4A State Boys: Orem controls early, beats Highland 50-42

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OGDEN — For the Orem Tigers, it was business as usual Tuesday in Ogden.

Last year’s 4A runner-up, the Tigers took an early lead over the Highland Rams and never looked back in spite of challenges along the way.

Orem propelled into the 4A quarterfinals with a victory over Highland, 50-42, at the Dee Events Center on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden.

Orem coach Golden Holt said his team is built for postseason success.

“This team is different than any team I’ve had at Orem; I’ve said we’re Clydesdales, not thoroughbreds,” he said. “It was a workman-like performance tonight. Was it a thing of beauty? No, but that’s not how you win state championships.

“I keep telling the boys about last year’s Bountiful-Orem game. … You don’t score 70 points in tournament basketball, so we’re built for this kind of basketball.”


Orem played only six players throughout the entire game.

The Tigers took a 15-10 first-quarter lead and went wire-to-wire from there, leading by as much as 10 in the third quarter.

Orem’s Richard Harward finished with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting to lead the Tigers. Wilhelm Clark also contributed 14 points for Orem.

Holt said Harward was beat-up down low, but continued to fight through the adversity.

“My whole life, I’ve kind of coached high fliers; Richard’s not a high-flier,” he said, “but I have appreciation for what he goes through in the post. I told the referee in the last game we played against Olympus, ‘You know you could hit Richard in the back with a 2-by-4 and he wouldn’t move — is that a foul?’

“Richard’s a big boy, and he takes a lot of physical play down there. Tonight, he got two offensive calls, and I think (post players) need a little more respect sometimes.”

Overall, the Tigers shot exactly 50 percent from the floor, making 17-of-34 shots. Highland struggled, however, making only 18-of-50 field-goal attempts. The Tigers also dominated at the foul line, making 12-of-17 free throws compared to Highland’s 3-of-4 performance.

Highland’s Brandon Warr finished with 19 points. The Rams finish the season with a record of 13-11.

Orem advances to face the winner of the Timpview/Sky View game in the 4A quarterfinals Thursday at the Dee Events Center. The matchup is scheduled to tip off at 2:30 p.m.

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Jon Oglesby

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