played college in Idaho his freshman year, then at Chipola JC in Florida, then as a junior and senior at Dominican College in the Bay Area, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.
At Galena, Buoncristiani averaged 12.0 points as a freshman, 16.0 as a sophomore, 17.0 as a junior, and 21.0 his senior season from 1996–99.
During that senior season, he accounted for 65% of the Grizzlies’ points.
The 5-foot-9 point guard finished as Galena’s all-time top scorer. He played on Galena teams with Brian Vaka, Matt Siebrandt, Doug Cordova and Andrew Goodwater.
Buoncristiani attended St. Teresa of Avila Grammar School in Carson City, then went to Carson Junior High before going to Galena.
“Throughout his youth, Lance coached and mentored countless young athletes who still remember his skill and presence on the court,” according to his obituary to RGJ.com.
He is survived by his father, Adrian Buoncristiani, and two older sisters, Dana and Gina.
A funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday, June 4 at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City. A celebration of life will follow in the church’s Chartz Hall.
Jim Krajewski covers high school and youth sports for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com.