High school basketball: Westlake girls and boys both beat Lone Peak to earn shares of Region 3 titles

Published: Feb 14, 2025, 10:53 p.m. MST

Westlake forward Isley Sauvao (32) and her teammates celebrate after they defeated Lone Peak in a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Isaac Hale, Deseret News

By Aidan Baller

The Westlake Thunder have cut into the Lone Peak Knights’ dominance.

On Friday night, the Thunder secured a thrilling come from behind 45-39 victory against five-time defending region champion Lone Peak to clinch a share of the Region 3 crown.

The teams both finished the regular season with an 8-2 record in region.

“Well, it’s never happened at Westlake before on the girls side,” Thunder head coach Charlotte McFarlane said of winning region. “This is a huge accomplishment for our kids… Our kids have obviously shown that they can come out and compete with the best of any team.”

On Friday the Thunder took an early lead but then trailed for the majority of the game. They trailed by three entering the fourth quarter before taking back the lead thanks to some tough defense and some big free throws by junior Ella Seymore.

Sophomore Janiece Sikander hit a dagger 3-pointer to seal the deal for Westlake.

“Janiece is a sophomore, but she’s one of the smartest basketball players I’ve ever coached,” McFarlane said. “I trust her with the ball in her hands 100% of the time.”

Lone Peak’s Charli Warner (1) lays the ball up while guarded by Westlake guard Ella Seymore (21) and guard Janiece Sikander (2) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak’s Huni Folau (00) goes up for a shot while guarded by Westlake forward Isley Sauvao (32) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake point guard Kenadie Brown (30) walks with her parents, David Brown, left, and Carrie Brown, as she’s recognized with other seniors before a high school girl’s basketball game against Lone Peak held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake head coach Charlotte Macfarlane calls out to her players during a high school girl’s basketball game against Lone Peak held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak’s Huni Folau (00) comes away with the ball after comepting with Westlake’s Keira Hester (22) for it during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak head coach Nancy Warner talks with her players in a timeout during a high school girl’s basketball game against Westlake held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake guard Janiece Sikander (2) looks to shoot the ball while guarded by Lone Peak’s Zuri Nordstrom (13) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake guard Janiece Sikander (2) lays the ball up while guarded by Lone Peak’s Tatiana Harness (10) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak guard Kennedy Woolston (34) and Westlake guard Janiece Sikander (2) compete for possession of the ball during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake head coach Charlotte Macfarlane talks with her players in a timeout during a high school girl’s basketball game against Lone Peak held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak head coach Nancy Warner calls out to her players during a high school girl’s basketball game against Westlake held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake students cheer after a player took a foul shot during a high school girl’s basketball game against Lone Peak held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake guard Ella Seymore (21) talks with guard Janiece Sikander (2) and guard Avery Thompson (23) as Seymore prepares to take foul shots during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake’s Keira Hester (22) goes up for a shot while guarded by Lone Peak guard Kennedy Woolston (34) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake guard Avery Thompson (23) goes up for a shot while guarded by Lone Peak's Charli Warner (1) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak’s Lave Holdcraft (21) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Westlake guard Ella Seymore (21) and guard Avery Thompson (23) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak’s Tatiana Harness (10) looks to shoot the ball while guarded by Westlake guard Mia Foster (10) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Westlake point guard Kenadie Brown (30) poses for a photo with her parents, David Brown, left, and Carrie Brown, as she’s recognized with other seniors before a high school girl’s basketball game against Lone Peak held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak guard Maddie Pope (20) drives the ball toward the basket while guarded by Westlake guard Mia Foster (10) during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Lone Peak’s Lave Holdcraft (21) and Westlake’s Keira Hester (22) compete for possession of a loose ball during a high school girl’s basketball game held at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

McFarlane knew from the get-go that her team had a chance to do something special this season, thanks to an experience during a fall league game that had almost no impact on the outcome of their season.

In that game, she recalled Friday, her team joined together after an opposing player insulted a Thunder player.

“The moment I could tell we were special was the amount of togetherness we had at that game,” she said.

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Westlake now looks ahead to the first game of the 6A playoffs next Thursday.

Following the Westlake girls win, the Thunder boys followed suit, beating Lone Peak 53-46. The Thunder took revenge after a 15-point loss to the Knights earlier this season.

Westlake started out hot, as it scored eight points before Lone Peak was able to find the bottom of the net. The Thunder wound up holding the Knights to well below their season average of 64.3 points per game.

It was a meaningful victory for the Thunder, as they now also share the 2025 Region 3 title with Lone Peak, their first since 2021.