Lehi-AF Rivalry

Timp Sports Weekly

February 7, 2012

Publisher's Message

The rivalry between American Fork and Lehi is one of the oldest and sometime most bitter ones in Utah high school sports. Those two schools, for instance, played each other for the 1922 Class B state championship in basketball. AKA the Froggies, the Lehi Pioneers won that game, which they croaked about for a long time. Of course, in football, American Fork built up a long string of wins over the Froggies during the mid-20th Century. After going winless against the Awesome American Fork Cavemen in football for 30 years, the Froggies won their first win over them on American Fork's field in September 1999. The fierce rivalry between the two schools was seen in two basketball games played between them this past week. This block will touch on the Awesome Cavewomen and Cavemen's defeating the Froggies in basketball late last week. We will also deal with the Froggies' riveting -- correction ribbiting win over the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, in wrestling. Let's swim straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavewomen Post Big Win at Lehi Feb. 2

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four girls' basketball game at Lehi Feb. 2, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen posted an 82-37 win over the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies.

American Fork Coach Corey Clayton said, "Before the game, we talked about being intense all the way through this game. We didn't want to underestimate Lehi. We ran the floor well. Everyone of the bench got to have some game time."

The game's scoring with Awesome Cavewoman Cassidy Fraughton hitting a trey. A Sadie Williams layup improved the Awesome Cavewomen's lead at 5-0. Pulling down an offensive board, Froggie Jana Shumway scored a bucket, which made the game close briefly. No Lehi player could score again until Beth Beeston swished in a trey near the end of the first quarter. In the meantime, Fraughton and Ashley Baugh led the Cavewomen in shooting up Lehi's main gym. Shumway and Kenzie Arviso battled Awesome Cavewomen Erin Bergeson, Jaylee Shepherd, and Williams for rebounds, but Fraughton's shooting turned the game into a lopsided contest. By the end of its first quarter, the Awesome Cavewomen had built up a 24-5 lead.

The second quarter was no more kinder to Lehi than the first one was. In Period 2, American Fork held the Froggies to six points. The quarter opened with Shumway hitting an inside shot. American Fork kept her and Lehi's usually biggest gun, Jalissa Bagley, from becoming hot in shooting Vicky Sandmire and Kenzie Taylor each contributed a bucket to Lehi's frustrated case. In the meantime, Fraughton and Baugh stayed hot inside the key. Baugh, for instance, finished the night out with 11 rebounds and three blocks.

In the second half, Clayton permitted all of his reserves to receive some game time. This allowed Erin Bergeson, Amy Bergeson, Megan Eliason, Molly Boughton, Tyra "T-Rod" Rodriguez, and Melissa Squire to make big contributions for American Fork.

After having been held to 11 points in the first half, Lehi became hotter in shooting during the second half. The Froggies racked up a total of 26 points in the final two quarters. In fact, Lehi matched American Fork point for point in the second period. However, Fraughton and Baugh had done so much damage to Lehi that the Froggies didn't have a prayer of being able to leap back into the game. American Fork outscored Lehi 22-11 in the third period, but both schools each picked up 15 points in the final quarter.

Even so, Lehi Coach Troy Gifford let his entire bench play in the second half. It saw the season debut of Anga Ah Quin, who had not been able to see any varsity action -- until Feb. 2 -- because of serious health problems. During her time on the floor, she sank a trey, giving Lehi fans something to croak joyfully about.

Fraughton led the Awesome Cavewomen with 24 points while Williams and Baugh each poured in another 14. Erin Bergeson chipped 11 points for American Fork. Beeston led the Froggies with 13 points while Arviso added another seven and Bagley six.

Awesome Cavemen Dry Up Lehi 62-51 in Region 4 Boys' Hoop Action Feb. 3

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four boys' basketball at American Fork Feb. 3, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen dried up the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 62-51.

The first quarter went down as a seesaw battle between the Awesome Cavemen and their longtime, web-footed rivals. American Fork's Zac Hunter, a brother of former Awesome Caveman basketball player Andy Van Buren, opened the game's scoring with a foul shot. American Fork 1-0 lead got washed via a 5-o scoring run started by Lehi's Ryan Christofferson. Through Hunter's rebounding and scoring, the Awesome Cavemen clubbed their way back out in front 9-5. Hunter's handiwork enabled Austin Waddoups to hit a trey that improved the Awesome Cavemen's lead at 12-5. However, Braxton Nerdin, a son of former Awesome Caveman cager Dave "The Nerd" Nerdin, hit an inside shot that set off a 9-0 scoring run for the Froggies. Two Christofferson foul shots gave Lehi a 14-12 lead at the end of the period.

The next period, Christofferson hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 17-12. Utah State-bound Quincy Bair received a long pass, and he raced away for a successful layup that helped to tip the tempo back to the Awesome Cavemen's favor. Colledge's shooting kept the Froggies ahead for much of the second quarter. When Lehi had built up a 21-16 lead, Ryan Andrus, a "distant cousin" of film star Ursula Andrus, stepped up to turn things around to American Fork's favor. Aided by a Bair three-pointer, Andrus sank two free throws and a hook shot to put American Fork within 23-22. Two Waddoups foul shots put the Awesome Cavemen ahead 24-23 just before halftime.

"In the second half, we stepped up," said American Fork guard Marcel Davis, another Utah State-bound player. After the second half opened unfolded with a Hunter free throw, American Fork's Danny Beddes stole the ball and sank a layup. Lehi made additional turnovers that allowed the Awesome Cavemen to outscore the Froggies 14-5 in the third quarter.

Taking a 36-28 lead into the final period, American Fork really hot. The period opened with Hunter stealing the ball and passing it to Kyle Line for a shot blocked by a Froggie. Morgan "Mo" Flinders atoned for that setback by hitting a three-pointer. It turned out to be the decisive shot of the game, for the rest of the quarter, American Fork maintained a double-digit lead while Andrus kept Colledge from doing much damage inside the Awesome Cavemen's keyhole.

Waddoups led American Fork with 19 points while Andrus added another 12 and Davis 10. Colledge paced the Froggies with 18 points while Christofferson added another 10.

Froggies Defeat Bingham Pickers 40-35 in Region Four Wrestling Meet

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four dual meet at Lehi Jan. 31, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, defeated the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, 40-35 on a pin in the 160 weight class match.

It featured Lehi's Trevor "The Handsome" Hansen and Bingham's Bryce "The Blue Ice" Christsensen. The Handsome never let the Blue Ice score any points. Building up a 5-0 lead, the Handsome pinned his Bingham foe in the third quarter.

Until that match, Bingham had lead for most of the dual meet. It opened with Lehi's Brock "The Crown Prince of Shock" Wilson pinning Jae "The Salvo" Lobdali. Lehi's 6-0 lead became buried underneath pins scored by Bingham's Johnny "The Seagull" Larson, Paul "The Squeeze Langi, Danny "The Canary" Langi, and Will "The Seal" Nasilai.

Only when Dalton "The Mustang" Rice defeated Colton "The Steam Shovel" Schieving did the Froggies begina snapping Bingham's domination of the meet. After Bingham's Jordan "The Sting Ray" McRae had defeated Chris "The Swedish Stud" Andersen 6-4 in overtime, more Bingham victories followed. The Miners built up a lead of 35-16. Lehi chipped it away through falls scored by Dave "The Bus" Busko, and Garrett "The Wild Ferret" Batley.