Tabiona takes out Rich
A big second quarter pushed the Tigers to a nine-point halftime lead. The offense stalled in the third quarter, scoring only four points as Tabiona found themselves down heading into the final period. Abbie and Madison Rhoades combined to score 29 points as the Tigers utilized senior leadership on both ends to overtake Rich’s athleticism and pick up the 40-37 home win.
“We are a team trying to get better every game. We still have a long way to go to be where we need to, but overall very pleased with the senior leadership I have on the team. We have a group of juniors who push the seniors everyday. The girls work hard everyday and want to get better which makes the practices very competitive,” Tabiona coach Cory Green said.
Rich is ranked second in the 1A RPI, they continue their quest for an undefeated season in region play when they host Altamont on Wednesday.
Maple Mountain rallies for road win at Salem Hills
Despite trailing by seven points at the half, Maple Mountain was able to rally with a 24-14 third quarter in large part because of Grace Knudsen and Sheridan Liggets’ ability to drive to the basket. They eventually grabbed a 66-59 win after a 46-point explosion in the second half. Anni Vorkink hit two 3-pointers early to keep Maple Mountain in the game before Katy Smith’s defense and Knudsen’s leadership helped to spark the comeback. Liggett tallied 27 points, hauled in seven rebounds, and dished out four assists by night’s end to lead the Golden Eagles, especially late in the fourth quarter. The victory pushes Maple Mountain into a tie with Springville for first at 3-0 in Region 9 play, the Red Devils travel to Maple Mountain on Tuesday
“It was a total team effort, with great defense, rebounding, and ball movement. I’m very proud of how far this team has come since November,” Maple Mountain coach Cory Green said.
Lehi outlasts Timpanogos in top-10 battle
Lehi jumped out to a 27-16 halftime lead, but a powerful comeback by the Timberwolves pulled the game to within three points late. Jamisyn Heaton picked up a steal on defense and was able to convert a layup on the other end to extend the Pioneers lead for good as Lehi went on to win 47-43. Heaton finished with 20 points and two 3-pointers made. Summer Christensen led Timpanogos with 18 points and a trio of shots from downtown.
The Pioneers grabbed their fourth win in region play and pushed their overall record to 13-4. With just two losses in region play, Lehi has a good chance to battle for a region title down the stretch. They will continue their quest with back-to-back road games at Alta and Orem.
Bountiful beats Box Elder in back and forth game
The Redhawks outscored Box Elder 20-12 early in the game, but a 31-18 run surrounding halftime gave the Bees a five-point lead heading into the final period. Taylor Harvey led all scorers, but key contributions from Riley Johnson, Lizzy McConkie and the rest of the Bountiful defense sparked the fourth quarter comeback. Box Elder managed to score just six points as the Redhawks prevailed 57-49.
“Every girl had big moments and contributed in their own way. This was a really good win. Box Elder can really score and to have our struggles and still find a way to win was huge,” Bountiful coach Joel Burton said.
Cyprus’ 3-point shooting defeats Hunter
The Pirates made nine 3-point shots, leading to 27 of their 51 points in their win over the Wolverines. The big three of Amelia Echternkamp, Tamila Francis, and Karina Grayer combined to score 42 points and knock down eight triples to lead Cyprus. Emma Aiono had 11 points to lead Hunter.
“We played a great team game tonight,” Cyprus coach JoBe Grayer said. “We shared the ball offensively and communicated effectively on the defensive end. We believe that defense wins ball games and are striving to get stronger on that end of the floor daily.”