RICHFIELD — Using a running, pressing style, top-ranked Juan Diego ran away from North Sevier 68-36 Thursday in the 2A boys state tournament.
Soaring Eagle coach Tim Gardner had heard plenty about the much-improved team from North Sevier. He also knew that his team had made plenty of progress since their first meeting. Just not this much improvement.
"We're not really 30 points better than that team," Gardner said. "That is just the game of basketball. We found some things that were working, and we just stuck with it."
Right from the start, the Eagle took control. They scored the first eight points of the game and raced to a 16-3 lead. Chad Vaculin led the way, just as he has all season.
"Chad was just Chad. He's a veteran player, and he's the guy we look to lead us," Gardner said. "We run everything through him and Marquis (Wilson), and today it was working well."
Juan Diego used a full-court pressure defense to rattle the Wolves. The defense led to a more up-tempo game that took away some of the height advantage the Wolves thought they could exploit.
"We really keyed on keeping them off the glass," Gardner said. "I thought we pushed the ball well, and that gave us a chance to utilize some of our quickness."
That quickness was evident in the guard play. The Soaring Eagle employed a three-guard offense for most of the game. Vaculin, Wilson and freshman Mason Miller ran it to perfection. Juan Diego bolted to a 41-19 halftime lead.
The Soaring Eagle finished just like they started, closing the game with a 9-1 run. Vaculin led the way with 21 points. Wilson chipped in 15 points and seven assists. Logan Robins scored 14 points in the loss.
The playoffs are being played in Richfield this year at the brand new Sevier Valley Center. After the Juan Diego vs. North Sevier game, there was a problem. It started raining, and the new facility had sprung a leak.
The tournament directors had no choice but to delay the start of the final boys game of the day as water puddled near midcourt. The maintenance crew was able to locate the source of the water and by placing a tarp around it temporarily stopped the unwanted shower. Play resumed after an hour and a quick mopping.
The tournament continues today at the Sevier Valley Center beginning at 2:45 p.m.
In other 2A quarterfinals:
MANTI 63, MILLARD 55:Spencer Harman took control of the game late in the third quarter. The Eagles briefly took the lead midway through the third quarter before Harman scored six-straight points to spark the Templars to a lead they never again relinquished. Harman scored 19 points, and teammate Aaron Parry chipped in 18 to advance to the semifinals.
JUAB 44, GUNNISON 43: The Gunnison Bulldogs jumped out early on Juab. They limited the Wasps to only two points in the second quarter. Jake Hill was the star of the half, scoring 13 before the break.
After trailing by 13 at the half, the Wasps fought back with tough defense and timely baskets. Trevor Jones scored five straight points to give Juab its first lead of the game at 39-38. The Wasps could not put the game away however, as they missed 5-of-8 free throws down the stretch. They advanced only after the Bulldogs' last-second shot bounced hard off the back of the rim.
Jones led the Wasps with 14 points, and Hill had 22 for the Bulldogs.
PAROWAN 50, RICHFIELD 40: The Rams pulled away in the fourth quarter thanks to the steady play of Colton Ray. Ray scored 12 of his 18 points in the deciding period. The Wildcats shot themselves in the foot, missing eight free throws in the quarter. Trevor Smith kept the Rams in the game with 15 points in the first three quarters and finishing with 17.