OGDEN – Other teams may talk a lot about defense, but the Dixie Lady Flyers really mean it.
Allowing just four points in the first half, Dixie dominated Carbon en route to a 43-23 victory. The Flyers earn a spot on the state semifinals with the win, taking on Region 9 foe Cedar Friday at 12:50 p.m. Friday.
“The little bit you know about us, our deal is we keep (teams) 10 or 15 points below their average,” Dixie coach Ken Robinson said. “The defense hs been there for us most of the year.”
Dixie’s defense was smothering in that first half. For a few minutes at the start of the game, Carbon couldn’t even get a shot off, losing it on turnovers that tough Dixie match-up zone defense.
“People call me all the time and ask me, ‘What are you guys running over there? What have you got,'” Robinson said. “I started with the match-up 30 years ago and these girls love it. They love playing it.”
Kelsey McCann, who had seven points and seven rebounds for Dixie, said defense is a common theme at practice.
“We just closed down the middle and wouldn’t let them get easy shots,” she said. “We just go with the mindset this year that if we play good defense our offense will come.”
Dixie’s offense wasn’t great in the first half, scoring just 16 points. But the Lady Flyers warmed up in the second half, holding a 40-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Caroline Lantor led all scorers with 15 points. She also had six rebounds and was often unchallenged in the post in the second half. Aubri Challis added eight points, six boards and three assists.
Dixie held Carbon to 26 percent shooting in the game (8 for 31) and out-rebounded tha Rabbits 34-30.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the state semifinals,” Robinson said. “It’s kind of fun.”
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