OGDEN -- The Timpview boys basketball players showed up to the Dee Events Center Tuesday morning, wiped their feet on the welcome home mat, grabbed a drink from the fridge and then opened a can of -- um, let's just call it creamed corn -- on the Cyprus Pirates.
"We love this gym," said Timpview forward Steve Espersen. "It feels like home."Call 'em lousy hosts then.
The Thunderbirds, playing at Weber State for the first time since winning the 4A title last year, clobbered Cyprus 60-33 in a shocking first-round game.
The difference in this unexpected blowout was pretty simple. For most of the rout, the Thunderbirds shot the lights out.
And the Pirates?
Well, the young guns shot like the lights were out. Cyprus missed all 17 of its 3-point attempts and only connected on 15 of 53 shots overall (a meager 20.6 percent).
"That's just us. These kids are their own worst enemies," said Cyprus coach Mark Sidwell, dejected about his talented junior-laden team not living up to expectations this year. "Maybe they read their press clippings too much in the last couple of years."
If the Thunderbirds keep playing like they did Tuesday, they'll have all sorts of articles about themselves to read this week. Timpview jumped out to a 7-0 lead and increased that to a commanding 30-17 advantage by the half as Danny Jackson drilled three treys in the second quarter.
Timpview completely dominated from all areas, sinking eight 3-pointers and also outrebounding Cyprus 42-23.
"We just didn't defend or even compete. Boy, isn't that an understatement," Sidwell said.
As depressed as he was about his own team's showing, though, Sidwell was even more impressed with the performance of the still-defending champs.
"That's the best team we've played all year," said Sidwell, whose team was the only squad to beat No. 1 Olympus this season before Tuesday. "They've got a great inside-outside game and they're so athletic."
Espersen was the sparkplug, scoring 18 points with eight rebounds and basically having his way against all of Cyprus' big men. Jackson finished with 14 points and four threes. Jared Jackson was also a machine for Timpview, cranking out 10 points with 10 rebounds.
"We are the defending state champs," said Espersen, the only one of the current T-Birds to have played last year. "We felt pretty comfortable out there."
Ah . . . home, sweet Dee Events Center!