Tuesday’s game between the Provo Bulldogs and Payson Lions had large implications on the title race in Region 8. A Lions win would mean outright control of the top spot, but a Bulldogs win would keep them in the hunt.
Provo wasn’t just playing for region rankings, it was also playing for pride. Earlier this month, Payson pummeled the Bulldogs on their home court 67-41. It was a deflating loss for Provo, which had suffered only one other loss on the season.
On Tuesday, Provo got its payback, winning narrowly, 51-49.
“We went to work,” said Provo head coach Amanda Barker. “It’s hard to come back from getting beat by almost 30 points and feeling like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re not even where we thought we were.'
“But then we came back to work and really focused. We did what we do best. We played hard and kept battling and played a fantastic game. They’ve earned it. The kids have earned it.”
It was a hot shooting night for Provo, as the Bulldogs made eight 3-pointers. Senior Tessa Deucher got the shooting started off with three quick 3-pointers in the first quarter.
“We had a good shootaround,” Deucher said. “I was feeling my team and my team’s hype helped me feel like, ‘I can make my shots tonight and if they don’t go in I can kick it to my teammates.’”
Provo’s early shooting wasn’t enough to sustain a lead, however. Payson found early upper ground by winning the rebounding battle and finishing inside.
The score remained close, but the Lions led most of the way in the first half and held a 30-25 lead at halftime.
The game turned after what was maybe Provo’s most dominant quarter of the season. The Bulldogs came out hungry and quickly flipped back the rebounding battle while continuing their hot shooting.
Deucher continued her hot streak with two 3-pointers in the quarter, leading to a lopsided 15-0 run. The Provo defense did not allow a single point in the quarter.
“During halftime, (rebounding) was one of the number one things that we discussed,” Barker said. “We told them, ‘If you miss a box out that’s all there is to it.’
“We tightened up rebounding and took those second and third shots away, so they had to score or they weren’t getting another chance. I really think our defensive focus was really there too in that third quarter to keep them scoreless in the quarter.”
Provo held a 40-30 lead heading into the final period, but things got dicey once its center, Sutton Villa, was substituted out after a illegal screen foul.
The lack of Villa’s size allowed Payson’s Quincy Mathews to get to work. Mathews scored eight points in the quarter to help Payson tie it 48-48 late.
A crucial late moment came for Provo when Sage Yenchik dished it low to Villa for an easy bucket, then Payson was called for an offensive foul, allowing the Bulldogs to take home the close Region 8 win.
Nobody had a better night than Deucher, who scored 20 points with six 3-pointers. Tuesday’s game was the most points Deucher has scored in her high school career.
“We know that we can beat good teams, that we can push through anything and we can stay focused,” said Deucher. “We still have three more games, but having this win is like, ‘OK, now we just need to stay focused for the next few games and just play our brand of basketball.’”