ST. GEORGE — Somebody was going to get their first Region 9 win of the season when Snow Canyon traveled to Cedar, and by more than whisker it was the Redmen. Elsewhere, Pine View dominated Hurricane to remain undefeated, while Dixie outdistanced Desert Hills to take sole possession of second place.
Cedar 62, Snow Canyon 46
At Cedar, the Redmen picked up their first region win of the season with a 62-46 victory over Snow Canyon.
Right after the game ended, Cedar’s players surrounded head coach Russ Beck and proceeded to take turns shaving Beck’s beard with a pair of wireless clippers, much to the delight of the players, students and fans.
“I’ve been growing that for a while and everybody knows that I love it,” Beck explained afterward. “I just said (to the team), ‘Hey, as soon as we win, I’m shaving it for ya,’ just as a little extra motivation.”
Sophomore center Dallin Grant scored 19 points in an impressive outing during his first game back since being sidelined with an injury over the past several weeks.
“Just the energy that Grant gave us in practice and knowing that he was going to play, made everybody kind of feel like it was a new season,” Beck added.
Cedar built a 9-7 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 24-19 by halftime. Midway through the third period, however, Snow Canyon started to close in, but the Redmen got a nice boost at the end of the quarter when Gaige Savage hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend Cedar’s lead to eight points, 41-33.
Although it was Savage’s only basket of the game, it provided much-needed momentum, the coach said.
“I’m so happy for Gaige,” Beck said. “He hit a big shot. He was so much more patient than he was maybe in the last couple games. I loved how our players celebrated each other.”
Guard Treyton Tebbs also scored 19 points for Cedar, including 10 points during the second quarter. Luke Armstrong added 9 as the Redmen improved to 1-4 in Region 9 play.
Snow Canyon, which was led by junior guard Cole Warner’s 19 points, had no other players in double figures. Jakob Dunkley was the next high scorer with 8 points. The Warriors fell to 0-6 in region play.
Cedar plays at Hurricane Wednesday at 7 p.m. Snow Canyon has a bye that night but will host Canyon View next Friday at 7 p.m.
“We haven’t won at home since … I don’t know that it’s been since I’ve been here, to be honest with you,” Beck added. “It was nice to be able to stand in front of the band (after the game) when we are happy and didn’t want to hurry and get to the locker room.”
“We’ve got seven games left down the stretch and, yeah, I think we’re a new team and we’ve got a new focus. We’ve just got to focus on our next opponent, Hurricane, and try to give them our best game.”
— Written by Jeff Richards
Dixie 45, Desert Hills 36
The Dixie Flyers, in a “fun Region 9 game,” overcame the Desert Hills Thunder to take sole possession of second place in the region.
Dixie led by eight after one quarter thanks to 6 points apiece from Noah Lemke and Nic Roundy.
The Flyers led by seven at the half and the Thunder cut the lead to five entering the final quarter, but Dixie was able to put the game away in the final period for the win.
Hayden Cottle led a balanced offensive attack for the Flyers, scoring 11 points. Roundy added 8 points, while four different players added 6 points each.
With the win, Dixie improves to 4-1 in region play.
“It was such a fun Region 9 game,” Flyers head coach Tyler Roberts said. “Nothing better than a packed house watching two good teams battle back and forth.
“I was extremely proud of our team tonight on both ends of the floor. We were able to control the tempo and make shot difficult for them. … I loved the focus we had preparing for this game.”
The loss drops Desert Hills to 3-2 in region play.
Carson Thornton led the Thunder with 14 points, while Trevin Lindstrom added 12.
On Wednesday, Desert Hills hosts first-place Pine View. The game tips off at 7 p.m.
The Flyers will face off with Canyon View, also Wednesday at 7 p.m.
— Written by Spencer Rodak
Pine View 79, Hurricane 50
In a game they led from start to finish, the Pine View Panthers continued their undefeated start to Region 9 play, blowing out the Hurricane Tigers at home, 79-50.
After leading by just three after one quarter, Pine View dominated the second quarter, outscoring Hurricane 25-8 and taking a 20-point lead into the half.
The second half was closer than the first but the Panthers were never threatened in cruising to a 29-point victory.
Michael Moore had a big game for Pine View, dropping 27 points while adding five rebounds and six assists. Dallin Brown chipped in 10 points for the Panthers.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 2-3 in region play, good for fifth place. They will play Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Cedar.
Pine View will look to continue its hot start to region play against Desert Hills at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
— Written by Spencer Rodak
Region 9 standings
Pine View 5-0 (8-6)
Dixie 4-1 (12-3)
Desert Hills 3-2 (9-6)
Canyon View 3-2 (7-8)
Hurricane 2-3 (6-8)
Cedar 1-4 (5-10)
Snow Canyon 0-6 (4-11)
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Treyton Tebbs of Cedar passes the ball while being guarded by multiple Snow Canyon players, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by London Richards for St. George News / Cedar City News Tanner Eyre of Cedar shoots a free throw against Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by London Richards for St. George News / Cedar City News Sophomore center Dallin Grant of Cedar shoots the ball against Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by London Richards for St. George News / Cedar City News Zab Santana of Cedar dribbles the ball against Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by London Richards for St. George News / Cedar City News Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Desert Hills vs. Dixie, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by David Larson Cedar High player Gaige Savage takes his turn with the clippers in helping trim the beard of head coach Russ Beck, following the team's 62-46 win over Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News Cedar High players surround head coach Russ Beck as he finishes trimming his beard with clippers, following the team's 62-46 win over Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News A Cedar High player helps trim the beard of head coach Russ Beck, following the team's 62-46 win over Snow Canyon, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 18, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
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