Cedar High's shot at a 3A state title defense was in jeopardy only momentarily as it turned what was a close game into a rout.
The Redmen, who trailed by as many as 10 at 16-6 midway through the first half, held Region 9 rival Dixie to a combined 11 points in the second and third quarters in registering a 67-47 victory Friday night in 3A semifinal action.The Redmen entered the state tournament via a state play-in victory - the same way they did last year. Now they have a shot at the repeat, something that was last accomplished at this level by the 1991-1992 Ogden Tigers.
The Redmen will battle Pine View at 8 p.m. tonight in the Centrum.
Dixie proved it could play with the Redmen in the first quarter. Robbie Rignell paced the Flyers with 10 of his game-high 18 points in the first quarter in building the 18-14 opening-period lead.
Cedar's Karl Bohman gave the Redmen the lead at 26-25 with a put-back with under a minute to go in the half.
"Defensively (in the second quarter) we picked it up we made it tougher to enter the ball into Rignell," Cedar coach Steve Hodson said. "The kids relaxed and executed. We've been executing, but not shooting the ball well. Today we shot the ball well."
The Redmen had a balanced scoring attack as five players scored in double-figure,s led by Bohman's 13 points.
Championship bracket
Pine View 40, Emery 35
The Panthers advanced to tonight's title game, breaking out of a 16-16 hafltime time by outscoring the Spartans 13-5 in the third quarter. Pine View's Sam Melessa led all scorers with 14 points, while Wes Butler paced Emery with10.
Consolation bracket
Lehi 63, Richfield 51
In consolation action, Lehi's Curtis Jacobsen and Jason Allan scored 16 points each as the Pioneers stayed alive with a victory over Richfield. Scott Cuff had 18 points for the Wildcats.
Carbon 61, Uintah 55
Carbon's Jeremy Jewkes scored 18 points and Christian Pollastro chipped in 11 for the Dinos. Corey Enloe had 25 for the Utes.