ST. GEORGE – It was a milestone night for Desert Hills guard Ashley Beckstrand. But the junior guard, who scored her 1,000th career point, would probably trade a bunch of those points for a win Thursday as Pine View downed the Thunder. That result, coupled with Snow Canyon’s big win over Dixie, put the Warriors alone in first place. Meanwhile, Cedar won its second straight game by defeating Hurricane. Here’s a look at Thursday evening’s action:
Pine View 59, Desert Hills 41
The Thunder suffered their first loss in region play at the hands of Pine View, despite Beckstrand’s 18 points, which pushed her career total over the 1,000-point plateau. Cedar’s Courtney Morley is also in the 1,000-point.
“I thought we guarded (Beckstrand) very well collectively as a team,” said Pine View head coach Chris Brinagh. “She still got 18 points. She is a very talented player.”
The Pine View defense is what carried the night, however. The explosive Thunder were held to only 10 points the first half.
“I am still shaking my head,” said Brinagh. “When you hold Desert Hills, a team that gets up and down the court quickly, to just 10 points in a half, you are playing good defense.”
The lead could have been much larger. Pine View got several open looks in the post through much of the game, but did not start connecting on them until the end of the first half.
“That has been our story all season,” said Brinagh. “We execute the offense and get open looks, but have had difficulty finishing.”
The first quarter started slow for both teams. Breana Moeai’s coast-to-coast score with 2:25 remaining put the Panthers up 5-4. Beckstrand would get a basket and free throw to give the Thunder a 7-6 advantage with 1:15 to play. Natasha Fiame would score and then assist on a score to Moeai inside to give the Lady Panthers back a 10-7 lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the night.
The first four minutes of the second quarter saw each team score a free throw. Then the Lady Panthers started connecting on interior passing and went on a 14-2 run to close out the first half. With the exception of a Stefani Gleave 3-pointer, all of the damage came inside from Fiame, Tayvia Ah Quin, and Kenya Schone.
“We have played to together so much now,” said Fiame. “Now we just make eye contact and we know where the other person is cutting.”
Thunder head coach Ron Denos said his team got outmuscled in the game.
“Pine View plays a very physical defense,” he said. “We did not match their physicality in the first half. I thought our girls came out with greater intensity in the second half.”
Beckstrand, who only needed 8 points to get to 1,000, reached the milestone midway through the third quarter on a free throw.
Pine View maintained its 15-point-lead through much of the third. The Panthers committed several fouls early, though, and Desert Hills was in the bonus with more than two minutes remaining in the third. Several Panther fouls put Desert Hills shooters at the line. Beckstrand’s free throws with 58 seconds to play sliced the Panther lead to 10.
Two quick buckets in the last minute by Panther reserves Brooklyn Kauvaka and Sarrah Pierce put the lead to 39-25 going into the fourth quarter.
That scoring streak continued in the fourth when Pine View opened up with baskets by Ah Quin and Moeai to push the lead to 43-25. Beckstrand broke the 8-0 run with a steal and fast break layup with 6:18 remaining.
Pine View’s offensive muscle continued to flex and the Lady Thunder could not get the lead under 14 points. The lead would eventually climb to 20 in the final minute on a put-back by Ah Quin. Desert Hills would score with six seconds left to get to the final margin, 59-41.
“It was one of our better defensive games,” said Brinagh. “Moeai, Ah Quin and Saraven Allen all matched up with Beckstrand. But the players behind them also played a big role in containing her.”
As a team Pine View outshot the Thunder 50-26 percent and outrebounded them 33-23. The Lady Panthers also scored 14 second-chance points.
Individually, Beckstrand led all scorers with 18 points. Kylie Williams scored 9. Elly Williams pulled down 10 rebounds for the Thunder. For Pine View, Moeai and Fiame led the team with 14 apiece. Ah Quin scored 11. Fiame led the team with nine rebounds. Moeai assisted on four baskets.
Desert Hills falls to 8-7 overall, 3-1 in Region 9. The Lady Thunder will host Snow Canyon on Tuesday night. Pine View improves to 10-5 overall and 2-2 in region play. The Panthers will host Hurricane on Tuesday night.
Cedar 44, Hurricane 34
The Hurricane Tigers played pretty even with Cedar except for the second quarter. The Lady Reds doubled up Hurricane 14-7 in the second to take a 22-13 lead. The lead would only increase by one in the third and stay at 10 through the fourth quarter.
Individually, Hurricane’s Jayden Langford led all players with 12 points. Morgan Huntsman and Taylor Anderson scored 7 apiece. Langford also had five steals. Huntsman and Carrie Marshall both had nine rebounds. For the Lady Reds, Hannah Williams led the team with 11 points. Courtney Morley and Morgan Myers scored 8 and 7 points, respectively. Jessica Whetman pulled down 14 rebounds.
With the win, Cedar moves to 11-5 overall and 2-2 in region. Cedar will travel to Dixie High School on Tuesday. Hurricane falls to 7-9 overall and 1-3. The Lady Tigers will travel to Pine View on Tuesday night.
Snow Canyon 71, Dixie 36
The Lady Warriors jumped out to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter. They increased a 12-point halftime advantage to 25 after three en route to the 35-point win.
For Snow Canyon, Shaylee Reed posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Madison Mooring led the team with 23 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. Nikenna Durante also had four steals. Sydney Bott scored 8.
Individually, Kelsea Barker led the Flyers with 12 points. Lexie Paxton and Taylor Whitson scored 8 and 7 points, respectively.
Snow Canyon is the sole undefeated team in region play (4-0) and moves to 15-1 overall. The Warriors will travel to Desert Hills on Tuesday night. Dixie falls to 2-13 overall and 0-4 in region. The Lady Flyers will host Cedar on Tuesday night.
REGION 9 STANDINGS
Team Rcrd Pts For Pts Asgt
1. Snow Canyon 4-0 230 175
2. Desert Hills 3-1 207 166
3. Cedar 2-2 190 172
3. Pine View 2-2 180 171
5. Hurricane 1-3 156 189
6. Dixie 0-4 129 219
Pine View's Saraven Allen (3) and Desert Hills' Rylee Jensen (3), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Ashley Beckstrand (24), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Pine View's Breana Moeai (33), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Jessica Bills (42), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Pine View's Tayvia AhQuin (24), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Elly Williams (12), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Pine View's Tayvia AhQuin (24), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Rylee Jensen (3), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Kylie Williams (11) and Pine View's Saraven Allen (3), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hills' Kylie Williams (11), Pine View vs. Desert Hills, Girls Basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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