All of the favorites won their opening round games of the girls' 3A state basketball tournament that opened Monday at Murray High School, but not all of them had an easy time doing it.
While top-ranked Logan and powerful Tooele breezed past their opponents in the afternoon, favored Emery and Pine View had much tougher times Monday night.Pine View 55 Judge Memorial 48
The Panthers tried all night to pull away from the Bulldogs, but to no avail. Only a late surge assured one of last year's finalists to advance in the winner's bracket.
Pine View trailed 12-10 late in the first quarter before finally taking the lead for good when Jennifer Williamson and Mistry Kirkland scored as the period ended. That lead stretched as high as nine points in the second period, but the determined Bulldogs kept fighting back and pulled to within one point at the half. The key to Judge's success was consistent free throw shooting in the quarter, something it sorely needed in the final half but didn't get.
After Pine View scored the first eight points of the third quarter to go up 38-29, it looked like the Panthers might finally shake Judge. Again, the Bulldogs fought back, as free throws by Kelley Kitterer and Carrie Christensen made it 41-35 for Pine View after three.
Judge had one final chance with 4:54 to go, when a pair of charities by Stephanie Blum pulled the Bulldogs back to within four at 45-41. But Pine View's Jennifer Brown broke their back with a three-pointer seconds later, and despite 32 trips to the line in the second half, Judge couldn't pull off the upset.
There were a ridiculously-high 54 fouls whistled in this one. Lott led Pine View with 16, Brown added 9 and Mandi Shaheen 7 for the Panthers, while Judge Memorial was paced by Erin Hartigan with 16 and Christensen with 12.
Emery 39, Springville 32
The Spartans had a difficult time with the Red Devils, both teams who've tasted success in this tournament before but aren't among this year's favorites. Springville led most of the first half and was up 23-22 with 1:40 left in the third quarter before back-to-back baskets by Jamie Monfredi and Krissy Childs made it 26-23.
Emery moved to an eight point lead, Springville fought back to come to within four at 34-30, but Emery's Angela Gentry made four free throws in the final 42 seconds to secure the win. Monfredi and Childs scored 12 and 11 points respectively for Emery, while Springville was led by Angie Todhunter with 12 and Heather Hart with 10.
Logan 82, Cedar City 40
The tournament favorite had little trouble with the Redmen, as the Lady Grizzlies took a 26-8 lead in the first quarter and just kept rolling. By halftime, Logan was up 46-18.
Four different Grizzlies scored in double figures, led by Shelly Whitteker with 20, Heather Smith with 14, Holly Hansen with 11 and Niki Strebel with 10. Cedar City received 8 points apiece from Jillynne Robinson and Doni Cullen. The Grizzlie's victory sets up an interesting second round game Wednesday night against the Tooele Lady Buffaloes
Tooele 65, Mountain Crest 45
Like the Grizzlies, Tooele also took off quickly, jumping to a 21-8 first quarter lead before the Mustangs fought back to cut that lead to 31-25 at the half. But the third quarter was all Buffalo, and Tooele cruised.
Karie Johnson scored 20 points, Darcy Hayes added 17 and Darlene Chambers 14 for Tooele, while Mountain Crest was paced by Cami Brown with 15 and Rachel Hester with 12.