It took four games over two years but the Mountain View Bruins have finally got "the monkey off our back."
That was the reaction of Bruin coach Dave Houle after Mountain View upset defending state champ Bingham 56-49 in overtime at the state 4A girls basketball championships at Weber State.The Bruins overcame an 11-point first quarter deficit to move into today's final against Brighton which rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Orem, 49-46.
The previously unbeaten Miners dropped to 22-1 with the loss.
Mountain View outscored Bingham 7-0 in the overtime as Jennifer Schlappi and Kim Henry each scored a field goal while Julie Wilde hit three free throws. The win helped avenge two consecutive losses by the Bruins to the Miners in state volleyball championships and a semifinal loss to Bingham in last year's 4A basketball tournament.
"We were tired of everybody thinking that we choke against Bingham," Houle said. "The girls have waited a year and two weeks for this rematch."
Mountain View led 37-33 entering the fourth quarter and built a 7-point lead with six minutes to go. The Miners came back to tie the score at 49-all with 15 seconds left in regulation when Laura Applegate rebounded her own shot and layed one in. But the Miners were held scoreless in OT and lost for only the second time in two seasons.
Schlappi led the Mountain View attack with 17 points, Henry added 10 and Angie Roberts had 9. For Bingham Kae Cee Arnold and Jenni Johnston each scored 15.
Brighton 49, Orem 46
The Bengals trailing 30-20 early in the third quarter went on a 17-3 run then held on to defeat Orem in Friday's late game. With the score 41-all in the fourth quarter Brighton senior Marnie Maxwell drilled her third consecutive three-pointer to give the Bengals a lead they never relinquished.
Orem stayed close, twice pulling to within two points. The last time at 48-46 with 2:39 left after Carmen Bahr converted both ends of a one-and-one.
Brighton began a delay game setting up a free throw by Racheal Jensen with 15 seconds left to give the Bengals a three-point lead. Orem's Suzie Paulsen's three-point effort at the buzzer rimmed out ending the Tigers' hopes.
Brighton was led by Annette Monsen with 15 and Camille Lubeck with 13. Orem was paced by Tami Frame with 12 points and Gina Snarr with 9.
Brighton and Mountain View play for the state title tonight at 7 p.m. preceded by the Bingham-Orem game at 5 p.m.
Consolation games
Weber 62, American Fork 60: The Warriors earned the right to play for 5th place against Viewmont as Bridgette Owens scored 15, Jodi McKay 12, and Marvette Dickamore 12. American Fork was led by Julie Krommenhoek with 25, and Jeanette Yazzie with 16 points.
Hillcrest 60, Skyline 47: Cindy Jensen scored 16, and sister Kris Jensen had 12. Stacie Reynolds had 15 for the Huskies. Skyline received 15 from Ginger Cannon, and Annie Beddos added 12.
West Jordan 72, Taylorsville 39: Collette Culp tallied 16, and Wendy Rhodes had 15 to help West Jordan overcome the 17 point performance of Jill Chapman.
Viewmont 55, Bonneville 47: The Vikings got 16 points from Heather Le Mmon, and 10 each from Shannon Morrow and Kim Marchant to beat the Lakers. Bonneville's Patti Schouten scored 13, and Suzy Hassell added 12.