Tonight’s Region 9 boys basketball games
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Cedar (7-5, 2-1) at Pine View (11-2, 3-1), 7 p.m. at the Pit
Broadcast: ESPN 106.1 FM Radio
REDMEN
Coach: Craig Cardon
Record: 7-5 overall, 2-1 in region
Streak: 4 wins
PPG: 52.5
PAPG: 47.9
Probable starters: Kordan Nielson (16.2 ppg), Dustin Staggs (13.8), Kyle Wood (6.3), Kole Dotson (1.8), Greyson Hulet (3.2)
Other key contributors: Weston Bettridge (2.3), James Thompson (2.2)
PANTHERS
Coach: Darrell Larsen
Record: 11-2 overall, 3-1 in region
Streak: 4 wins
PPG: 68.5
PAPG: 56.7
Probable starters: Chaz Peterson (10.5), Kody Wilstead (13.9), Collin Dowdell (11.4), Jed Newby (6.2), Ryan Koller (9.2)
Other key contributors: Garrett Bowker (2.7), Kendrick Spencer (1.5), Jack Bangerter (injured)
Game Outlook: These are the two hottest teams in the region right now. The Redmen were 3-5 when the calender changed to 2014 and look at them now. The battle inside between Staggs and Wilstead should be epic, though Wilstead has player of the week Collin Dowdell inside as well. Kordan Nielson can score from anywhere. The Panthers will miss Bangerter, but have other tools. Koller and Cason Prisbrey have both stepped up. Magic number for PV is 60 (scoring at least that many points in regulation should equal a win).
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Hurricane (5-9, 1-3) at Snow Canyon (7-5, 2-1), 7 p.m. at the Jungle
Broadcast: None
TIGERS
Coach: Todd Langston
Record: 5-9 overall, 1-3 in region
Streak: 3 losses
Last Five: 2-3
PPG: 48.6
PAPG: 51.9
Probable starters: Kaden Langston (8.9 ppg), Jayce Housley (7.1), Cody LeBaron (12.7), Austen Beatty (5.3), Erik Mitchell (4.7)
Other key contributors: James Bennion (4.4), Jordan Ence (3.1)
WARRIORS
Coach: James Brown
Record: 7-5 overall, 2-1 in region
Streak: 1 loss
Last Five: 3-2
PPG: 58.3
PAPG: 59.3
Probable starters: Hayden Anderson (5.3 ppg), Nate Gottfredson (16.9), Tanner Sampson (10.1), Chase Jenkins (5.8), Jacob Frei (9.5)
Other key contributors: Brock Staheli (3.7), Warner Rigby (2.7)
Game outlook: A month ago, the Warriors were 6-3 and the Tigers were winless at 0-5. Now the teams have somewhat similar records and of their three common opponents (Dixie, Enterprise and Pine View), Hurricane has beaten two and SC has beaten only one. Still, the media picked SC as region champs for a reason and the Warriors should win. Hurricane’s best chance is if Kaden Langston can have a huge game like he did vs. Mt. Crest (27 points). For Snow Canyon, pounding it in to Gottfredson only works if the guards can make opponents pay when thy double-team the big guy. Magic number is 58 for the Warriors (scoring at least that many points in regulation should equal a win).
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Desert Hills (7-5, 2-1) at Canyon View (3-10, 0-3), 7 p.m. at the Falcon’s Nest
Broadcast: Power 93 FM
THUNDER
Coach: Wade Turley
Record: 7-5 overall, 2-1 in region
Streak: 3 wins
Last Five: 4-1
PPG: 52.2
PAPG: 47.9
Probable starters: Taylor Houston (7.0 ppg), Quincy Matthews (13.2), Brycen Williams (5.2), Trey Tanner (6.3), Landen Broadhead (4.5)
Other key contributors: Jordan Hokanson (6.0), Sam Messinger (4.3), Austin Adams (4.4)
FALCONS
Coach: Rob Potter
Record: 3-10 overall, 0-3 in region
Streak: 3 loss
Last Five: 1-4
PPG: 49.8
PAPG: 59.0
Probable starters: Keaton Kringlen (8.9 ppg), Koy Huxford (9.0), Sterling Barnes (4.9), Derek Dunnell (4.2), Ty Nielson (3.5)
Other key contributors: Travis Bettridge (3.8), Ryan Jensen (3.2)
Game outlook: Defense is the name of the game for Desert Hills and that could spell trouble for the Falcons, who already struggle to score. DH is comparable to Cedar defensively (in fact, the two teams have allowed exactly the same number of points in 12 games), and CV managed just 35 against the Redmen in a pre-Christmas meeting. Of course, DH hasn’t been great offensively themselves. This is going to be a defensive wrestling match, but we don’t see the Falcons topping 40 or so. Magic number for Desert Hills is 45 (scoring at least that many points in regulation should equal a win).
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