ST. GEORGE – Hayden Anderson and the Warriors let the rest of Region 9 know that Snow Canyon isn’t just about Nate Gottfredson.

Anderson scored 15 points and Warner Rigby added 11 as the Warriors beat Hurricane 58-33 Wednesday night in the Jungle Gymnasium. The Tigers smothered Gottfredson in an attempt to slow down the 6-foot-9 star and it worked as he managed just three points. But the special attention left open looks for Anderson, Rigby and Tanner Sampson, who had 10 points.

“They were double teaming Nate (Gottfredson),” said Anderson. “He found me a couple of times, and I also got some weak side rebounds because he drew their attention.”

Hurricane kept pace in the first half, but a monster third quarter broke the game open. In the third, the Warriors pounded the Hurricane defense with some excellent inside-out play. Anderson, Rigby and Sampson paced the Warriors with two baskets apiece.

“Our posts are really good about recognizing the double-team,” Rigby said. “We got excellent looks, both cutting to the basket and spotting up.”

The Warriors outscored Hurricane 23-5 in the quarter, and the lead was 24 after three, 50-26.

Early on, Hurricane matched the much taller Warriors basket for basket and, in the waning seconds of the first quarter, only trailed 15-12. Kade Potter’s shot from distance at the buzzer gave Snow Canyon a six-point lead going into the second.

The Tigers kept Snow Canyon in check during the second quarter and were within striking distance after two buckets each from Cody LeBaron and Jayce Housley. But the Warriors still maintained their six-point lead at halftime, 27-21.

“Hurricane is very well-coached and their kids hustle,” said Snow Canyon coach James Brown. “We took advantage of our height and were able to get some rebounds and put-backs.”

The huge third quarter was spurred by the SC defense, which allowed just five points in the period and only 12 in the entire second half.

After limited scoring by both teams in the first half of the fourth quarter, both coaches substituted deep into their benches. The final tally ended with a 58-33 score.

LeBaron scored 11 points for the Tigers. Snow Canyon’s Anderson led all scorers with 15. He was joined by Rigby and Sampson in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Snow Canyon moves to 8-5 overall, 3-1 in region play. The Warriors will host Cedar on Friday night. Hurricane dropped to 5-10, 1-4 in region play. The Tigers are off Friday and travel to Canyon View next Wednesday.

Snow Canyon’s game management offered a classy moment in pregame. After the raucous introductions and the national anthem, the Jungle quieted in hushed honor to remember Brian Scott, a former Hurricane football and wrestling star who passed away Tuesday after battling leukemia.

Stats: SCHS 58, HHS 33

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