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(Photo: Michael Brandy, Deseret News)TAYLORSVILLE —- For a team that had hardly been challenged this season, Springville sure adjusted well to close games in the state tournament.
The Red Devils won their third straight nail-biter, edging Timpanogos 42-36 in the 4A state championship game on Saturday at SLCC. The victory gave Springville its first girls state basketball title since 1990 and capped a perfect 23-0 season.
"This year our team has been battle-tested," said Springville coach Nancy Warner. "We were able to take it one game at a time and get through it. The girls showed what kind of team they are. The biggest thing was how they worked together."
Although star player and tournament MVP Lexi Eaton was once again sensational with 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Devils, it took a full team effort for Springville to get past scrappy Timpanogos. The Timberwolves had Springville in trouble like no other team this season, and went up 20-10 when Alexa Anderson drilled a 3-pointer.
Following a timeout by Warner, the Red Devils changed their defensive approach — along with the complexion of the game. They switched out of zone and played an aggressive man-to-man. They denied passes, challenged shots and got Timpanogos out of sync.
"Their team defense is awesome," Warner said of her players. "Offense can win games, but defense wins championships."
Springville had to rely on its defense because its offense was out of rhythm all game. The Red Devils closed the first half on a 12-0 run, but only four of the points came on field goals. Springville's offense consisted of driving to the basket and drawing fouls, and it was enough to get past Timpanogos.
Eaton shot 14-for-16 from the free-throw line, and the Red Devils were 17-for-19 overall. Springville shot just 22.6 percent from the field.
Eaton got the Red Devils off to a good start in the second half, making four of her first five shots. She capped a brilliant season and state tournament; she scored 36 points in an overtime win over Mountain View on Thursday and hit the game-winning basket in a 56-55 victory over Snow Canyon on Friday.
"I'm sure glad she's on my team," Warner said. "That girl, just the effort she gives and the fight and the drive she has to finish, to knock down big shots, to knock down free throws — it's huge."
"I'm sure glad she's on my team," Warner said. "That girl, just the effort she gives and the fight and the drive she has to finish, to knock down big shots, to knock down free throws — it's huge."
Timpanogos rallied from seven down early in the fourth quarter to get within a basket at 38-36 when Anderson hit her second three of the game with 1:20 remaining. Eaton, however, sealed it with a two free throws to make it 40-36, and then she rebounded Timpanogos' final miss, was fouled, and sank two more free throws.
"Springville is a tough team to match-up with," said Timpanogos coach Melinda Johnsen, a teammate of Warner's at BYU and a high school rival — Warner (Seljaas) at Bountiful and Johnsen at Murray. "Lexi Eaton is a great player. She's talented, she draws a lot of attention, and she's confident in her other teammates to step up and hit shots and they did."
Springville was playing in its second straight state championship game, and the experience paid off. When the Timberwolves took control of the game early, the Devils stayed composed and responded.
"We just have a lot of heart," Eaton said. "We did not want to have a bitter taste in our mouth again this year so we just picked it up and never stopped."
The same can be said of Springville's season. The Red Devils played a grueling preseason, beating quality opponents like Pleasant Grove, Lone Peak, Snow Canyon, Murray and American Fork. That prepared them for a region season in which they beat all of their opponents by double digits, and won six of their games by more than 30.
There was pressure on Springville to maintain its perfect record in the state tournament, but the Red Devils handled it.
"We wanted to take it one game at a time and not look ahead, but we always had the thought in the back of our minds what the ultimate goal we were working toward was," Eaton said. "It all panned out in the end. It feels great."
e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com
