ST. GEORGE – The Snow Canyon Warriors have one objective for the rest of the season, win out or not go to the playoffs. The Warriors started last night against the team they will try and pass for the fourth and final playoff spot: the Dixie Flyers. The Warriors came from behind to beat the Flyers 60-55 on Wednesday night.
In the first meeting, the Flyers trailed at the half and made a comeback in the second half to beat the Warriors. Tonight the roles were reversed.
The Flyers jumped out early, leading by five at the half behind 12 first-half points from Walker Swenson. Swenson got Warrior center Ben Gottfredson in foul trouble early in the first quarter and got to pick apart the Warrior backups.
Senior Ben Smith led the Warriors in the first half, scoring nine points and keeping the game close with Gottfredson on the bench in foul trouble and leading scorers Brayden Linde and Chandler Gines not able to get things going.
The second half was a different story. Warrior leading scorer Braydn Linde got things going by driving to the basket and seeing his shots start to fall. From there Linde took advantage of the defense that began to play off of him to try and stop his driving ability. Linde took full advantage hitting outside shot after outside shot. When all was said and done, Linde finished with 21 points in the ball game – his third time scoring over 20 points this season.
With Linde on fire for the Warriors, the Flyers needed to answer to keep the game close and they got that answer from shooting guard Devin Bennett. Bennett scored 14 points in the second half. Bennett and Swenson would go on to finish, with 16 points each, in the game.
With their back against the wall, trailing by two with only 2:30 left to play, the Warriors needed a spark. The spark came from junior guard Gabe Jensen who hit a 3-pointer to take the lead for the Warriors, a lead they would not give up.
Jensen hit four 3-pointers in the game, finishing with 12 points.
The Warriors are still alive in the fight for the playoffs but the road does not get any easier. The Warriors host the Hurricane Tigers on Friday at 7 p.m. and then travel to Cedar on Wednesday, Feb. 15, to take on the Cedar Redmen. If the Warriors can win out they will force a play in game with the Dixie Flyers for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The Flyers play their last game on Friday night as they host the Canyon View Falcons at 7 p.m.
The game between the Hurricane Tigers and the Snow Canyon Warriors can be heard on Fox News 96.7fm 1450am at 7 p.m. or online at www.kznusports.com
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.