Region 10 boys basketball: Pine View, Crimson Cliffs host Coach Walker Holiday Classic

ST. GEORGE — Pine View and Crimson Cliffs High Schools hosted the annual Coach Walker Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament over the weekend, giving local teams tests against non-region competition as the season heads toward the Region 10 gauntlet.

As previously reported in St. George News, the tournament is held in memory of longtime Pine View coach Darin Walker, who passed away in 2014.

“Really it’s Pine View’s tournament, they’ve done it forever. We just kind of helped host,” said Crimson Cliffs coach Kasey Winters. “Coach Walker was just a great coach in the community for a long time. Influenced a lot of people. It’s a great way to recognize someone who gave to the community for so long.”

“It’s an event a lot of people look forward to,” he added.

Walker was known for his charitable character and his family continues that legacy by helping organize the Classic every year.

“This year is probably the biggest one we’ve ever had with 15 teams,” Pine View coach Ryan Eves said. “Coach Walker was always giving to the community. He loved Pine View sports and he loved Region 9 (now Region 10) sports.”

Here is a recap of Region 10 teams at the tournament.

Crimson Cliffs

The Mustangs fell behind Maple Mountain Thursday night, 16-13 after the first quarter, but then rallied to win the game 60-52. 

Crimson Cliffs hosts Logan at the Coach Walker Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, St. George, Utah, Dec. 17, 2021 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Senior Travis Matthews led the Mustangs with 15 points in the game, and fellow seniors Jaden Jensen and Hudson Hawes contributed 10 points apiece in the win.

Friday night, Crimson Cliffs led the entire contest and got to play a lot of bench players in a 59-47 victory over Logan.

Hawes led the way this time with 17 points while Matthews netted 13. Nine different Mustangs scored points in the contest. 

“We had some good moments leading into halftime that allowed us to build a big lead,” Winters said. “And then we extended that lead. We were able to play some guys that haven’t got a ton of opportunities, got some young guys in.”

Then Crimson Cliffs finished the Classic with a tough 75-72 defeat against Bountiful Saturday afternoon. Hawes had 20 points in defeat while senior Bridger Jones scored 14 for the Mustangs.

Crimson Cliffs saw its overall record move to 7-3 after the loss and is 1-0 in Region 10. The Mustangs return to region play Jan. 7 at Hurricane at 7 p.m.

 Pine View

After falling to Spanish Fork 65-39 in its first game Thursday night, Pine View rebounded to beat Riverton 64-52 Friday night in its home gym.

Pine View hosts Logan at the Coach Walker Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2021 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Senior Rustin Shaw and sophomore Griffen Shepherd each threw in 13 points to lead the Panthers in the game and sophomore Nash Schroeder netted 8 for the victors.

Then Saturday afternoon Pine View won its second tournament game, beating Logan 64-52.

“Effort was unbelievable, we just need to be smarter at times,” Eves said. “It was physical, I wish we had not fouled as much down the stretch. They battled. They played their butts off all weekend after a tough loss Thursday night.” 

Shaw led four Panthers in double-digit scoring in the win, netting 15 points. Bensen Shepherd scored 14 and Griffen Shepherd scored 12 points for the winners, as did Schroeder.

Pine View evened its record at 5-5 overall with the win and is 0-1 in Region 10 play. The Panthers will look to even that record as well when they go to Cedar Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.

Dixie

The Flyers went 3-1 at the Classic after beating Logan 52-36 Thursday night, then falling to Riverside Friday night by a score of 53-39.

Dixie hosts Manti at the Coach Walker Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, St. George, Utah, Dec. 17, 2021 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Dixie played twice Saturday and won both games, 64-35 against Spanish Fork in the morning and 60-48 against Manti in the afternoon.

Kyle Lemke led the Flyers to the win with 28 points. Grant Carter hit three 3-pointers in the win and contributed 17 points in the Dixie victory.

The Flyers improved to 8-2 overall on the season, and Dixie is the only team in Region 10 yet to play a region contest. That will change Jan. 5 when the Flyers play at Desert Hills at 7 p.m.

Snow Canyon

The Warriors remained unbeaten on the season after going 3-0 at the Classic.

Snow Canyon beat Riverton 52-35 Thursday night, followed by a 66-60 win against Maple Mountain Friday.

Then the Warriors posted a strong 57-54 win Saturday morning against Region 11 foe Ridgeline. Snow Canyon was led by its junior twin towers Lyman Simmons, who stands 6-foot-9 and Bowen Hammer who is 6-foot-5,  in the win over the Riverhawks.

Simmons led all scorers with 21 points and Hammer threw in 19 for the winners.

Snow Canyon improved to 7-0 overall (1-0 Region 10). The Warriors have three upcoming road games before resuming region play Jan. 5 at Hurricane at 7 p.m.

Desert Hills

The Thunder finished 2-1 at the Classic after beating Manti 66-48 Thursday night and then defeating Bountiful 54-44 Friday night.

Sophomore Eli Allred led the Thunder with 17 points in the first game and also paced Desert Hills with 16 points in the Bountiful victory.

Westlake dominated the Thunder Saturday, winning 78-38. The loss dropped Desert Hills to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in region play.

Desert Hills gets back into Region 10 action Jan. 5 at home against Dixie at 7 p.m.

Hurricane

The Tigers split the two Classic games they played, beating Manti 50-47 Friday afternoon and falling 59-41 to Maple Mountain Saturday.

Senior Kruz Gardner scored 20 points against Manti and senior Carter Slack contributed 11 points in the win. Tigers senior Colton Lichfield led the Hurricane with 14 points and Gardner had 10 against Maple Mountain in the defeat.

Hurricane is off to a 5-3 start on the campaign and are 1-0 in Region 10 play. The Tigers have three upcoming road games before resuming region action at home against Snow Canyon Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.

Cedar

The defending 4A state champions went 2-1 at the Classic, winning a 66-64 thriller over Bountiful Thursday night and then dropping a 70-67 nailbiter to Spanish Fork Friday. 

Then Saturday the Reds played another close contest, beating Riverton 57-55. Ty Harrison hit five 3-pointers and led Cedar in scoring in the victory.

Cedar evened its record at 5-5 overall to start the season and is 0-1 in Region 10. The Reds go to Canyon View Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. and then host Pine View in region action Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. 

Editor’s Note: this report has been edited after publication to reflect the correct scores in the Hurricane-Manti and Cedar-Riverton games.

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