ST. GEORGE — Three Region 10 boys basketball teams opened their seasons Thursday night as action on the local hardwood is just starting to heat up.

Teams are forming their identities in early season non-region contests and are preparing for the regular season in Region 10, regarded by many coaches to be the best region in Utah.

Following are recaps from Thursday night’s games.

Dixie 86, Mountain View 47

The Flyers took off early Thursday night and are still soaring.

Kyle Lemke erupted for 29 points and led Dixie to a convincing victory over Mountain View in the Flyers’ first basketball game of the season.

“We just came out strong,” Lemke told St. George News during the postgame celebration on the Flyers’ home court. “Pushed the ball, kept scoring, great team effort.”

Lemke, a junior center listed at 6-foot-9, showed a variety of moves from the post and was a smothering presence on the defensive side of the floor.

“He’s put in a lot of time,” Dixie head coach Tyler Roberts said about the Flyers’ big man. “We did a lot of skill development with him over the summer and he’s added a few other tools to his bag. He’s patient with his moves, he reads and reacts on it and just plays basketball.”

Lemke wasn’t the only shining star as the Flyers, 4A state runner-up to Snow Canyon last year, were bursting to start the season.

“We were so excited,” Lemke said. “We’ve been waiting to get back on the floor since last year. It just felt great. We’ve got a lot of pieces coming back. Hopefully, we can have a great season, great playoffs.”

Joining Lemke as double-digit scorers for Dixie were sophomore shooting guard John Southwick, who nailed five 3-pointers and tallied 16 points, and senior shooting guard Grant Carter, who also netted 16 points in the win.

“I was really pleased with everybody’s effort tonight,” Roberts said. “All the way across – the whole team, the bench, everything. Great team win.”

Dixie (1-0) sizzled to a 21-8 lead after one quarter and never looked back against the Bruins (1-2).

Carter stole a pass and scored, Kenneth Robison drained a 3-pointer and Lemke scored inside for his first points before Mountain View sank its first bucket.

In a later burst, Lemke rebounded, spun and scored off the glass. He set up Jordan Roberts for an easy bucket off of an inbounds pass and then sank another inside shot right at the buzzer.

The Flyers kept pouring it on in the second frame as Southwick hit from deep and then Carter had three consecutive scores, two off of drives to the hoop and another after he stole a pass.

Dixie led 41-19 at halftime and Mountain View never got back into the game.

Taylor Hamblin led the visitors with 18 points off of six 3-pointers.

Dixie continues its season-opening homestand at 7 tonight against Salem Hills, then plays Payson Saturday at 1 p.m.

Snow Canyon 76, Salem Hills 75, 2OT

The defending 4A state champion Warriors were tested again and again at home against the Skyhawks, and each time, Snow Canyon had the answer.

Junior Owen Mackay tallied a game-high 21 points including the winning bucket at the buzzer of the second overtime session as Snow Canyon improved to 2-0.

Senior Will Warner netted 20 points for the winners. Fellow seniors Luke Hamlin (13) and Cy Meacham (12) posted double-digits for the victors.

Chase DeGraffenried paced the Skyhawks (2-1) with 21 points.

Snow Canyon continues its homestand at 7 tonight against Payson and versus Mountain View Saturday at 1 p.m.

Crimson Cliffs 72, Payson 66

The Mustangs opened their season with a strong home win over the Lions. Senior Jordan Eaton led the way with 16 points for the winners.

Juniors Luke Johnson (14 points) and Jace Sweeten (10 points) joined Eaton in double-digit scoring in the win.

Six other Mustangs got on the scoresheet. Crimson Cliffs (1-0) hosts Mountain View at 7 tonight and plays Salem Hills Saturday at 1 p.m.

Mountain Crest 58, Pine View 56

The Region 10  Panthers came up just short in their season-opening home game against Region 11 opponent Mountain Crest.

Junior Griffen Shepherd threw in 21 points for Pine View and fellow junior Nash Schroeder scored 15 to lead the Panthers. Five other Pine View players scored in the defeat.

Pine View (0-1) hosts another Region 11 opponent, Ridgeline,  at 7 tonight and has a neutral game against Sky View Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Ridgeline defeated Desert Hills (0-1) 64-62.

Meanwhile, Sky View handed Cedar (2-1) its first loss, beating the Reds 68-52.

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