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(Ogden) - Eric Mika scored 16 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and blocked three shots as No. 1 Lone Peak won their 3rd consecutive 5A state basketball championship with a 72-39 victory over No. 4 Alta.
Mika was one of five Lone Peak players to score in double figures. Talon Shumway was 5-of-7 from the field with 16 points. Nick Emery scored 13 points and was 4-of-7 from the field despite playing the game with a broken thumb on his shooting hand. The injury happened in practice last Thursday and he played through the pain the entire tournament.
Many believe the Knights are the best high school basketball team in Utah history. They believe they made a pretty good case this season.
"I believe we're one of the best teams in the nation and best team to ever come out of Utah," Nick Emery said after the win.
The Knights finished the season 26-1, their only loss was to Montverde Academy, a prep school, at a tournament in Florida last December. They beat Utah teams by an average of 30 points per game. They finish the season ranked No. 1 in the country. They believe they have earned a national championship.
"It's awesome," says junior guard T.J. Haws. "I'm so proud to be a part of this team."
Lone Peak traveled to places like Chicago, Florida, Milwaukee and Massachusetts and dominated some of the best programs in the country. They were recognized by national media outlets and were featured by the New York Times and Today Show on NBC. The added attention never became a distraction as this team focused on their goals.
"That may be the most remarkable thing about this team," says Head Coach Quincy Lewis who has now won five state titles at Lone Peak. "We had so much attention. These are high school kids and not pros and they were able to handle it."
Lone Peak has now won seven boys state basketball titles, five of the last seven state championships and three consecutive state titles.
Will they be named national champions? An official announcement is expected to happen later this month.
