Today’s 3A State Girls Championship — Saturday, March 1, 2014
5 p.m. at SUU’s Centrum Arena, Cedar City
3A State Tournament Girls Bracket
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3A GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP — 5 p.m. — Desert Hills (24-1) vs. Morgan (23-1)
Broadcast: ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM with Andy Griffin on play by play
THUNDER
Coach: Chris Allred
Record: 24-1 overall, 12-0 in Region 9 (1st place)
Streak: 18 wins
Playoffs: Beat Grantsville 83-22; beat Juab 57-29; beat Cedar 49-20
Last five: 5-0
PPG: 65.0
PAPG: 35.6
Probable starters: Haley Bodnar (14.1 ppg), Blair Bliss (12.8), Karlee Myers (6.8), Emily Seifert (6.8), Kassidy Cox (4.0)
Other key contributors: Kenzie Done (10.5), Ashley Beckstrand (7.6)
TROJANS
Coach: Brad Matthews
Record: 23-1 overall, 8-0 in region 10 (1st place)
Streak: 16 wins
Playoffs: Beat Richfield 77-30; beat Stansbury 61-24
Last five: 5-0
PPG: 73.0
PAPG: 41.2
Probable starters: Rashel Blazzard (19.0 ppg), Breanna Hurlbut (12.4), Lisa Vancampen (9.1), Jessica Carter (8.9), Savanna Brooks (7.1)
Other key contributors: Alli Tonks (6.1), Aubrey Saunders (4.3), Kate Blazzard (4.0)
Game Outlook: The waiting is finally over as all year these two teams have clearly been the best two teams in 3A basketball. Desert Hills and Morgan have so much in common, it’s scary. They both dominated their respective regions, with not a single close game. During the course of the season, D-Hills beat opponents by an average of 29.6 ppg, Morgan by an average of 31.8 ppg. The two teams have lost just a single game each, to the same 4A squad, Timpview. In fact, the losses came within four days of each other as the Thunder fell to the Thunderbirds 59-49 on Dec. 13 and the Trojans fell to the T-Birds 70-67 Dec. 17. DH likes to play defense a bit more than Morgan, allowing just 35.6 per game to 41.2 by the Trojans. But Morgan scores a lot, with a 73 per game average and four games this year with more than 80 points (one over 90). In contrast, D-Hills has held opponents under 23 points five times this season. Tempo will be a huge factor as Morgan will try to counter Desert Hills’ size advantage by making it a 94-foot track meet. A slower tempo definitely favors the Thunder, but don’t underestimate the open-court prowess of Bliss, Done and Beckstrand.
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3A State Tournament Girls Bracket
Related post
- TWIR9: Three days to decide a basketball champion
- Desert Hills defense smothers Cedar; Lady Thunder heading to championship game (updated with video postgame and highlights)
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