CEDAR CITY — Waterford coach Reid Monsen learned from the Ravens' loss to the Panguitch Bobcats in last year's Class 1A boys state championship game.
One year later, he used that knowledge to beat the Bobcats 50-40 Thursday night in leading his team into the semifinals.
"They took the title from us with their defense," Monsen said for the 2001 final. "I think the defense was the turning point for us (this year). Our defense was maybe a little bit quicker and a little more active."
In the final 6:22 of the game, the Ravens' defense held the the Bobcats to just eight points, while the Ravens scored 18 points.
Panguitch's Acey Burningham recorded a basket to give the Bobcats a one-point lead before the Ravens applied the defensive clamps.
Waterford's Josh Orr, who scored nine points, buried a three-pointer with 4:45 left to give the Ravens the lead for good. Jake Reynolds and Ryan Judd followed Orr's three-ball with two-point baskets to increase the Waterford lead to six points.
Panguitch pulled to with three points with just under two minutes to go, but Pelo knocked down another big three-pointer to hold the Bobcats at bay.
Pelo stood out in the fourth period, when he scored 10 of his 17 points.
Reynolds led Waterford with 20 points. Brett Sawyer paced Panguitch with 10 points.
The lead changed hands or was tied nine times in the first half, with neither team taking more than a four-point advantage. Waterford led by as many as six points in the second half. Panguitch fought back and tied the score at 27, taking the brief lead at 33-32 early in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens play West Ridge Academy, a 54-46 winner of Manila, in the semifinals Friday at 6:10 p.m. Waterford has beaten West Ridge three times this year.
In other action:
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
VALLEY 53, LAYTON CHRISTIAN 50: Owen Hoyt scored 15 points and Marvin Hoyt scored 14 more as the No. 1 Buffaloes held off Layton Christian.
Layton Christian's Josh Percifield had a three-pointer to tie it after a steal but couldn't connect.
Percifield led the Eagles with 12 points, and Chris Anderson and Matt Augustine had 11 points each.
RICH 73, MILFORD 53: Kyle Motta led three Rich players scoring in double figures with 22 points to put the Rebels into the semifinals. Colby Holmes scored 15, and Blake Pugmire had 14.
Travis Nelson scored Milford with 17.
WEST RIDGE ACADEMY 54, MANILA 46: Steven Carter scored 14 points and pulled down 20 rebounds to lead West Ridge to the semifinals in only its second year of competition. Teammate Robert LeFevre also added 14 points, and Morgan Heaton had 11.
Jeremy Catron led Manila with 12 and Zac Schofield had 10.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
GREEN RIVER 64, WASATCH ACADEMY 41: Gabrin Ekker poured in 22 points to lead Green River to the victory.
Mantas Armonas had Wasatch Academy with 16.
DUCHESNE 61, MERIDIAN 53: Mike Grant scored 21 and Randy Hanberg added 11 more for Duchesne.
Nolan Smith led Meridian with 18 points.
WEST DESERT 62, INTERMOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN 53: Hyrum Murphy (26 points) and Drew Alder (22) combined for 48 points to lead West Desert.
Greg Spencer netted 17 points for ICS, and John Mahfood added 16.
DUGWAY 53, WAYNE 49: Corey Rose scored 21 points and Nathan Nelson added 19 as Dugway eliminated Wayne.
Slade Davis paced Wayne with 16 points.
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