OREM — Since being blown out by Lone Peak on Friday, the Orem boys basketball coaches have focused on getting other players involved in the offense.
After two practices, the Tigers turned around and executed the coaches' offensive game plan to near perfection, especially in the first half, en route to a 55-42 Region 7 win over Timpanogos on Tuesday.
"We really focused this week on our motion and to quit shooting so many quick shots," Orem coach Mike Conner said. "I was most pleased with how patient we were on offense. I thought the kids did a great job. We know people are going to try and stop Craig (Cusick). We have to get other people to score."
Conner and the Tiger coaches got just what they wanted. Orem finished with three players in double figures led by Alex Call's 15 points. Mike Hales scored 14 while Cusick added 12.
Hales played a key role in Orem jumping out to the early lead in the first half by scoring 10 points, eight in the second quarter.
Orem never trailed and led 11-7 after the first quarter. The Tigers opened up a 20-11 lead with 4:37 left in the second quarter after four points from Hales, a 3-pointer from Cusick and a basket by Call.
Orem remained patient offensively and took a 29-17 halftime lead following another basket by Hales with one second left in the first half.
"Mike Hales in the first half kept knocking down open jump shots," Conner said. "That was huge for us. That's about as good as half as we've ever played. Offensively, we just took care of the basketball and made our wide-open shots. That's a big whole to dig out of when you are up 12 at half."
Orem was pressed on nearly every dead ball and turned it over only four times in the first half.
Conner credited point guard Colin Schmutz for taking care of the ball.
"I think we made only one or two turnovers against the press," Conner said. "That's your point guard taking care of the basketball."
Orem scored only four points in the third quarter but Timpanogos got no closer than seven points. The T-Wolves turned the ball over on four straight possessions in the third quarter before Mac Nelson scored on a layup three minutes into the second half. Nelson led Timpanogos with 24 points.
In the final period, the Tigers sealed the win by connecting on 14 of 17 free throws.
In other prep boys basketball games Tuesday:
REGION 1
CLEARFIELD 66, WEBER 45: Five Falcons scored in double figures, led by Matt Hall with 17 points and nine rebounds, to easily defeat the Warriors. Chris Bailey scored 11 points in a losing effort.
LAYTON 61, FREMONT 55: Nate Grondel poured in 24 points as the Lancers topped the Silver Wolves. Ryan Sanchez had 28 points, including two threes, in the loss.
NORTHRIDGE 69, VIEWMONT 63: Tage Clifford scored 18 points and Jordan Burrell added 17 for the Knights in their Region 1 win over Viewmont.
REGION 2
ALTA 56, WEST JORDAN 52 (OT): Alta made 7 of 11 from the free-throw line in overtime to emerge victorious over West Jordan. Brett Adams led the Hawks with 20 points.
COPPER HILLS 51, HILLCREST 45: Garrett Sandberg scored 15 points and Copper Hills made 15 of 20 from the free-throw line to beat Hillcrest.
JORDAN 73, BINGHAM 70: The Beetdiggers hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter to run out to a 13-point lead and held on for the narrow victory over the Miners. Adam Todd led the way with 22 points.
BRIGHTON 68, RIVERTON 62: Conner Nielson and Logan Smart each tallied 16 points, while Braydon Bell chipped in with 13 as the No. 3 Bengals went on the road to beat No. 2 Riverton. Both teams are now 4-2 in league play.
REGION 5
CYPRUS 66, BOUNTIFUL 50: Rob Garside scored 17 points and Trent Goodfellow added 15 to go along with eight rebounds as the Pirates defeated the Braves. Taylor Christensen led Bountiful with 11 points.
WOODS CROSS 57, OLYMPUS 56: Jeff Ferguson drained two free throws with one second remaining in regulation to give the Wildcats a one-point victory over the Titans. Marques Whippy led Woods Cross with 12 points while Ferguson added 11. Chris Marsh paced Olympus with 13 points.
EAST 45, WEST 26: Jess Collins and Jeff Galbraith scored 16 points each to lead the Leopards over the Panthers. Defensively, East held Tanner Nicholson to just 11 points while limiting West to no more than seven points in any quarter.
HIGHLAND 48, MURRAY 46: Highland hit 10-of-16 free throws and held on to defeat Murray.
REGION 8
LEHI 79, CARBON 42: No information available.
REGION 10
UNION 53, UINTAH 37: Union's physical play helped to erase a 12-6 first-quarter deficit en route to the win. Tracy Gardner led the Cougars with 28 points.
JUDGE MEMORIAL 61, GRANITE 33: Daniel Deane led a balanced Judge attack with 16 points in a region win over the Farmers.
WASATCH 79, PARK CITY 54: Spencer Bamgartner helped to lift Wasatch out of a sluggish start early in the first half. Bamgartner finished with 14 points for the Wasps. Josh Cottle led Wasatch in scoring with 18 points, while Darin Mahoney added 17.