OGDEN — Canyon View's defense proved one last time that it really is that good.
On two separate occasions — once in regulation and once in overtime — 3A's top-ranked Falcons were staring straight into the eyes of defeat. Each time, however, Canyon View came up with the necessary defensive stop, and the last one clinched its 38-37 championship game victory over Emery at the Dee Events Center.
"Physically and mentally, you have to be tough to get it done going down the wire," said Canyon View coach Steve Hodson. "I thought we did that on the defensive end and we rebounded the ball when we needed to."
Winners of every game but one this year, Canyon View (24-1) didn't exactly face a whole lot of adversity. But late in the fourth quarter, they were on the verge of getting consumed by it.
Having led virtually the entire game, including 19-10 at the half, the Falcons watched their lead evaporate as a spirited Emery club began playing the brand of up-tempo basketball that advanced the Spartans to the championship game.
Ashley Hansen buried a 12-foot jumper with 2:57 remaining to give Emery a 34-31 lead, and nearly two minutes later, the Spartans extended that lead to 35-31 with just 1:05 remaining.
Amazingly, the Falcons didn't panic.
"I think we all wanted it so badly," said Canyon View guard Brenna Morgan. "We've worked on keeping our focus steady all year, and I think it paid off for us."
After a time-out, Canyon View's normally patient offense began to work more quickly, and it paid off as Ashley Gentry drew a foul in the paint. She calmly stepped up and buried both free throws to cut Emery's lead to 35-33.
As Emery leading scorer Camille Fehlberg brought the ball up the court, she was stripped by Cassie Platt, who fed it up court to a streaking Morgan. As she tried laying it in, she was fouled. Just like Gentry before her, Morgan calmly stepped up and buried both free throws to tie the game at 35-35.
That set the stage for some fantastic drama.
Saturday's championship game was being billed as Canyon View's defense (30.8 ppg) against Emery's offense (54.9 ppg), and the final 30 seconds came down to that exact match-up.
"Tips and deflections, don't foul, and just play team defense," that's what the team talked about prior to Emery's final possession according to Brandi King.
That team-oriented defense forced Fehlberg into a fairly off-balanced 15-footer with five seconds remaining, and Platt grabbed the rebound to ensure overtime.
In overtime, King gave her team a 38-37 lead on a lay-up with 1:07 remaining, and on the other end, Emery had two go-ahead shot attempts bounce away. The second miss sprung Canyon View on a breakaway, but amazingly two different players missed two lay-ups and the Spartans came away with possession unscathed.
When Emery called a time-out at midcourt with 5.8 seconds remaining, once again it came down to Canyon View's defense and Emery's offense. After Felberg's baseline jumper in the final second bounced off the side of the backboard, Canyon View's defense again came away sparkling, and this time they had a trophy to show for it.
"It's unbelievable, I'm so excited. We were behind each other all the way," said King. "Coach Hodson talked us what to do, and we did it."
Even though no Canyon View player scored in double figures, as a team it made 14-of-18 free throws and outrebounded Emery 30-23.
Fehlberg's 14 points led Emery, which returns two of its five starters next year.
3A All-Tournament Team
MVP — Cassie Platt, Canyon View
Camille Fehlberg, Emery
Jodie Lundell, Emery
Brandi King, Canyon View
BreAnne Haslam, Morgan
Cami Johnson, Morgan
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com