ST. GEORGE – Dixie once again saved its best for last, with the reward being another late-game flourish and another victory.
At halftime, the undefeated Dixie Flyers were looking at an eight-point deficit to the Springville Red Devils. After three quarters, they were still down four points. Fortunately, earning the W requires four quarters of superior play. The Flyers outscored Springville 25-8 in the final period to remain undefeated and earn their fourth victory of the season, 58-45.
“We made a couple of adjustments at halftime,” said Dixie coach Ryan Cuff. “We wanted to eliminate the easy interior shots they got in the first half. And we determined that we would get all of the 50-50 loose balls.”
The Flyers played patiently to start the second half, maintaining their intensity on defense and increasing their output at the offensive end.
“Springville got several easy buckets in the first half because we were not communicating on defense,” said Dixie forward Sam Guymon. “(Ben) Johnson hurt us several times in the first half. We communicated much better in the second half and limited their opportunities.”
Johnson, who led all scorers with 22, could only generate six points after halftime.
“He is a true talent,” Cuff said. “It took our entire team to keep him at bay in the second half.”
The Red Devils jumped out from the outset, maintaining a 4-6 point lead through much of the first half. The lead jumped to 28-20 at halftime as Springville put 14 points up in each of the first two quarters.
“Our goal defensively is to hold our opponents to 10 points or less each quarter,” said Dixie guard R.J. Wilgar. “After making the defensive adjustments at halftime, we were able to do that.”
It did not take long for Dixie to erase the fourth-quarter deficit, going on a 6-2 run to tie the score at the 6:57 mark, 39-39. Dixie would take its first lead of the game on a Guymon three-pointer with 5:17 to play, 44-43. The momentum seemed to propel the defensive pressure as Dixie limited the Red Devils to a field goal, outscoring them 14-2 to close the game.
Dixie had three players in double-figures. Guymon led the Flyers with 19. Wilgar and Jake Hawes finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Springville matched Dixie in field goals made at 18. Dixie held the 3-point field goal advantage, 6-2. Dixie also outscored the Red Devils from the line, 16-7.
The loss drops Springville to 2-2 on the season. The Red Devils will play their second game of the Ken Robinson Classic against Desert Hills Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Dixie is now 4-0 and will play in tomorrow’s opener of the Classic against Spanish Fork, a winner tonight against Desert Hills.
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