Lehi Froggie-Herriman Pretty Pony Girls' Basketball Game

Timp Sports Weekly

January 28, 2014

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the January 21 girls' basketball game between the Lehi Pioneers (AKA the Froggies) and the Herriman Mustangs (AKA the Pretty Ponies). At first, the game was riveting  -- correction, ribbiting at first, but it turned into a washout win for one of those teams. Let's swim straight to the account of that game.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Lehi Froggies Wash Away Herriman Pretty Ponies 54-29 in Girls' Hoop Contest Jan. 21

By Dean Von Memmott 

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

 In a Region Four girls' basketball game at Lehi Jan. 21, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, washed away the Herriman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, 54-29.

The win over the Pretty Ponies improved the Froggies' region record at 3-2 and a snapped a recent two-game losing streak that Lehi had slipped into.

The Herriman game's first quarter went down as quit riveting -- correction, ribbiting. Pulling down an offensive board, Pretty Pony Kate Lamoreaux sank a shot to open the night's scoring. It took Lehi a little to stroke ahead of Herriman. The Froggies tied the score at two, four, six, and eight through shots from Beth Beeston, Kylie Bartholomew, Mikayla Nelson, and Faitoto'a Faleao. With Lamoreaux, Alexi Smith, and Kellise Egdington breaking tied scores for them in the game's early minutes, the Pretty Ponies looked as though they would keep galloping ahead of the Froggies. However, Faleao hit two straight buckets that put Lehi ahead 10-8. With Bartholomew swishing in a three-pointer right afterwards, the Froggies looked certain to hop away from the Pretty Ponies. Lamoreaux sank a trey of her own, giving the Pretty Ponies a chance of tying the game in second quarter. 

The contest stayed close until after Edgington had clipped the Froggie lead to 15-13 on an inside jump shot.  Suddenly, Terra Tahbo hit a set shot that sent the Froggies on a 10-1 scoring run, powered by Faleao's shooting and rebounding. Four straight Beeston free throws helped the Froggies secure a 25-14 lead. Holding the Pretty Ponies to seven points in the second quarter, the Froggies took a 28-18 lead with them into the second half.

It opened with Edgington cutting the lead to 28-20. That turned out to be the closest that the Pretty Ponies could get to the Froggies. With Nelson scoring on an offensive rebound, Lehi built up a 32-20 lead quicker than you could say Ali Lamb Chop. Aided by two Taylor Crowton free throws, Alyssa Chapman put the Pretty Ponies within 32-24. Lehi didn't let Herriman sink any more buckets, however, until the fourth quarter.

By the start of it, the Froggies commanded a 43-24 lead, thanks to rebounding efforts from Tyra "T-Rod" Rodriguez and Tahbo. With the Pretty Ponies hurting themselves with bad shots, the Froggies had little trouble in pushing the lead past the 20-point mark. A Hadlee Labrum trey put Lehi's lead at 46-24. The point spread stayed beyond 20 for the rest of the game. Midway through the final quarter, Smith hit a trey to restart Herriman scoring. However, the Pretty Ponies couldn't pick up any more points until Michaela Ruechert put a shot back just before the final buzzer.

Faleao and Bartholomew led the Froggies with 12 points each while Beeston contributed another 10. Lamoreaux led the Pretty Ponies with seven points while Edgington contributed another six.

Riverton Silverpups and Westlake Shockers

Timp Sports

January 21. 2014

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at how the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, as well as the Westlake Thunder, AKA the Shockers, fared as visiting teams against Lehi's girls and boys' basketball teams. As a spoiler, I'll just tell you that the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, lost to one of those schools in in the girls' game. However, the Froggies hopped from behind to win the boys' game. It was one of the most riveting -- ribbiting games ever played at Lehi in recent memory. Believe me, the Froggies are going to be croaking about the boys' game for a while to come. As they say in Lehi, let's swim straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Riverton Silverwolves Hand Lehi Froggies Big Biting Loss in Girls' Basketball Jan. 14

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

When the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, opened their Region Four girls' schedule two weeks ago, they looked as though they would become a powerhouse in the league. They knocked off the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, as well as the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings. Howling into Lehi Jan. 14, the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, showed the Froggies how much farther they needed to hop to be regarded as a credible contender for the state 5-A title. The Silverpups soaked up Lehi 65-33.

With Silverpup Mallory "Ducks" Bostic getting the opening tipoff, teammate Becky "The Frugal" McDougal sank a layup to start the game's scoring. After Shelby Richards had improved the Silverpup lead at 4-0 on a steal, Froggie Tyta "T-Rod" Rodriguez intercepted a Silverpup pass and connected the ball to Beth Beeston, the sister of Lehi quarterback Derik Beeston, for a jumper. With the combined shooting of McDougal and Jordan Landis, a "distant cousin" of Hollywood director John Landis, the Silverpups howled out to an 8-2 lead. Lehi came close to keeping the game riveting -- correction, ribbiting. With teammate Terra "Lake" Tahbo producing a three-point play, Kaylee Bartholomew hit two foul shots to put the Froggies within 8-7.

Before the Froggies could leap ahead ahead of the Silverpups, Latisha "The Always Lovely" Richards sank a layup that opened a 21-1 scoring run for Riverton. Aided by Kirsten "Kirstie" Spencer, its scoring spree spilled over into the second quarter. By the time the scoring run had ended with Landi putting a shot back in, the Silverpups commanded a 29-9 lead. T-Rod hit a layup to open Lehi's second-period scoring. Faitoto'a Faleao contributed two free throws to the Froggies' cause in the second quarter. However, a stingy Silverpup defense held the Froggies to four points in the quarter.

Lehi did much better in scoring during the third quarter. The combined firepower of Tahbo, Hadlee Labrum, Bartholomew, T-Rod, and Mikayla Nelson produced 14 points for the Froggies in the third period.  Their combined efforts couldn'tshove Lehi back into the game. With a Shelby Richards bucket putting the Silverpup lead at 45-15, Riverton did a good jump in not letting up. The Richards girls dominated the board during both of the two final quarters. Also, after having outscored the Froggies 18-14 in the third period, the Silverpups held Lehi to six points in the final quarter. In the game's final two minutes, Riverton had reserves such as Addie "The Purple Adder" Pearson finished off the Froggies through frequent steals and successful foul shots.

Bartholomew led the Froggies with eight points while T-Rod added another six. Shelby Richards led the Silverpups with 26 points while Landis added another 13 and Spencer 10.

Lehi Froggies Hop From Behind to Quiet Westlake Shockers 79-71 in Shocking Boys' Basketball Game Jan. 17

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, needed something to make themselves forget about recent unexpected departure of their head football coach Shiny Dave Hastings. Lehi boys' basketball coach Bobby "The Counselor" Barnes gave them exactly what they needed in order to forget about that dark episode: a 79-71 win at home over the Westlake Thunder, AKA the Shockers, Jan. 17.

What gave Froggie fans all the more reason to want to croak joyfully about that game for weeks to come was the fact that Barmes' tadpoles rallied back from a double-digit deficit in the third period to quiet the Shockers.

Before the third period, the game had looked as though the Froggies would get dried up in their own gym like they did in their Region Four opener against the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings exactly one week before.

Going into the Jan. 17 game, the Froggies owned a 0-2 league record. Furthermore, they had not won at home since their December overtime triumph over the Hunter Wolverines, AKA the Wild Things, coached by former Lehi mentor Dave "Cheech" Filomohala.

Coached by former Ferocious Viking Coach Big Bucks McAffe, the Shockers acted as if the Lehi gym was actually theirs. Two Porter "Rockwell" Mattson free throws and a Mikey Nelson trey created a 5-0 lead for the Shockers. Froggie Alex Pittard hit a three-pointer in hopes in stirring up a scoring spree for Lehi. However, it was the Shockers who went on a scoring spree. A "distant cousin" of former Orem Tigger wrestler Aaron "The Blue Baron" Holker, Brayden Holker swished in four straight unanswered points to open a 15-4 scoring run for the Shockers. An extremely "distant cousin" of TV actor Kent McCord of "Adam 12" fame, Asa McCord joined Mattson and Cam "Big Bam" Yorgenson in controlling the boards, denying the Froggies many chances for second shots. The Shocker lead swelled as wide as 20-5. Froggie Derik Beeston clipped it to 20-7 just before the first quarter break.

An extremely "distant cousin" of my former junior high schoolmate Casey Draney, Marcus Draney gave the Shockers some problems in the second quarter. For one, Draney produced a three-point play that put the Froggies within 20-10. Before Lehi could reduce the lead to single digits, a referee assess Barnes a technical foul.

It gave Holker a chance to swish in three free throws. The Froggies did not get another chance in the second period to cut the point spread down to single figures. The combined shooting of Holker, Yorgenson, and McCord almost gave the Shockers a 20-point lead. After two McCord free throws had put the score at 38-19, Lehi seemed certain of getting drained like it had done in a road game on the Riverton Silverpups' home court three nights before.

However, Jake Barnes, a nephew of The Counselor, hit two foul shots that opened a 10-4 scoring run for the Froggies. Jake "Black Snake" Barnes scored nine of those 10 points, including a trey. A "distant cousin" of late Hollywood actor Howie Keele, Gavin "Even" Keele provided some firepower to enable that the Shockers to take a 44-29 lead with them into the second half.

The third period opened with the Shockers drawing a travel call. The Froggies hopped at a chance of taking advantage of it. After a Beeston free throw had clipped the lead to 44-30, it grew to 46-30, giving Westlake fans confidence that their Shockers would blaze past Lehi. To Westlake's shock, however, Black Snake Barnes and Tanner Nygren each launched two three-pointers that gassed up an incredible Froggie comeback. Despite good inside shooting by Mattson, the Shockers couldn't put together a consistently effective attack effort on the Froggie bucket. Before long, two Gavin Rasmussen foul shots placed Lehi within 50-49, making the game Big Bucks McAffe's worst experience since his coaching stint at Pleasant Grove.

The Shockers' last chance for holding onto the lead vanished midway through the third period. Stealing the ball, Nygren passed to Black Snake Barnes, who got fouled while trying to sink a layup. Black Snake Barnes hit two foul shots that put Lehi ahead 51-50. Further foul shots from Black Snake Barnes and Nygren improved the Froggies' lead at 55-50.  Draney sank a layup on a steal. Holker answered with a free throw. Nygren and Barnes each hit a trey in the period's closing minutes to send Lehi with a 63-52 lead into the final quarter.

"I think our press got to them in the third period," said Bobby Barnes. "They repeatedly made mistakes that we exploited. In the first half, we had let them control control the floor. So we resorted to using our press in the second half to get back into the game."

In the final quarter, Nygren went wild in scoring, enabling the Froggies to stay more than 10 points ahead until that last 10 seconds of regulation play. Beeston provided assists for Nygren while Barnes and Rasmussen kept Holker and McCord from regaining domination of the boards. Westlake finally succeeded in reducing the lead to single digits when Shocker A. Maizen Fausett hit a trey just before the game's final horn.  

Barnes and Nygren each poured in 27 points to become the Froggies' top scorers for the night while Draney added another 12. Holker led the Shockers with 19 points while McCord added another 17 and Mattson 13.

Lehi Froggie Hoops and Wrestling

Timp Sports Weekly

January 14, 2014

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at how the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, did in girls' basketball, wrestling, and a thrilling boys' hoops game against the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings. All three of the stories for this issue are set in the Froggies' main gym. Let's stroke back in time to last week to see how the action in that arena had turned out for the Froggies. I assure that a lot of the action was quite riveting -- correction, ribbiting.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious PG Vikings Open Region 4 Boys' Basketball Play With Big Win at Lehi

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The No. 5 ranked Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings opened Region Four boys' basketball action with an 81-57 win on the home court of the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, Jan. 10.

"Our defense created easy baskets for us in the fourth quarter," said Ferocious Viking Coach Randy McAllister. That comment pretty much summed why the Ferocious Vikings managed to dry up Lehi in regulation play. The last time Pleasant Grove played in the Froggies' gym, the Ferocious Vikings had to play in quadruple-overtime to sail home with a win.

With the memory of that game still on their minds a year later, the Froggies showed much determination in the Jan. 10 game's first three quarters in trying to flood away the Ferocious Vikings. Last Friday's game opened with Ferocious Viking Riley Court getting the tipoff. He then lobbed a shot which Froggie Marcus Draney rebounded.  Receiving a pass from Draney, teammate Jake Barnes tossed the ball to Tanner Nygren for the night's first successful bucket.

A "distant cousin" of comedian Tim Conway and the late actor Jeff Conway, Ferocious Viking Matt Conway produced a three-point play to erase the Froggies' 2-0 lead. Nygren didn't let Tim Conway's "distant cousin" do much damage to the Froggies. Even though Conway's first-quarter foul shooting put his Ferocious Vikings within 6-5, Nygren didn't let them row ahead in the period. Nygren stole the ball from Devon "Mr. Cool" Gethes and swished in a layup that improved Lehi's lead at 8-5. After Gavin Rasmussen had put the score at 10-5, Jake "Long Snake" Wilson opened a 7-0 scoring run for the Ferocious Vikings. He nailed a 10-foot shot and then swished in a three-pointer to even the game at 10. With Mark "The Amazing" Sheffield putting the Ferocious Vikings ahead 12-10, Lehi appeared destined to get dried up. However, Barnes and Tyson Rupp each hit a three-pointer in the quarter's final minute to put the Froggies ahead 16-12.

With Froggie Ethan Tucket pulling down a defensive rebound in at the start of the second quarter, Barnes swished in a three-pointer, which he followed up with a layup that improved the Froggies' leads at 21-12. This made Froggie fans croak excitedly about the prospect of their team soon leaping more than 10 points ahead of the Ferocious Vikings. Pleasant Grove denied Lehi a golden chance for a double-digit lead, however. Pulling down a defensive board, Conway passed to Court for a three-pointer. Barnes answered it with two foul shots that Froggies hoped would spark a scoring spree for them. Hayden "Big Doggie" Dehoyos and Wilson swished in short shots that helped Conway do much damage to Lehi inside the key. Great inside plays by Barnes did keep the Ferocious Vikings at bay for a spell, especially his pouring in six straight points, half of which were made on a trey. Conway made six straight unanswered points to put his Ferocious Vikings within 26-25. Sunk right afterwards, Barnes' second-period trey delayed the next Pleasant Grove takeover of the lead. With a Nygren free throw putting the lead at 30-25, Conway hit an inside shot that opened a 7-0 scoring run for Pleasant Grove. Seconds after a Wilson trey had tied the game at 30, two Conway shots tipped the Ferocious Vikngs ahead 32-30. Lehi remained determined not to let them take the momentum with them into their locker room during halftime. A brother of Lehi girls' hoop star Beth Beeston, Derik Beeston hit a last-second trey to send Lehi stroking ahead 33-32 at intermission.

In the early third quarter, Rasmussen buckets gave the Froggies leads of 35-32 and 37-34. Lehi's efforts at staying ahead got undermined by Sheffield and Court. Shots from Sheffield, for instance, moved Pleasant Grove within 35-34 and 36-35. With a Nygren layup putting Lehi's lead at 39-36, the Froggies hoped that they had finally acquired the momentum for hopping far away from Pleasant Grove. However, a Court trey tied the game at 39, and then Court hit two tie-breaking free throws, which set off a string of frequent switches in the lead. Rasmussen and Draney came up with rebounds and shots that kept Lehi from drying up in the game. However, as soon as a Draney trey had tied the game at 49, Court hit another tie-breaking free throw. Two foul shots from Conway left the Ferocious Vikings with a 52-49 lead at the third quarter break.

The final period opened with Wilson stealing the ball and passing to Court for a layup. It marked the start of the game's two most pivotal minutes. Though a Barnes free through put the Froggies within 54-50, they got scorched in a 9-1 scoring run fueled by Sheffield steals and Conway frree throws. When the score read 61-50, Pleasant Grove, Lehi fans had good reason to croak in worried tones. The Ferocious Vikings were now on the verge of draining Lehi. Barnes became hot inside the perimeter, but his shooting couldn't give the Froggies the momentum they needed for reducing Pleasant Grove's lead to single digits. Conway and Sheffield's field goals and free throws kept the Ferocious Vikings more than 10 points ahead for the rest of the game.

Conway led the Ferocious Vikings with 28 points while Court added another 14 and Wilson 10. Barnes led the Froggies with 26 points while Nygren added another 10.

Lehi Froggie Grapplers Finish Home Season with 41-27 Win Over Westlake Shockers Jan. 8
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

Although the wrestling season still has another month to go for the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, their home season is over. It ended Jan. 8 with the Froggies leaping past the Westlake Thunder, AKA the Shockers, 41-27.

The meet opened with the Froggies taking a 12-0 lead on two Westlake forfeits. In the 195 weight class bout, Shocker Colt "The Bullet" Fairborune took a 3-0 lead over Brandon "The Powder Keg" Terrell. The Bullet seemed destined to win. However, in the third period, The Powder Keg reversed The Bullet and pinned him.

That match gave the Froggies a reason to be happy -- correction, hoppy about the evening. Froggies Naim "El Toro" Sosa and Brackin "The Noose" Stringam pinned Weston "The Griffin" Dastrup and Jacob "The Stallion" Dalton respectively to create a 30-0 for the Froggies.

In the 106 weight class, Lehi's Destroyin' Angel Greigo took Mat "The Most  Handsome Shocker" Brink down to take a 2-0 lead. The Most Handsome Shocker quickly proved to be too much for Destroyin' Angel to control. Building a 9-3 lead in the first two periods, The Most Handsome Shocker came really close a few times to pinning Destroyin' Angel. The match ended with The Most Handsome Shocker winning 17-3

Quickly building up a 6-0 lead in his 113 weight class match, Shocker Isiah "El Tigre" Meija also came close to scoring a fall. His Froggie opponent, Mikey "The Jack Hammer" Jamiyandorj proved to be too wiggly to be pinned. Still, El Tigre got awarded a 12-2 win.

In building up a 7-0 lead in his 120 weight class match, Hayden "The Hasty" of Westlake pinned Nick "The Quick" Austin in the second period.

The 126 weight class match opened with Lehi's Ty "The Sly" Tahbo taking down Colby "The Black Widower" Webb. Before The Sly could stretch his lead, The Black Widower escaped and took control of the match. The Sly had to be given credit for battling back to tie the match at four. However, The Black Widower scored a tie-breaking takedown that made him the 6-4 winner of the match.

The string of Westlake wins got interrupted in the 132 weight class match. In it, Froggie Jaime "The Truck" Mackintosh scored a takedown and a two-point near fall against Mikey "The Sexy North Briton" McCann in the first period. No further scoring occurred in the match, even though The Truck almost scored another near fall over The Sexy North Briton in the third period.

The Truck's win sparked another string of Lehi victories. In the 138 weight class, for instance, Lehi's Dalton "The Outlaw" Rice won on a technical fall against Garrett "Big G" Gemar. The 145 weight class match went down as a thrilling. It opened with Westlake's Danny "The Jumpin' Bean" Green taking a 4-2 lead over Reagan "The Pagan" Bodly. Midway through the match, The Pagan pulled ahead 5-4 on a reversal. The Pagan improved his lead at 7-4. It fell to 7-6 on The Jumpin' Bean's third-period reversal. However, match time expired before The Jumpin' Bean could make a two-point near fall.

With Westlake's 152-pounder Jordan "Showboat" Taylor defeating Max "The Battle Ax" Inman 7-1, the momentum swung back to the Shockers too late. The meet ended with Shocker Spencer "The Grand Dane" Hansen pinning Garrett "The Battle Bot" Batley to put Westlake within 41-27.

Lehi Froggies Unhorse Lone Peak Loners 59-45 in Region 4 Girls' Hoop Opener Jan. 6

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four girls' basketball opener at Lehi Jan. 6, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, unhorsed the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, 59-45.

The game marked only the second time that Lehi had ever beaten Lone Peak in girls' basketball. The Froggies' first-ever win over the Loners had also occurred at Lehi a year ago. Within a few minutes after that game, a bitter Lone Peak mother told a Froggie player, "You Lehi girls are such dirty players." 

To be fair, the Loners had played just as dirty as the Froggies did in that game. In last Tuesday's game, no accusations could be made about Lehi playing mean to win convincingly over the Loners. The Froggies controlled the Jan. 6 show from the opening tipoff. Getting it, Beth Beeston swished in a short shot that sent the Froggies leaping out to a 10-0 lead. 

Kelsey "The Most Gorgeous North Briton" McCann, Abi Johnson, and Adrianne "Yo" Krout pooled their efforts together to push the Loners within 14-8. Before the Loners could charge any closer, Froggie Terra Tahbo hit a three-foot shot that set off a 6-0 scoring run led by Kylee Bartholomew and Faitoto'a Faleao. With the Froggies having jumped out to a 20-8 lead, the Loners looked destined of getting washed out of Lehi's gym. McCann sank two straight unanswered layups to cut the lead to 20-12.

She reduced it to 20-14 in the second period. Before McCann could do any more destructive work to Lehi's lead, a Faleao jumper and a Beeston trey put the score at 25-14. That didn't stop Lone Peak from answering Lehi with a bucket for a bucket. Still, the Froggies maintained a double-digit lead for much of the period, thanks to strong rebounding from Tahbo, Tyra "T-Rod" Rodriguez, Bartholomew, and Faleao. After Faleao had put the lead at 32-20 on a Tahbo assist, Johnson and fellow Loner Allie "Baba" Weichers took control of the boards and scoring. Those two Loners put their team within 32-24 just before halftime.

Despite Tahbor, Faleao, and Lexi Grantham's strong efforts in the early third quarter, Rachel Asay racked up six straight points to put her Loners within 37-30. Before Lone Peak could charge any closer, Tahbo scored on a steal, and T-Rod nailed a set shot that knocked the Loners out of their rhythm. Still, McCann had a heyday on the floor. Her shooting spree helped Asay put the Loners within 45-37 during the fourth quarter. Faleao became the Froggies' top gun in enabling them in regaining another double-digit lead. Faleao also took command of the boards in the final quarter. Free throws from Faleao Beeston, and Addie Pearson clutched the win for Lehi.

Faleao led the Froggies with 17 points while Bartholomew added anoher 17. McCann led the Loners with 18 points while Asay added another 10.

Two Awesome AF Cavewoman Basketball Games and the Lehi Froggie-Provo Bullpuppy Thriller

Timp Sports Weekly

January 7, 2014

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue we look at two Awesome American Fork Cavewoman basketball games and a riveting -- correction, ribbiting boys' hoop contest between the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, and the Provo Bulldogs, AKA the Bullpuppies. As they say in Lehi, let's row straight to the stories about those three games.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Timpanogos T-Pups Post 46-42 Win in Road Game Against Awesome AF Cavewomen Dec. 31

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a New Year's Eve girls' basketball game at American Fork, the Timpanogos Timberwolves, AKA the Timberpups or T-Pups, defeated the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen 46-42.

Timpanogos had on its roster two sisters with ties to American Fork: Jamaica and Karen Christensen. Their dad, Rob, ran cross country for the Awesome American Fork Cavemen a little more than 20 years ago. Another thing that could be remembered about him was during his senior year at AF, he shared a romance with Awesome Cavewoman cross country runner Denise Spriggs. Their courtship faded out after their graduation from high school. Nothing more has been heard about Denise, but it is known that sometime in the 1990's, Rob married a really nice, young woman from Jamaica, and they became parents of five kids.

The Christensen family got to see Jamaica and Karen play pivotal roles in the Tuesday afternoon game.  That was particularly true in the first quarter. It opened with Awesome Cavewoman Taylor Moeaki receiving the opening tipoff and feeding a pass to Maile Richardson for a basket. The Awesome Cavewomen's lead didn't last for long. Jamaica tied the game at two, opening a 6-0 scoring spree for her T-Pups. Rochelle "The Always Gorgeous" Warner broke the 2-2 draw, and Eternity Galeai improved the lead 6-2. 

When Awesome Cavewoman Molly "Dolly" Boughton cut the lead to 6-4, American Fork fans became optimistic that their girls would take firm control of their home court. That expectation proved false, however. Jamaica joined Galeai, Warner, and Howlin' Katy Henderson in producing buckets that turned the game into a massacre in the first quarter. American Fork didn't help its cause any through turning the ball over frequently.

"We made 30 turnovers in the game," American Fork Coach Corey Clayton recalled. "It's really tough to win a game when you have that high number of turnovers."

When a Henderson trey put the T-Pup lead at 19-4, questions arose by how much wider would the point spread grow. A Lexi Moeaki foul shot spared a 5-0 scoring run for American Fork. In that brief rally, Richardson and Taylor Franson. a daughter of Awesome Caveman basketball legend Eric "Frannie" Franson, pumped in shots that put American Fork within 19-9 by the end of the quarter.

The second quarter opened with Jamaica hitting a baseline shot to improve the score at 21-9. In that period, however, American Fork held the T-Pups to three points, all which were scored by Karen Christensen's sister. Clayton said, "I was really pleased about our second-quarter rebounding. It helped us a lot. Also, our zone defense cut deep into the double-digit deficit."

Richardson and Franson pulled down key defensive rebounds that American Fork soon converted into buckets. Also, the combined firepower of Richardson, Franson, and Jenna Shepherd fueled an 8-0 scoring run. Jamaica answered with a free throw. A younger sister of future BY Zoobie basketball player Ryan Andrus and a "distant cousin" of actress Ursula Andress, Kylee Andruss hit two straight unanswered field goals to put American Fork within 22-21. As the first half ended with Franson pulling down a defensive rebound, American Fork seemed certain of retking the led in the third period.

"In the second half, Karen Christensens hit two threes that made our zone way less effective," Clayton said.

The third period opened with Karen pulling down a defensive rebound and dribbling to hit a three-pointer. She soon hit a second one to prevent two straight Richardson goals from tying the game at 25. After Richardson had cut the lead to 28-25, American Fork received another chance at overtaking the T-Pups. When the Awesome Cavewomen had pulled within 30-29, they looked as though they were finally going to recover from that awful first quarter. However, Galeai became really hot with scoring inside the perimeter. Galeai's efforts produced a 41-30 lead, which the T-Pups howled joyfully about near the end of the quarter. Just before the final quarter, Richardson trimmed the lead to 40-33.

In the final quarter, Warner and Galeai jointly created a 43-35 lead for Timpanogos. Shepherd and Shire "Hobbit" Stephenson orchestrated a 6-0 scoring run for the Awsome Cavewomen. When Taylor Moaeki hit a free throw to put American Fork within 43-41. Hopes for American Fork forcing the game into overtime collapsed however, through Warner and fellow T-Pup Alex "Jiggs" Riggs hitting foul shots to cut the contest their team. 

"We're a really young team this year," Clayton said. "Out of the 27 girls in our program this year, 23 are either sophomores or ninth-graders. So we have our work cut out for us in trying to make it to state."

Richardson led the Awesome Cavewomen with 12 points while Franson added another 10. Galeai led the T-Pups with 18 points while Jamaica Christensen contributed another 12 and Warner 11.

Awesome AF Cavewomen Outlast Copper Hills Cubbies in Overtime Thriller Jan. 2
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavewomen came out on top in an overtime game that they hosted Jan. 2. They defeated the Copper Hills Grizzlies, AKA the Cubbies, 54-49.

The win showed that in spite of their varsity inexperience, they could hold up well under the stress of overtime play. A fact that that Pleasant Grove Coach Glenn "Big DJ" Larsen witnessed while scouting American Fork at the post-New Year's Day game. (He had also watched the Timpanogos T-Pups howl past American Fork 46-42 New Year's Eve afternoon.) Larson's Ferocious Vikings will be playing American Fork in a Region Four opener this week.

American Fork played much better against Copper Hills than the Awesome Cavewomen did the T-Pups. Taylor Moeaki posted a 4-0 led for American Fork. The first-period scoring turned out to be low.  After Cubbie Shirsten Wissinger cut the lead to 4-2, neither team could sink a shot until Maile Richardson hit a shot late in the quarter. Wissinger guided her Cubbies within 8-6. However, Lauren Line, a "distant cousin" of famed pianist Lori Line, hit a trey just before the first quarter break to give American Fork an 11-6 lead.

Aided by two Jenna Shepherd foul shots, Moeaki and Richardson guided the Awesome Cavewomen on a 6-0 scoring run that left them owning a 17-8 lead. Kirrra Gasu sank a layup on a steal for the Cubbies, but they couldn't get a rally going, because a strong zone defense displayed by American Fork. The Awesome Cavewomen's lead grew as big as 22-12 and 25-15 on shots from Richardson and Shepherd.

In the third quarter, control of the momentum became slippery for both teams. Kate "Sizzle" Sisler and Sarah Midgely hit some buckets that reinvigorated the Cubbies. Midgely, for example, swished in two straight three-pointers that positioned Copper Hills within 27-25. Moeaki scored on a steal in hopes of giving her Awesome Cavewomen another chance to pull way ahead. However, with an Ashley Hodge three-point play cutting American Fork's lead down 31-30. Defensive rebounding by Paige Farnsworth and Richardson's blocking of a shot enabled the Awesome Cavewomen to take a 34-31 lead into the final quarter.

At the start of it, a Wissinger jumper enabled Hodge to tip the Cubbies ahead 35-34. The final period became a story of frequent switches in the lead. When Cubbie Sid May sank a layup to improve her team's lead at 41-38, American Fork seemed certain of suffering a second straight loss at home. Jenna Shepherd scored on a steal give the Awesome Cavewomen new momentum. A Richardson shot in the final 1 1/2 minutes of regulation gave the Awesome Cavewomen a chance to win it in regulation play. However, both teams played so intense that an overtime period became necessary. In the OT phase, Richardson, Moeaki, Shepherd, Taylor Franson, Molly "Dolly" Boughton, Kylee Andrus, and Line pooled their efforts together to overpower the Cubbies in a 7-2  scoring run in the overtime phase.

Richardson led American Fork with 16 points while Shepherd added another nine. Wissinger paced the Cubbies with 12 points.

Last-Second 3-Pointer Lifts Provo Bullpuppies to Non-League Win Over Lehi Froggies in Jan.3 Thriller
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Jan. 3 endowment game that the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, hosted against the Provo Bulldogs, AKA Bullpuppies, went down as a riveting -- correction, ribbiting affair. In fact, it had to take a last-second shot to lift the Bullpuppies to a 53-51 win over the Froggies.

Even though Bullpuppy Cy "Gangham Style" Wright got the opening tipoff, Froggie Tanner Nygren scored the game's first bucket on an offensive rebound. Connor "Tippy" O'Neal tied the game at two, and Provo pulled ahead 4-2 on a jumper swished in by Hunter Bailey, a "distant cousin" of comic strip character Beetle Bailey, Awesome American Fork basketball player Brenden Bailey, and the late singer Pearl Bailey.

The Bullpuppies found the Froggies quite capable of jumping back into the game. For example, Froggie Gavin Rasmussen tied the score at four. Even though Bailey managed to build up a 8-5 lead for Provo, Nygren hit a tying trey for the Froggies. Froggie Marcus "Welby" Draney fired a go-ahead shot. Lehi's 10-8 lead quickly became forgotten as Grayson "Mr. Muffin" Magleby and Bailey guided a  7-2 scoring run for Provo.

Nygren and Draney became major problems for Provo in the second quarter. Through sinking close shots and pulling down key boards, those two Froggies made it impossible for Provo to pull awaty, Also, Draney's Nygren's incredible performance inside the key helped to make it possible for teammate Derik Beeston to swishin two treys that gave Lehi leads of 19-18 and 24-22 during that period. Late in it, Nygren scored on a steal and then sank a free throw to improve Lehi's lead at 27-24 just before halftime.

The second half unfolded with a fierce battle over the lead. The struggle opened with O'Neal cutting the lead to 27-26. Gavin Rasmussen swished in a short shot in hopes of giving his Froggies momentum for leaping way ahed of the Bullpuppies. However, Bailey quiickly tied the game at 29, and Wright tipped the Bullpuppies ahead. Still, the game stayed a seesaw affair. Late in the quarter, an Ethan Rupp trey put Lehi ahead 38-35. A close acquaintance of former Lone Peak Loner football coach Tony "The Eyes of Delaware Are on You" McGeary, Bowman "Straight Arrow" Daley tied the game at 38. Just before the third quarter ended, Kyler Sorenson feed a pass to Daley for a tie-breaking layup.

The fourth quarter opened with O'Neal producing a three-point play. It led to Provo securing a 44-48 lead. Together, Rasmussen and Draney erased it. Two Draney foul shots tipped the Froggies ahead 46-44. After that, the two schools kept taking turns at pulling ahead. In the last five seconds, Lehi owned a 51-50 lead. Provo called time out at that point, and Bullpuppy Coach Jim Drury discussed with his litter strategy for a three-point shot. Picked to launch it, Sorenson swished it, and Lehi called time out a second before the game was to end. That final game second took a few minutes to pass, because both teams each called a time-out. Provo's defense prevented the Froggies from sinking a three-pointer of their own.

Nygren led Lehi with 14 points while Draney added another 13 and Rasmussen 10. Bailey led the Bullpuppies with 22 points while O'Neal added another 12.