HIGHLAND — A lot of factors contributed to Lone Peak taking a 48-37 win over Pleasant Grove on Tuesday, although the biggest factor proved a run made in the second quarter.
Following up a sluggish start, the Knights turned a 6-4 deficit after one quarter into a 21-10 lead at the half — an 11-point lead which held up until the final buzzer.
“The second quarter was the difference in the game,” confirmed Lone Peak coach Nancy Warner. “The second quarter is where we outscored them and then tied in the second half, so it really was the difference.”
The first quarter saw the Knights struggle with the flow of the game, challenged by the Vikings length inside, coupled with the tenacious play of Eva Ongoongotau on the perimeter. It led to just two field goals made through the game’s first eight minutes and a long night ahead should adjustments not be made.
Fortunately, for Warner and her team, those adjustments did come.
Jump started by the play of Kailey Woolston, the Knights looked like a new team in the second quarter en route to a 12-2 run to open up what proved the decisive quarter of the game.
“I think we were able to find our groove offensively because of our defense,” Warner said. “We forced most of our steals in that second quarter, and were able to convert on the offensive end.”
As for that defense, it played big throughout, leading to 19 turnovers forced, with Lone Peak just turning it over six times. Central to causing havoc on the outside, and just about everywhere else, was diminutive Lone Peak guard Makeili Ika — all 5-foot-5 of her.
“She picked up five steals on her own, and you add deflections to that,” Warner said of Ika, who scored just two points. “Just her energy and intensity really helped, as well.”
The second half saw Pleasant Grove come out strong in manufacturing an 8-1 run to cut the lead to just 22-18 midway through before the Knights responded with a 9-2 run to end the quarter up 31-20. Finishing things off was a buzzer-beating jumper by Jane LeRoy to give the Knights a lot of momentum entering the final period.
That final period saw Lone Peak lead by double-digits throughout until the final buzzer.
Lone Peak featured balanced scoring throughout, paced by Woolston and Makale Easton scoring 10 points a piece, with LeRoy finishing with nine and Abby Conlee another eight.
Leading all scorers was Ongoongotau, who finished with 17.
With the win Lone Peak improves to 10-4 on the season and 3-0 in Region 4 play. Pleasant Grove falls to 10-5 overall and 1-2 in Region 4 play, with the loss.