Westlake Shockers' Post-Season Win Over Lehi Froggies in Boys Hoops

Timp Sports Weekly

March 1, 2016

Publisher's Message

For our issue's cover story this week, we look at the exciting post-season playoff game that occurred between the Lehi Pioneers (AKA the Froggies) and the Westlake Thunder (AKA the Shockers). Played at American Fork High's two-year-old field house, the contest was a battle for Region Four's state playoff spot. Like the Lehi-Westlake at Lehi back in January, the contest was downright riveting -- correction, ribbiting. Let's see whether the Froggies or the Shockers won the Feb. 26 thriller.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Westlake Shockers Dry Up Lehi's State Playoff Hopes During Play-In Game at AF Feb. 26

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Feb. 26 boys' contest at American Fork High's field house was something that basketball fans would have loved to have seen. The arena was almost filled to capacity. In fact, I couldn't find a comfortable spot to sit until the fourth quarter. Now, if folks thought the game was between my Awesome American Fork Cavemen and the Lone Peak Loners, they were wrong.

The contest involved the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, and their sworn arch rivals, the Westlake Thunder, AKA the Shockers. Lots of bad blood was going on in that game. With memories of Westlake students calling the Froggies inbreds in a game last January, Lehi was determined to flood the Shockers away. However, thanks to brilliant execution of a zone defense, the Shockers dried up the Froggies 74-53.

The game's final score didn't mean the contest was dull. It was riveting -- correction, ribbiting at times. The game unfolded with Westlake's web-footed foes leaping out to a big lead. With an Ethan Tuckett trey putting Lehi on the board first, Blaze Nield and Tanner Nygren guided the Froggies out to a 10-2 lead. It stirred up in my mind of the 10-2 lead that Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings had posted over the Layton Stickers in a state 5-A quarterfinal the day before. Layton rallied back in that game and eliminated the Ferocious Vikings from the girls' state tourney. Now did the Froggies' 10-2 lead spur the Shockers into rallying back? I think so

A Trent Fullmer set shot sparked the Shockers into blazing back on an 11-3 scoring run in the quarter's final two minutes. Two Mikey Nelson treys gave the Shockers the energy they needed to tie the game at 13 just before the first quarter break. Right after Nelson's second trey had knotted the score at 13, Tuckett broke the tie with inside shot. Nelson evened the game at 15 just before the final buzzer.

The second quarter opened with Froggie Braden Carter splitting the 15-15 tie. Suddenly Shocker Mason White, a "distant cousin" of Superman comic book character Perry White, tied the game at 17, and Nelson gave the Shockers a 19-17. Nield produced a rare four-point play in hopes of keeping the Froggies ahead. However, their 21-19 lead couldn't discourage Westlake one bit. After Westlake had tied the game 21, "A" Mazien Fausett put the Shockers ahead 24-21 on a three-point play. Though Lehi did hop within 24-23, the Froggies couldn't retake the lead because of great rebounding by Faussett and Asa McCord as well as the combined shooting of Fullmer and Nelson. The Froggies managed to keep the point spread in single digits until Fausett hit a three-pointer a second before the halftime buzzer to put the score at 36--25, Westlake.

With Marcus Draney pulling down some great boards for Lehi in the third quarter, he and Nygren led the Froggies back within 38-30 on two foul shots and a trey. Shots from Dallin Stoddard and Nelson soon produced a 40-30 lead for Westlake. Trying to avert a blowout at that point, Brady Christensen, Draney, and Chase Berry, a "distant cousin" of rock pioneer Chuck Berry, pulled some boards and twice Lehi within eight points. However, Lehi couldn't get any closer to the Shockers.

Westlake Coach Nate Carling said, "To squeeze them out of the paint, we used a zone defense against them. We did start out with a man-to-man defense. However, it didn't work out for us. So we switched to our zone defense. It worked effectively for us. Through it, we were able to pull down important defensive and offensive rebounds."

With the Shockers' zone defense denying Lehi chances for second shots, the Froggies fell farther behind as the game progressed. More bad news occurred for them when Draney got hurt midway through the fourth quarter, and an American Fork ambulance crew took him out of the field house.

Nelson and McCord's rebounding and shooting helped the Shockers build up a 20-point lead after Nield had put Lehi within 49-39. Once two Fausett free throws put the Shocker lead at 72-51, Westlake knew it had its ticket to the state tournament punched.

Nield led the Froggies with 16 points while Tuckett added another 10 and Nield nine. Nelson led Westlake with 18 points while Fausett added another 16 and Fullmer 13.

Awesome AF Cavewomen Corral Mountain Crest Ponies 75-41 in State 5-A Girls' Hoop Octafinal
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

At the state 5-A girls' basketball tournament at Salt Lake Community College's Taylorsville campus Feb. 23, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen corralled the Mountain Crest Mustangs, AKA the Ponies, 75-41.

The Awesome Cavewomen led the entire game. It opened with Jenna Shepherd and Taylor Franson guiding the Awesome Cavewomen out to an early 4-0 lead. Cloe Buckmiller hit an inside shot in hopes of getting her Ponies in galloping ahead. However, Shire Stephenson hit two straight buckets that helped American Fork secure a 9-2 lead. The Ponies battled back within 9-6. Two Colleen Katoa free throws sparked a 10-6 American Fork scoring run that saw Franson and Shepherd dominate that boards. Lovely Olivia Wilbert and Sheridan Juassi paced the Ponies back within 17-10. After Katoa hit another two foul shots., Buckmiller hit two free throws of her own to put Mountain Crest within 19-12 at the end of the first quarter.

With Franson still dominating the boards, Paige Farnsworth hit a three-pointer that unleashed a 23-10 scoring run for the Awesome Cavewomen. American Fork's Taylor Moaeki went wild in scoring that quarter. When Brittany Palmer put the Awesomen Cavewomen's lead at 42-22 just before halftime, Mountain Crest lost its desire to play.

American Fork held the Ponies to eight points in the third quarter as Moaeki continued burning the nets for the Awesome Cavewomen. Farnsworth contributed treys and rebounds as the Ponies couldn't figure out a way to keep Franson from continuing to control the boards.

Once Moaeki put the lead at 60-30 in the early fourth quarter, American Fork began showing how it would be able to hold its own in a quarterfinal rematch against the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers. (American Fork did beat Bingham, but lost to the Skyview Bobcats, AKA Bobkittens in the semifinals.) The Awesome Cavewomen had their entire bench play in their octafinal's closing minutes.

American Fork Coach Corey Clayton said, "Taylor Franson played absolutely awesome on the boards."

Moaeki led American Fork with 16 points while Farnsworth added another 12 while Katoa added another 11. Buckmiller and Jaussi led Mountain Crest with eight points each.

Awesome AF Cavewoman and Caveman Basketball

Timp Sports Weekly

February 23, 2016

Publisher's Message

As the high school basketball season winds down during these next two weeks, we're devoting this latest issue to two road wins that the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen posted last week.  Also, with much reluctance, we will deal with the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, hopping past my Awesome American Fork Cavemen in a riveting -- correction, ribbiting boys' basketball game played at American Fork Feb. 19. Let's go straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavewomen Tame Ferocious PG Vikings 81-38 in Feb. 16 Hoop Action

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four girls' hoop action at Pleasant Grove Feb. 16, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen tamed the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings 81-38.

The Awesome Cavewoman, who led the taming of the Ferocious Vikings, was Taylor Moeaki. American Fork Coach Corey Clayton said, "Because she had been injured earlier in this season, PG hadn't seen her play before. So she totally shocked them with her playing, especially when she would shoot. She came out as our top scorer tonight."

Aided by fellow Awesome Cavewomen Taylor Franson, Jenna Shepherd, and Shire Stephenson, Moeaki guided her team in outscoring the Ferocious Vikings 28-10 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Ferocious Vikings made Malli Valguardson their main as they tried to overcome the double-digit deficit. Valguardson scored 12 of the Ferocious Vikings' 14 second-quarter points. Shots from Stephenson and Moeaki kept the Awesome Cavewomen ahead in double figures during the quarter.

In the third quarter, Ferocious Vikings Sara Hamson, Brooklyn Dahl, Sadie Nixon, and Alexus Reeves came forth to participate with Valguardson in vicious battles against Awesome Cavewomen Sydney Bishop, Brittany Palmer, and Paige Farnworth for rebounds. Hamson managed to score on two offensive rebounds that she made in the second half. Still, the Awesome Cavewomen held her to five points in the game. Farnsworth hit two treys in the second half to help American Fork stay more than 20 points ahead.

Valiant defensive efforts from Awesome Cavewomen like Addy Holmtead, Jenna Shepherd, and Jaime Shepherd enable American Fork to hold the Ferocious Vikings to 14 points in the last half.

Moeaki led American Fork with 31 points while Farnsworth added another 11. Valguardson led the Ferocious Vikings with 22 points while Nixon and Hamson each added another five.

Awesome AF Cavewomen Soak Up 81-46 Win at Lehi Feb. 18
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavewomen finished their Region Four campaign with an 81-46 win on the court of the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, Feb. 18.

The web-footed players of the home team did attempt to make the contest a strong challenge for the Awesome Cavewomen. Receiving the night's opening tipoff, Froggie Taylor Takahashi passed to Katie Peck for the night's first bucket. Awesome Cavewoman Taylor Moeaki pulled down a defensive rebound and cut away to sink a tying layup. A niece of Utah State basketball legend Eric "Franny" Franson, Taylor Franson scored on a steal to put American Fork ahead 4-2. Though shots from Froggies Katy Peck and Bryanna Raff did tie the game at four and six, the Awesome Cavewomen didn't let the Froggies leap ahead again. Once a Moeaki trey broke the tied score 6-6, the Awesome Cavewomen went on a 27-4 scoring run led by Moeaki and Jenna Shepherd. When the first period ended with Shepherd sinking a layup on a steal, American Fork commanded a 33-10 lead.

The second period opened with Froggie Brooklyn Heaton scoring in a full-court pass. A Shelby Jenkins jumper then reduced the American Fork lead to 33-14. Just as the Froggies looked as thoughn they were about to hop back into the game, Awesome Cavewoman Savannah Empey hit a three-pointer that gave her team the momentum to maintain a double-digit lead. Shots from Jenkins and Peck sawed the lead down to 36-18. Aided by a Paige Farnsworth trey, Franson sank a layup that kept American Fork's lead from slipping underneath the 20-point mark.

Taking a 53-21 lead into the second half, American Fork had its entire bench see action on the floor in both the third and fourth quarters. This gave Awesome Cavewoman players like Colleen Katoa, Brittany Palmer, Addy Holmstead and Kylee Andrus, a "distant cousin" of Hollywood actress Ursula Andress, a chance to come up with steals and great rebounds. On one play, Katoa stole the ball and raced full-court straight to the Lehi basket, only to miss a layup. Despite that miss, the Awesome Cavewomen kept everyone of Lehi's players from scoring in double figures, though Froggie Aleya Zenter scored six of her seven points on two treys.

Moeaki led American Fork with 19 points while Jenna Shepherd added another 10. Peck led Lehi with eight points while Jenkins and Zenter each added another seven.

Lehi Froggies Hop Past Awesome AF Cavemen in Ribbiting Feb. 19 Hoop Thriler
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen were aside themselves Feb. 19. For the first time in seven years, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, had beaten them twice in boys' basketball in one season. Having already flooded away my Awesome Cavemen at Lehi last month, those web-footed hoopsters hopped over to American Fork on Feb. 19 and jumped all the way home with a 66-57 win. It gave the Froggies something to croak about for years to come.

With Feb. 19 being Senior Night at AF, the hometown crowd counted on their team's 12th-graders to guide the Awesome Cavemen in drying up the Froggies. American Fork's lead gun, Spencer Johnson put the Awesome Cavemen on the board first. Froggie Ethan Tuckett tied the game at two. A "distant cousin" of comic strip character Beetle Bailey, Brenden Bailey broke tied scores of 2-2 and 4-4 during the course of the first quarter. After Froggie Blaze Nield clipped the lead to 6-5 on a free throw, Beetle Bailey's "distant cousin" pulled down an offensive rebound and put the ball back into the hoop. An Ethan Tuckett trey tied the game at eight just before the first quarter break.

Bailey's rebounding delayed a Froggie takeover of the lead during the early second period. Awesome Caveman Benji Judd broke the 8-8. However, the Awesome Cavemen couldn't build upon their 10-8 lead. Nield hit a free throw, and then he wished in a bucket that put his Froggies ahead 11-10. Shots from Nield and Tanner Nygren improved Lehi's lead at 14-10. With teammate Braden Condie hitting a three-pointer, Johnson soon capitalized on Nygren's missing the front end of a one-and-one. Johnson hit foul shots that put the Awesome Cavemen back out in front 15-14. A tying, Nygren trey paved a path for the Froggies to leap out to a 21-17 lead. A Dallin Hucks trey put American Fork within 21-20 just before halftime.

Nield dominated scoring in the early third quarter even though Awesome Cavemen Jake Whitehead and Zach McWhorter stepped forward to challenge Lehi seriously on both the boards and the floor. Even though a McWhorter bucket put American Fork within 24-23, Nield and Marcus Draney guided the Froggies in stretching their lead out 33-25. Johnson guided a 10-0 scoring run which climaxed with McWhorter tying the game at 33. Whitehead broke the tie, and switches in the lead ensued.

The frequent changes of ownership of the lead continued into the fourth quarter. When Johnson scored on an offensive rebound to put American Fork ahead 39-38, the Awesome Cavemen looked as though they would finally drain Lehi dry. However, Froggie Chase Berry, a "distant cousin" of rock pioneer Chuck Berry, puled down some key rebounds that Lehi capitalized on. After a Tuckett bucket had put the Froggies back out in front 40-39, Berry went to work on pulling down very important rebounds, sinking free throws, and hitting great field goals. Berry's most important bucket of the game was the one he hit on an inbounds play that put Lehi ahead 55-45 in the last two minutes of regulation play. Free throws by Nygren, Nield, and Draney clutched the game for Lehi, even though Johnson and Whitehead guided a valiant effort to lead American Fork back within 57-52.

Lehi Coach Shawn Yeagar said, "Besides hitting some really important shots, Chase Berry pulled down some really big boards for us, enabling us to pull this game out."

Nygen led the Froggies with 25 points while Nield added another 15. Johnson led the Awesome Cavemen with 21 points, and Whitehead added another 10.

Lone Peak Loners' Hoop Win Over Lehi Froggies, State 5-A Wrestling Meet, State 5-A Swim Meet

Timp Sports Weekly

February 16, 2016

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at how college-bound Frankie Jackson led his Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, in drying up his old high school team, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, in a Feb. 9 boys' basketball game. We will also look at the State 5-A wrestling and swim meets. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Frankie Jackson Pours in 52 Points to Lead Lone Peak Loners to Big Win Over Lehi Froggies in Boys' Hoop Action Feb. 9

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four boys' basketball action on Feb. 9, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, got propelled by a 52-point scoring performance by one of their players to 93-78 win over the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies.

During the first quarter of the game, the Froggies looked as though they would upset the unbeaten Loners. After former Froggie Frankie Jackson put the Loner ahead 2-0, an Ethan Tuckett trey put Lehi ahead 3-2. Even though Jackson tipped his Loners ahead 4-3, his former, web-footed teammates gave Lone Peak trouble. Shots by Tanner Nygren and Marcus Draney shoved Lehi ahead 10-4. Just as Lehi fans had something to croak joyfully about in the game, Jackson hit an inside shot that sparked a rally, strong assisted by Chad Pollard, a very close relative of former Mountain View Teddy Bear sports legends Al and Lynne Pollard. Blaze Nield tried to tip the momentum back to Lehi's favor, but he missed a layup during a steal. Chad Pollard rebounded the shot and passed to Jackson for a bucket. Before long, the Loners commanded a 17-14 lead. Two Nygren foul shots shortened it to 17-16 just before the first quarter break.

The Froggies continued to remain tough for the Loners in the second quarter. While Jackson continued harvesting lots of points for his Loners, the Froggies tied the score at 20 and 25 on shots from Blaze Nield and Marcus Draney. A "distant cousin" of Rock music pioneer Chuck Berry, Chase Berry pulled down several key rebounds and fed the ball to Tanner Nygren for shots that kept the game close for lose. After a Nield trey had tied the game at 25, Draney put Lehi ahead 27-25 in the quarter's last three minutes. A Jackson layup tied the game at 27, and Nate Harkness, a "distant cousin" of Dr. Who character Captain Jack Harkness, hit a go-ahead shot for the Loners, and they went on a 10-1 scoring run that gave them a 38-28 lead. Aided by two Berry foul shots, Tuckett hit two straight treys that put his Froggies within 39-36 by halftime.

If the Froggies thought Jackson were a handful for them in the first quarter, he turned out to be a bigger
challenge for those web-footers in the second half. With Loner Stevie Ashworth hitting a three-pointer at the start of the period, Jackson went on a shooting spree that created a 55-45 lead for the Loners. Draney, Berry, and Nygren sank shots in hopes of keeping Lehi in the game. Berry and Nygren's efforts enabled the Froggies to leap within 63-57. However, Jackson hit two three-pointers and two foul shots that stretched the lead to 70-57.

In the fourth period, Tyson Doman dominated the boards for the Loners, and he swished in some shots that helped them maintain their double-figure lead almost throughout the final quarter. Thanks to a Bradon Calton trey, Berry dropped in a layup on an offensive rebound that cut the lead to 74-65. Lehi couldn't reduce the point spread below nine during the course the quarter, because of help that Jackson got from Max Brenchley, Doman, and Ashworth. Jackson's shooting enabled the Loners to take home a double-digit lead.

Even though the Loners didn't beat the Froggies 100-66 like they had done in January, the game was still nothing for Lehi to croak about.

Jackson led the Loners with 52 points while Doman added another 15. Draney and Nygren led Lehi with 16 points each while Berry and Tuckett each contributed another 12.

Awesome AF Cavemen and Ferocious PG Vikings at Southern 5-A Divisional Wrestling Tournamemnt

Timp Sports Weekly

February 9, 2016

Publisher's Message

For this issue's cover story, we look at how the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings did at the recent Southern 5-A Divisional wrestling tournament, hosted by Pleasant Grove. As a spoiler alert, I will let you know ahead of time that one of those teams won the tournament. Let's get to that story.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious PG Vikings Win Southern 5-A Divisional Tournament as Arch Rivals Awesome AF Cavemen Finish 4th in Meet

By Dean Von Memmott

During the Southern 5-A Divisional wrestling tournament, hosted by the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings Feb. 3-4, Pleasant Grove finished first while the Awesome American Fork Cavemen took fourth at the meet.

Pleasant Grove Coach Rockin' Brock Moore said, "My wrestlers were pinning lots of guys to make it to finals. I wanted to get as many of my guys in the championship matches as possible. We had 12 guys make it to the title matches. That helped us win the divisional championship. We're going to be taking 23 guys to the state tournament."

American Fork had four wrestlers reach the championship finals. Two of them wrestled Ferocious Vikings. Of the other two Awesome Cavemen, one of them won a championship belt.

Its winner was Cam "Big Bam" Hunsaker. He squared off with Mountain Crest Pony Davey "The Handsome Stallion" Meyers for the 132 weight class crown . Big Bam said, "To win my match tonight, I used the snap-down to the single knee. It's my No. 1 move."

Pleasant Grove had trouble producing tournament champs on the night of Feb. 4. In the 106 weight class, for example, Layton's Dalton "The Blue Rouge" Stutzman took a 4-0 over Ferocious Viking Cole "Bullhorn" Zorn. Bullhorn battled back within 5-3 and 7-5. However, the Blue Rouge prevented Bullhorn from scoring a third-period reversal, and the Layton wrestler secured his championship belt by a score 7-5.

In the 118 weight class match, Layton's Tanner "The Slammer" Benedict built up a 7-2 lead over Pleasant Grove's Derek "The Hook" Fisher. The Hook battled back within 9-8, but time ran out before that Ferocious Viking could score a go-ahead move.

Mountain Crest's Artie "Uptight" Knight pinned Ferocious Viking Lou "The Eagle" Garcia in the first period of their 125 weight class championship match.

After the Ferocious Vikings had forfeited the 138 weight class title match, Alex "High Strung"Young set off a winning streak for them through his besting Awesome Cavemen Shad "The Red Flecce" Preece. 10-4 in the 145 weight class championship match.

In the 152 weight class match, Ferocious Viking Big Bad Ben Anderson pinned Awesome Caveman  Porter "Big J" Johnson.

Vicious Viewmont Viking Curt "The Snuffer" Smith overwhelmed Ferocious Viking Josh "Mr. Shark" Whitehead 8-1 in their 160 weight class match.

In the next title match, Ferocious Viking Koy "Squeeze Toy" Wilkinson came close to scoring a technical fall against his 170 weight class foe, Jay "Power Driver" Burton of Syracuse. Power Driver managed to keep moving around on the blue mat long enough to last all six regulation minutes, but Squeeze Toy still beat him 16-3.

Awesome Cavemen Jacob "The Photon Torpedo" Rohton, a 182-pounder, got pinned by Connor "The Claymore Blade" Kirkland in the second period of their match.

In the 220 weight class match, Vicious Viking Jordan "The Merciless Steamroller" Nelson took a 2-0 over Ferocious Viking Braden "The Colossal" Closson. The Colossal escaped and took the Merciless Steamroller down. The Colossal then pinned The Merciless Steamroller.

The tournament ended with Ferocious Viking Walker "Big Wolfie" Wolfgram pinned Jordan Plowboy Heneli "The Bee" Avendano.