Today’s 3A State boys basketball games — Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014
3A State Tournament Boys Bracket
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Ben Lomond (4-18) at Snow Canyon (14-7), 4 p.m. at the Jungle
Broadcast: 890-AM KDXU
SCOTS
Coach: Ryan Wilcox (5th year)
Record: 4-18 overall, 2-6 in Region 11 (4th place)
Streak: 1 wins
Last five: 2-3
PPG: 41.8
PAPG: 54.9
Probable starters: Brendan Morris (11.1 ppg), Corbin Medina (9.3), Anthony Hurtado (7.3), Chris Garcia (2.3), Javier Zambrano (2.2)
Other key contributors: Ryan Ormond (2.0)
WARRIORS
Coach: James Brown (13th year)
Record: 14-7 overall, 9-3 in Region 9 (1st place)
Streak: 1 loss
Last Five: 4-1
PPG: 59.8
PAPG: 58.9
Probable starters: Hayden Anderson (8.1 ppg), Nate Gottfredson (14.7), Tanner Sampson (8.8), Chase Jenkins (4.2), Jacob Frei (8.8)
Other key contributors: Brock Staheli (4.3), Warner Rigby (4.4), Kade Potter (1.9)
Game outlook: Ben Lomond squeaked into the playoffs by winning two of its last five games, which is quite an accomplishment considering the Scots had a 13-game losing streak before that five-game stretch. Both wins were against Stansbury and BL’s other two victories were vs. 1-20 Carbon and 0-21 Ogden. Needless to say, Ben Lomond is a huge underdog against Snow Canyon. Morris is their only player that even averages double-figures, so scoring is a problem and that’s not good against an SC team that averages nearly 60 a game. Height-wise, Hurtado matches up well with Gottfredson, but lacks the skill-set and experience of the SC senior. The Warriors should roll their way into the Centrum and a quarterfinal game Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
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Tooele (10-12) at Pine View (16-5), 4 p.m. at the Pit
Broadcast: 890-AM KDXU
WHITE BUFFALOES
Coach: Shawn Faux (2nd year)
Record: 10-12 overall 7-4 in Region 11 (3rd place)
Streak: 2 losses
Last five: 2-3
PPG: 60.5
PAPG: 65.7
Probable starters: Justin Pollmann (20.1 ppg), Tyler Lawrence (13.9), Ace Hymas (7.8), Matt Memmott (5.1), Ryan Brady (3.6)
Other key contributors: Connor Searle (3.1), Colton Schofield (2.2)
PANTHERS
Coach: Darrell Larsen (5th year)
Record: 16-5 overall, 8-3 in Region 9 (T-2nd place)
Streak: 3 losses
Last five: 2-3
PPG: 65.2
PAPG: 56.4
Probable starters: Chaz Peterson (11.2), Jack Bangerter (8.8), Kody Wilstead (14.9), Collin Dowdell (10.4), Jed Newby (5.2)
Other key contributors: Ryan Koller (8.0), Garrett Bowker (2.1), Kendrick Spencer (1.3)
Game Outlook: This could be a very entertaining 2-3 match-up and a dangerous one for the favored Panthers. Pine View is a better team, especially defensively, but the Buffaloes like to run-and-gun and are one of those teams that don’t really care if they give up a layup or a dunk as they just want to score quickly again at the other end. The real X-factor will be Wilstead, who has the ability to play goalie at the rim, slowing down a team that likes to run. A few blocked shots early in the game and teams start to get a little gun shy. Make no mistake though, Pollmann is a legitimate player who also leads his team in assists and steals and is second in rebounds. Given the nature of these two teams, the winner of this game will most likely be in the upper 70s.
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Desert Hills (13-8) at Bear River (12-10), 5 p.m. at the Bears Gymnasium
THUNDER
Coach: Wade Turley (2nd year)
Record: 13-8 overall, 8-4 in Region 9 (T-2nd place)
Streak: 4 wins
Last five: 4-1
PPG: 54.1
PAPG: 49.2
Probable starters: Taylor Houston (7.5 ppg), Quincy Matthews (13.0), Brycen Williams (5.4), Trey Tanner (7.0), Jordan Hokanson (8.8)
Other key contributors: Landen Broadhead (3.7), Sam Messinger (2.9), Austin Adams (4.3)
BEARS
Coach: Scott Hunt (1st year)
Record: 12-10 overall, 7-1 in Region 11 (T-1st)
Streak: 3 wins
Last five: 4-1
PPG: 59.6
PAPG: 53.7
Probable starters: Parker Lewis (17.7 ppg), Landon Cornwall (11.6), McKade Mitton (6.6), Stetson Summers (6.2), Jared Olsen (5.5)
Other key contributors: Jardee Nessen (5.4), Cole Fronk (1.8)
Game Outlook: Last year in the state semifinals, Snow Canyon got blitzkrieged by Bear River’s up-tempo free-firing style of basketball. The Warriors had won Region 9 by playing measured offense and hard-nosed defense. It didn’t work against the Bears. D-Hills is similar to Snow Canyon in that the Thunder have gotten where they are with hard-nosed D and patient O. The Bears aren’t quite as good as last year, but they still like to sprint up and down the court and fire from anywhere. BR has 137 3-pointers this year compared to 74 for the Thunder. Defending the arc will be paramount for D-Hills, especially since treys fire up what will be a packed house at Bear River. Meanwhile, Tanner, Adams and Mathews should be able to operate inside with a distinct size advantage inside. It may come down to the final possession.
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Cedar (13-8) at Grantsville (18-3), 7 p.m. at Cowboys Gymnasium
Broadcast: 590-AM KSUB
REDMEN
Coach: Craig Cardon (9th season)
Record: 13-8 overall, 8-4 in Region 9 (T-2nd)
Streak: 1 win
Last five: 4-1
PPG: 53.6
PAPG: 48.2
Probable starters: Kordan Nielson (18.8 ppg), Dustin Staggs (14.0), Kyle Wood (5.1), Weston Bettridge (3.0), Greyson Hulet (2.9)
Other key contributors: Kole Dotson (1.8), James Thompson (1.4), Ben Brown (.6), Jaren Forsyth (2.0)
COWBOYS
Coach: Chris Baker (3rd season)
Record: 18-3 overall, 7-1 in Region 11 (T-1st)
Streak: 3 wins
Last five: 4-1
PPG: 54.8
PAPG: 40.3
Probable starters: Devin Adams (15.2 ppg), Devon Arellano (8.9), Dallin Williams (6.3), Spencer Lawrence (5.5), Tyler Colson (5.0)
Other key contributors:Jake Riding (4.6), Nick Arb0on (2.6)
Game Outlook: Unlike the rest of Region 11, the Cowboys really enjoy playing defense. In fact, their 40.3 points allowed per game is a stark contrast to the rest of the region, which likes to fast break. Not Grantsville, which is patient on both ends of the floor. Points will be at a premium in this game. The Cowboys have not played a tough schedule, barely beating bad teams like Ogden (by 3), Carbon (by 2) and Union (by 1). Still, they keep winning and have beaten Bear River (by 20) and kept it close at Cedar and against Morgan. For the Redmen, this may be a good draw as the Cowboys will have a hard time handling Nielson and the powerful Staggs inside, plus the Redmen desperately want to make it to the Centrum in their hometown for the quarters.
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Today’s other first round games :
- Park City (7-15) at Richfield (13-5), 7 p.m. (winner plays Ben Lomond/Snow Canyon winner Thursday at 9:30 a.m.)
- Juab (13-7) at Juan Diego (18-5), 7 p.m. (winner plays Cedar/Grantsville winner Thursday at 11:10 a.m.)
- Uintah (7-13) at Payson (16-6), 7 p.m. (winner plays Pine View/Tooele winner Thursday at 12:50 p.m.)
- North Sanpete (4-15) at Morgan (17-6), 6 p.m. (winner plays Bear River/Desert Hills winner Thursday at 2:30 p.m.)
3A State Tournament Boys Bracket
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Region 9 basketball: Inside tonight’s match-ups, 2/22/14