Ready or not, here comes basketball as the defending 3A state champion Pine View Panthers opened the season with a win in the Hall of Fame Classic, while Snow Canyon and Cedar, two teams expected to compete for a region crown this season, opened their seasons with losses. Dixie’s girls team also opened up Tuesday night, taking a loss against Beaver.
Here’s a roundup of the night’s action:
Pine View 70, Manti 59
The Panthers forced 22 turnovers and may have found a suitable replacement for state MVP Kody Wilstead in Trey Farrer, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the victory over the Templars.
Farrer also blocked five shots and Tyler “Tybo” Johnston poured in 22 points for PV, which started the game red-hot. The Panthers started the up-tempo game by darting out to a 16-6 lead, with Farrer and Johnston 14 of those 16 points. Johnston had two 3-pointers in the opening quarter.
The lead ballooned to 37-21 by halftime, with Farrer pouring in 11 and Johnston 12 in the first half.
Manti made a run in the third quarter, scoring the first eight points out of the locker room. The Templars got as close as two points at 41-39 by going on an 18-4 run, but Pine View scored five quick points at the end of the quarter to push the lead back out.
A Johnston trey got the lead back out to 14 at 68-54 in the fourth quarter as PV starts the year 1-0. The Panthers made six 3-pointers in the game, four by Johnston and one each by Matt Dalley and Cade Moore. Pine View next plays Dec. 1 at home against Enterprise before traveling to the 2A/3A Preview in Richfield Dec. 4-5.
Manti was led by Tanner Lefevre, who had 22 points.
Stats: Pine View 70, Manti 59
Canyon View 57, Snow Canyon 50
Joey Lambeth hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to help the Falcons pulled away for the home win Tuesday night.
Xavier Stoker led CV with 12 points and Lambeth hit a big 3 to start the fourth and push the slim 43-39 lead to 46-39 and the Warriors would never get it any closer.
Canyon View led by as many as eight in the third quarter, but Snow Canyon made a run late in the third with help on baskets by Hunter Barney and Kobe Tupu to cut it to four. The Falcons led by as many as 11 in the fourth before settling for the seven-point win.
Hunter Hammer led Snow Canyon with 14 points, while Tupu and Barney had 10 each. TJ Taimi had a pair of 3-pointers in the game.
The Warriors are off until Dec. 3-4, when they’ll take a trip to Salt Lake Valley to battle Brighton and Juan Diego.
Stats: CV 57, SC 50
Salem Hills 73, Cedar 54
This one got ugly early as the Skyhawks opened the game on a 12-2 run and stretched the lead to 48-17 at halftime after a 14-2 run to close the second quarter.
Brancen Webster had 19 points and Kameron Morris added 17 for Salem Hills, which had 10 different players score in the blowout.
Cedar got 11 points from Keenan Nielson and 9 each from Ben Brinkerhoff and Mason Fakahua in the loss.
The Redmen are off until a pair of games at the 2A/3A Preview in Richfield Dec. 4-5.
Stats: SHHS 73, CHS 54
Girls Basketball
Beaver 55, Dixie 35
The Dixie High School girls basketball team kicked off the season by hosting Beaver on Tuesday night. Beaver ran away with the game in the second half by outscoring the Flyers 31-18.
“We lack a lot of experience this year,” said Dixie head coach Jaime Araiza. “It showed in the third quarter as Beaver pulled away.”
The Flyers stayed close in the first half. Junior guard Grace Killian came off the bench in the first quarter and hit three shots. At the end of one, Dixie trailed 14-11.
“Grace Killian played fearless tonight,” said Araiza. “She not only made good plays, but also showed leadership vocally on the floor.”
At halftime, Beaver led 24-17. In the third quarter Beaver took advantage of their experience and height. They went inside and scored or drew the foul.
“They had a 32-18 free throw advantage,” said Araiza. “We just could not handle their inside game in the second half.”
Killian led the Flyers with 10 points. Kelsea Barker and Taylor Whitson scored seven apiece. Whitson also led the Flyers with eight rebounds.
“The girls showed tonight that what they lack in experience, they make up for with intensity,” said Araiza. “They understand they are young and inexperienced, but they have shown a great desire to learn.”
Dixie falls to 0-1 and will travel to Cedar City and face Canyon View on Dec. 5. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
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