When the Wasatch High girls basketball team played Carbon in a non-region game earlier this season, the Wasps were on the short end of an 18-point blowout.
But Wasatch coach Roger Pyper and his players weren't too concerned entering Thursday's 3A state tournament semifinal rematch at Southern Utah University's Centrum."When you play at Carbon, you play five against seven - that's just the way it is," Pyper said. "We felt we got robbed down there, and that was motivation for us."
Enough motivation to help the Wasps to a 57-46 victory. Wasatch will play Pine View this afternoon in a semifinal game at 2:30. The other semi will pit top-ranked Hurricane against No. 3 Hurricane.
Wasatch led by just 50-46 with 1:32 remaining, but junior center Holly Todd made four straight free throws to lead the Wasps on a 7-0 run to finish the game.
"They took away our fast break," Carbon coach Don Gressman said. "We got outrebounded for probably the first time all year, and when you don't rebound, you can't fast break."
Carbon led 18-17 with four minutes remaining in the first half, but Wasatch went on a 13-1 run to finish the half, taking a 30-19 lead.
"We knew Carbon would make a run in the second half, but if we kept our composure we'd be in good shape," Pyper said.
Sure enough, the Dinosaurs pulled to within two points, 40-38, early in the fourth quarter, but a three-pointer by Tammy Thacker and four points from Christy Shepard helped the Wasps on a 10-4 run.
Wasatch was led by Todd's 14 points, while Shepard scored 13. Carbon's Rachelle Jewkes finished with 11.
In other 3A girls semifinals:
Hurricane 42, Dixie 27
The top-ranked Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead and were never really threatened by the Flyers. Hurricane, which improved to 18-3 on the year, was led by Natalie Hughes' 17 points, while Becca Elison had 11.
North Sanpete 45, Uintah 36
The Hawks scored 11 consecutive points to open the third quarter to take a 14-point lead and then held on for the victory. Tawnya Crumb led North Sanpete with 14 points, while Annette Blackham had 11. The Utes were paced by Melissa Busch's nine points.
Pine View 55, Emery 36
The game was tied 22-22 at the half, but the second-ranked Panthers came out smoking in the second half to down the Panthers. Mandi Shaheen led the onslaught with 28 points, including 20 in the second half. Pine View will play Wasatch in a semifinal game today.