Tonight’s Region 9 boys basketball games — Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014

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Snow Canyon (13-6, 8-2) at Cedar (12-7, 7-3), 7 p.m. at the CHS Gymnasium
Broadcast: 890-AM KDXU, with Andy Griffin on play by play; 590-AM KSUB (in Cedar City)

WARRIORS
Coach: James Brown
Record: 13-6 overall, 8-2 in region
Streak: 3 wins
Last Five: 4-1
PPG: 60.7
PAPG: 59.1
Probable starters: Hayden Anderson (7.4 ppg), Nate Gottfredson (14.8), Tanner Sampson (9.1), Chase Jenkins (4.4), Jacob Frei (9.0)
Other key contributors: Brock Staheli (4.5), Warner Rigby (4.5), Kade Potter (1.9)

REDMEN
Coach: Craig Cardon
Record: 12-7 overall, 7-3 in region
Streak: 5 wins
Last five: 5-0
PPG: 53.9
PAPG: 48.5
Probable starters: Kordan Nielson (18.6 ppg), Dustin Staggs (14.0), Kyle Wood (5.3), Weston Bettridge (3.1), Greyson Hulet (2.8)
Other key contributors: Kole Dotson (1.9), James Thompson (1.5), Ben Brown (.5), Jaren Forsyth (2.1)

Game outlook: The Warriors are 7-2 in 2014 and both losses were buzzer-beater style heartbreakers, so no one is blowing Snow Canyon away. In fact, SC has had a ton of close games this season. Twelve of the Warriors’ 19 contests have been decided by six points or less and eight of those were by three points or less, including the first meeting with Cedar, a 55-52 SC victory. The Redmen led by 10 at halftime of that one, but Snow Canyon made that up in the third quarter. Gottfredson had the go-ahead free throw in that win, but it was a heated game with several technical fouls. The Redmen have been red-hot, winning five straight. They are 9-2 in 2014. Nielson averaged 26 ppg last week. An SC win gives them pretty much gives them the Region 9 No. 1 seed. A Cedar win could create a two- or three-way tie for first.

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Desert Hills (11-8, 6-4) at Pine View (16-4, 8-3), 7 p.m. at The Pit
Broadcast: Triplecast! CEC-TV Ch. 22 (Baja Cable), ESPN 106.1 FM and STGNews.com

THUNDER
Coach: Wade Turley
Record: 11-8 overall, 6-4 in region
Streak: 2 wins
Last five: 3-2
PPG: 52.8
PAPG: 48.4
Probable starters: Taylor Houston (7.5 ppg), Quincy Matthews (12.7), Brycen Williams (5.4), Trey Tanner (6.7), Jordan Hokanson (7.8)
Other key contributors: Landen Broadhead (3.6), Sam Messinger (3.2), Austin Adams (4.3)

PANTHERS
Coach: Darrell Larsen
Record: 16-4 overall, 8-3 in region
Streak: 2 losses
Last five: 3-2
PPG: 65.6
PAPG: 56.2
Probable starters: Chaz Peterson (11.6), Jack Bangerter (8.7), Kody Wilstead (14.5), Collin Dowdell (10.4), Jed Newby (5.3)
Other key contributors: Ryan Koller (8.2), Garrett Bowker (2.1), Kendrick Spencer (1.4)

Game Outlook: The Thunder are playing very good basketball lately, blowing out the three non-playoff teams and leading Cedar at their house for 30 of the 32 minutes in regulation before falling by three in overtime. It’s hard to believe this is the same team that got blown out at home in consecutive games by Pine View and Snow Canyon. So what changed? Well, balance has been the key. In the blowout over CV, six different players scored at least seven points. In the Cedar game, Hokanson and Houston were in double-figures to help out the always consistent Mathews. For PV, this is the last game of the regular season with a bye Friday night. The Panthers could still be a No. 1-seed and actually could be a four-seed, too, with a loss to DH and a tiebreaker loss. The Panthers are undefeated at home, but need to find their 3-pointer touch again after missing them all against Cedar.

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Dixie (10-9, 3-7) at Canyon View (6-14, 3-7), 7 p.m., at the Falcon’s Nest
Broadcast: Kickin’ 94.9 FM

FLYERS
Coach: Ryan Cuff
Record: 10-9 overall, 3-7 in region
Streak: 2 losses
Last five: 1-4
PPG: 54.8
PAPG: 53.1
Probable starters: RJ Wilgar (9.0 ppg), Tyler Bennett (7.0), Harrison Labrum (5.0), Jake Hawes (14.1), Jake Christiansen (3.8)
Other key contributors: Izaic Blazzard (2.5) Nate Crockett (2.4), Jayden Roberts (1.5), Sam Guymon (10.0 — out with ankle injury)

FALCONS
Coach: Rob Potter
Record: 6-14 overall, 3-7 in region
Streak: 1 loss
Last Five: 2-3
PPG: 52.1
PAPG: 59.6
Probable starters: Keaton Kringlen (8.4 ppg), Koy Huxford (10.6), Sterling Barnes (6.3), Derek Dunnell (3.6), Ty Nielson (5.1)
Other key contributors: Travis Bettridge (4.5), Ryan Jensen (6.1), Ty Hollerman (1.9), Brycen Bybee (2.3)

Game Outlook: Playing for pride is never fun, but for Dixie, a winning record is within reach as far as overall record is concerned. And let’s be honest, in another region, these two teams would be in the playoffs, if not state contenders. Both teams will be looking toward the future, although they also have seniors who are trying to close out their high school careers the right way. It is senior night for the Falcons, who are 3-3 in their last six games, including a win over Pine View last week. For Dixie, it’s been a week of having to try and digest that bitter last-second loss to Snow Canyon. The call was correct, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

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Region 9 basketball: Inside tonight’s match-ups, 2/07/14