OREM -- Less than four weeks ago, the Skyline Eagles defeated Mountain View to win the 5A state volleyball championship.
A number of players from those two teams faced each other again Thursday night, but this time on the basketball court. While the stakes weren't as high, the top-ranked Bruins earned a small bit of payback by pounding the third-ranked Eagles 64-38 in a preseason meeting at Mountain View.Senior guard Erin Thorn, who has already committed to play at BYU, led all scorers with 17 points for Mountain View (2-0), while current and future BYU teammate Heather Cheesman scored all 14 of her points in the second half.
But the talent-deep Bruins showed they are more than just Thorn and Cheesman as nine players lit up the scoreboard. Jane Golavan, a foreign exchange student from Russia who speaks better with her shooting touch than in her broken English, followed Cheesman with 10 points off the bench.
"Erin and Heather have signed early and have gotten all the headlines, but we have kids sitting on the bench that could start at other schools," said Mountain View coach Laura Romo. "Jane is learning our system, and as she learns she'll become more of an impact player."
The Bruin offense had a better- than-average shooting night against Skyline, outscoring the Eagles 56-20 from the field. But it was their defense that broke the game open.
Both teams had a rather ragged first quarter with the Eagles making the most of it. After falling behind 8-2, Skyline tied the score at 10-10 early in the second quarter on a pair of free throws by McCall Bowen.
The Eagles managed just three free throws the rest of the quarter, though, as Mountain View's zone defense and quick anticipation created a number of turnovers and some easy baskets. By the time halftime had arrived, the Bruins held a 26-13 lead, which could have been more if not for five-straight missed free throws.
"We turned the ball over a lot, and they capitalized. They anticipated well out of their zone," said Skyline coach Deb Bennett, who was glad it was only Dec. 3. "We were our own worst enemy, and we were tentative in shooting the ball."
Cheesman, who played with a bruised knee that she injured in practice Wednesday, opened the third quarter with seven-straight points as the Bruins ballooned the lead to 35-15. The closest Skyline (1-1) would get the rest of the game was 14 points.
Senior Amy Jensen topped Skyline with 10 points.