Today’s 3A State Championship Game — Saturday, March 1, 2014
7:30 p.m. at SUU’s Centrum Arena, Cedar City
3A State Tournament Boys Bracket
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — 7:30 p.m. — Cedar (16-8) vs. Morgan (20-6)
Broadcast: 590-AM KSUB (Cedar City)
REDMEN
Coach: Craig Cardon (9th season)
Record: 16-8 overall, 8-4 in Region 9 (T-2nd)
Playoffs: Beat Grantsville 50-45; beat Juan Diego 40-35; beat Snow Canyon 63-51
Streak: 4 wins
Last five: 4-1
PPG: 53.3
PAPG: 47.7
Probable starters: Kordan Nielson (18.8 ppg), Dustin Staggs (14.5), Kyle Wood (5.2), Weston Bettridge (2.9), Greyson Hulet (2.5)
Other key contributors: Kole Dotson (1.7), James Thompson (1.2), Ben Brown (1.1), Jaren Forsyth (2.1)
TROJANS
Coach: Jim Wiscombe (27th season)
Record: 20-6 overall, 8-0 in Region 10 (1st place)
Playoffs: Beat North Sanpete 70-52; beat Bear River 67-54; beat Payson 61-47
Streak: 15 wins
Last five: 5-0
PPG: 69.7
PAPG: 61.0
Probable starters: Garren Miles (15.7 ppg), Ben Saunders (12.1), Hunter Stanford (10.0), Bridger Streadbeck (9.3), Matt Murdock (8.1)
Other key contributors: Jordan Nelson (6.7), Hayden Garfield (4.7), Hayden Murdock (3.3), Bobby Cluff (2.9)
Game Outlook: Cedar is definitely the underdog heading into this championship game as the Trojans haven’t lost a game since 2013 and, since it’s March, that’s pretty impressive. Just like their girls team, the Trojan boys like to press and play up-tempo hoops, averaging 70 points an outing. Cedar, on the other hand, plays a half-court game and loves to pass the ball around and pound the post in to Staggs. No doubt that Nielson is the star for the Redmen and when he gets an open look, well it’s two (or three) points. Cedar has survived all year on two stars and a bunch of role players and it got them this far, so why not one more win? For the Trojans, it’s hard not to believe they won’t win their second straight title and their 16th straight game. If the referees let them play rough (they are very physical, especially the handsy guards), it could be a long game for Cedar.
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Related post
- TWIR9: Three days to decide a basketball champion
- Cedar gets revenge, trip to state championship game with OT win over SC (updated with interviews, highlights)
3A State Tournament Boys Bracket
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