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."
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.
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.
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