Region 10 boys basketball: Dixie stays unbeaten with 1-point home win; Cedar, Pine View win on road

Written by Jeff Richards
January 25, 2023

ST. GEORGE — It was a night of close contests in Region 10 boys basketball action on Wednesday as region-leading Dixie eked out a one-point win at home over Crimson Cliffs, while Pine View and Cedar both posted tough road wins.

Following are recaps of the three games, which marked the halfway point of the Region 10 regular season:

Cedar 62, Hurricane 60

After a sluggish first half at Hurricane, the Cedar Reds came alive in the third quarter, going on a 25-11 run that turned a 28-22 halftime deficit into a 47-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Cedar went on to lead by as many as 12 points early in the fourth, taking a 58-46 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Although Cedar ended up scoring only four points from that point on, it proved to be just enough of a cushion to hold off a late rally by the  Tigers.

With just over a minute left, Cedar still led 62-58, but the Tigers soon added two more points to make it a one-score game.

Then, in the final seconds, the Tigers rebounded a missed three throw and attempted what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key, which missed, giving Cedar a 62-60 victory.

“We contested the shot well,” said Cedar head coach Tyler Monks after the game. “Credit to Hurricane for not quitting. They battled back and we had to hold on down the stretch.”

Monks said Hurricane’s taller players gave the Reds problems inside, especially in the first half, so they turned their focus to outside shooting.

“We settled for 3s,” he said. “Luckily, we are able to hit 12 of them.”

“Being down at halftime, we challenged our players to come out and play solid defense,” Monks added. “We played a great third quarter, only giving up 11 points.”

“It was a tough battle,” Monks said. “It’s always great to get a road win in our region.”

Ty Bronson, coming off a recent arm injury, was Cedar’s leading scorer with 13 points, while guards Nate Rogers and Stockton Albrecht added 12 and 1o points, respectively.

Hurricane’s top scorer was Cayleb Jackman with 16 points, with Calan Hughes adding 11 and Carter Ashby scoring 10.

Cedar improved to 2-4 in Region 10 play, 7-8 overall with the victory. The Reds next host Desert Hills on Friday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Hurricane (0-6, 2-13) stayed winless in region play with the loss. The Tigers host the region-leading Dixie Flyers on Friday.

Dixie 43, Crimson Cliffs 42

The visiting Mustangs almost grounded the Flyers, but Dixie’s big man was not to be denied and the home team posted an unbeaten mark in Region 10 play at the halfway point of the season.

Dixie hosts Crimson Cliffs in Region 10 boys basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 25, 2023 | Photo by Jacqui Knighton, St. George News

“We knew they were going to come out and play a physical game, they’re big,” Dixie junior Kyle Lemke told St. George News after scoring a game-high 22 points to lead the Flyers. “We just had to be physical back.”

After throwing in six points in the first quarter, Lemke went to work in the second. He scored 10 of his team’s 13 points in the session, leading Dixie to a 30-19 lead at halftime.

Then the Mustangs stormed back in the third quarter. Steele Barben sank a 3-pointer and four other Mustangs scored a bucket as Crimson crept closer going into the fourth quarter, down only 34-30.

“The second half, I just felt a little slower, shots were short,” Lemke said. “I had to get back to my own game.”

Sean Felts erupted for six points in that final quarter as Crimson tied the score 36-36 with over five minutes left to play. Felts finished with 10 in the game.

Grant Carter answered right back for Dixie, scoring on back-to-back drives through the lane.

But with less than a minute left Jordan Eaton’s corner 3-pointer for Crimson knotted the score once more at 42-42.

On the ensuing possession Dixie got the ball down low to Lemke and he was fouled. He made the second free throw, which ended up being the final point scored in the game.

Crimson called timeout and set up a last shot attempt. The Mustangs had plenty of time and Scoop Johnson had a good look at a long-distance step back 3, but his effort rang solidly off the front iron and Dixie escaped with the win.

“We play tough games all the time, close games like that,” Lemke said. “We were ready and prepared for that. We knew what we needed to do.”

Lemke was the only Flyer scorer in double digits, as Jordan Roberts scored eight and Carter finished with six points for the winners.

The Mustangs got 12 points from Barben and 11 from Eaton in the tough defeat.

The next games for these two teams are on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Dixie goes to play at Hurricane while Crimson Cliffs will host Snow Canyon.

Pine View 61, Desert Hills 52

The Panthers won their second in a row behind another strong game from Nash Schroeder and Griffen Shepherd. 

Desert Hills hosts Pine View in Region 10 boys basketball, St. George, Utah, Jan. 25, 2023 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

Schroeder threw in 25 points and Shepherd sank four 3-pointers and posted 18 for the winners. Tim Long scored 10 points for Pine View.

The Panthers were strong from the start in the Thunderdome, taking a 13-5 lead after the home team started off cold from the floor.

Pine View upped its advantage to 26-16 at halftime and never surrendered the lead.

Desert Hills won the fourth quarter 22-17 but it was too little too late. Lincoln Holmes scored a game-high 27 to lead the Thunder and Eli Allred contributed 17 for the home team.

Only three other Thunder players scored points in the low-scoring contest.

Desert Hills next plays at Cedar on Friday at 7 p.m. Pine View has a bye that night.

— last two capsules written by E. George Goold

Region 10 boys basketball standings, as of Jan. 26
  1. Dixie 6-0 (15-2)
  2. Snow Canyon 5-1 (11-6)
  3. Crimson Cliffs 4-2 (10-5)
  4. Desert Hills 2-4 (9-7)
  5. Cedar 2-4 (7-8)
  6. Pine View 2-4 (3-12)
  7. Hurricane 0-6 (2-13)

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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