4A boys basketball: Region 10 teams off to hot start as Warriors, Flyers unbeaten

ST. GEORGE — The two boys basketball teams projected to finish first and second in Region 10–Snow Canyon and Dixie–are both unbeaten after the first week of the season.

In a busy Saturday afternoon on the hardwood, the Warriors and Flyers both posted home wins and are a combined 7-0.

Elsewhere, Desert Hills picked up its first win of the season while Crimson Cliffs, Cedar and Pine View all suffered defeats.

Following are recaps of weekend games around St. George. Some of the recaps do not have individual scoring as box scores were not available at press time.

Saturday afternoon games

Salem Hills 61, Crimson Cliffs 46

Crimson Cliffs senior Phoenix McWillis looks to pass against Salem Hills in a non-region basketball game, Washington, Utah, Dec. 3, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The visiting 5A Skyhawks jumped out to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter and never trailed in a comfortable victory over the Mustangs.

Crimson Cliffs (2-1) battled back in the second quarter, cutting its halftime deficit to 32-24, but Salem Hills took command with a 19-13 third session and seized control.

“Honestly we kind of just lost track of who we are,” Crimson Cliffs head coach Kent Fairbourn told St. George News outside the Mustangs locker room after the game.

Fairbourn is in his first year at the head of the bench after Kasey Winters stepped down and went to run Nets On Fire during the offseason.

“Offensively, early in the season, we’ve seen we’re not a 3-point shooting team,” Fairbourn said. “We started getting too many outside shots which leads to transition for them, and we have a tough time getting back right now. We’ve talked about it a lot, but we just kind of fell apart and fell away from what we do best.”

Junior Chase DeGraffenried canned three 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead the victors. Jackson Nelson was a force for the Skyhawks inside, scoring 13 points, and Christian Snarr contributed 10 points to the win.

After missing some shots in a sluggish first period, the Mustangs muscled back into the game in the second quarter.

Phoenix McWillis had three consecutive scores for Crimson. His turnaround jumper, two free throws and a scoring drive to the hoop brought the Mustangs within nine at 25-16.

Crimson Cliffs senior Jordan Eaton drives to score against Salem Hills in a non-region basketball game, Washington, Utah, Dec. 3, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

McWillis scored again, was fouled and made the and-1 to make the score 26-19.

McWillis was whistled for his fourth personal foul just a minute and five seconds into the third quarter.

Then right at the end of that stanza, he picked up his fifth personal and was called for a technical after he said something to the referee as he walked to the Crimson bench.

Fairbourn said that the early foul trouble for McWillis hurt the most on defense.

“It kind of changes the way he plays against people and it can get in his head a little bit,” he said. “Like lots of guys, getting some foul calls you don’t like kind of messes you up individually. But he kept himself together and we’re alright.”

DeGraffenried sank both technical free throws and the Skyhawks took an insurmountable 51-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

Despite the setback, Fairbourn said that he is satisfied with Crimson’s 2-1 start to the season.

“We just got to get back to what we do, that’s what I just talked to them about right now,” Fairbourn said. “We’re a team that’s gotta go be tough and physical and get that ball inside and we gotta get back to it.”  

Snow Canyon 73, Mountain View 60

The Bruins surprised the 4A defending state champions and took a 19-14 lead after the first quarter.

But the Warriors (4-0) quickly regrouped, dominated the second quarter 23-10 and never looked back in the home victory.

Standout Owen Mackay led the Warriors again with 25 points. Senior Will Warner was right behind him with 23 points and Luke Hamlin threw in 11 for Snow Canyon.

That same trifecta of players scored two 3-pointers apiece in the win. Four other Warriors had at least one bucket.

Freshman Bryce Mella recorded a game-high 24 points for the Bruins in defeat.

Dixie 93, Payson 69

The Lions were able to keep up with Dixie’s high-octane offense for one quarter, even taking a 23-22 lead after the first session.

But the Flyers (3-0) responded to win the second quarter 22-7 and led the rest of the way.

Dixie averaged 82.6 points per game in its opening three contests of the season.

Desert Hills 52, Mountain Crest 47

The Thunder (1-2) won its first game of the year after the 5-point win over the visiting Mustangs.

Ridgeline 75, Cedar 52

The Riverhawks led 16-9 after the first quarter and 34-21 at halftime, never allowing the Reds to get into the game.

Cedar (3-2) won the fourth quarter 18-15 but could not recover from the big early deficit.

Sky View 73, Pine View 63

The Panthers slipped to 0-3 after the Bobcats took a 9-point lead after the first quarter and nursed it to victory, never trailing in the contest.

Griffen Shepherd poured in 35 points, including six 3-pointers, for Pine View. Nash Schroeder netted 19.

But it would not be enough against Sky View’s balanced scoring. Four different Bobcats scored in double-digits, led by Tanner Davis’s 16 points.

Friday night games

Snow Canyon 58, Payson 48

Six different Warriors sank a 3-pointer in Snow Canyon’s win at home.

Owen Mackay scored 20 points to lead Snow Canyon’s winning effort. Cy Meacham and Will Warner threw in 12 points apiece for the victors.

Dixie 69, Salem Hills 61

Playing its second consecutive home game, the Flyers flew to a 19-12 lead after one quarter and upped that advantage to 38-29 at halftime.

Jordan Roberts led Dixie with 19 points in the contest. Breckon Robinson and Kyle Lemke tossed in 17 points each for the winners.

Crimson Cliffs 82, Mountain View 65

Jordan Eaton exploded for 30 points to lead the Mustangs in the big home win.

The relentless Mustangs trampled the Bruins as nine different players scored at least a bucket for Crimson Cliffs.

Houston Johnsen netted 14 points for the winners and Phoenix McWillis was the third Mustang to post double-digits with 11 points.

Cedar 73, Mountain Crest 71

The Reds knocked off Region 11’s Mustangs with a balanced attack and clutch playmaking.

Cedar jumped ahead 22-16 after the first quarter and led 40-31 at halftime.

Ty Bronson and Stockton Albrecht each scored 20 points to pace the Reds offense, which featured double-digit scoring from Boston Garrett (12 points) and Nathan Rogers (10 points) in the victory.

Ridgeline 75, Pine View 63

Pine View came out hot at home, taking a 20-12 lead after the first quarter and holding a 30-29 advantage at halftime.

But Region 11’s Riverhawks turned the tide with a strong second half performance to slow down the Panthers.

Kanyon Dickinson led Pine View with 26 points while Griffen Shepherd and Nash Schroeder each posted 16 points for the Panthers in the setback.

Sky View 71, Desert Hills 37

Region 11’s Bobcats silenced the Thunder behind four different double-digit scoring performances.

The visitors were led by Logan Deal and his 16 points.

Meanwhile Lincoln Holmes was the leading man for Desert Hills with his 19 point effort.

Hurricane

The Tigers are 0-2 to start the season after losing to Canyon View and Wasatch. The Tigers play their first home game against Springville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Layton Christian Academy

LCA, playing in 4A this year but not affiliated with any region, is listed in the Region 10 standings for RPI (ratings percentage index) purposes.

The Eagles are off to a 2-1 start after beating Orem and Skyline but falling to Real Salt Lake Academy 75-73.

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