5A State Boys: First-quarter run helps Johnson, Viewmont roll over Taylorsville


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OGDEN — After missing most of last year’s state tournament, Viewmont’s Austin Johnson made up for lost time in this year's first-round tournament appearance.

Johnson scored 14 of his 23 points in the first half to help the Vikings cruise past Taylorsville 70-44 in the Class 5A boys basketball state tournament at Weber State’s Dee Events Center.

“I had a little bit of experience ... so I just came out with the mindset to play hard,” said Johnson, who also grabbed seven rebounds. “I just kept working hard. I wanted to get back here to state.”

Viewmont jumped out to an early lead, but the Warriors rebounded to pull within 14-12 on Aaron Canepari’s 3-pointer from the wing with 3:25 left in the first quarter. The Vikings then responded with an 8-0 run to end the opening period, and Jake Walker’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:19 left in the half gave the Vikings (14-9) a 26-12 lead they would never surrender.

Viewmont outscored Taylorsville 16-5 in the second quarter to take a 38-17 lead into halftime and cruise to the victory.


If you relax against anybody, they're going to make runs. We traded buckets for a while, and we're not good enough to just trade buckets. We've got to get stops. We re-energized, started getting some stops, and that led to transition opportunities, and that enabled us to get that lead.

–Viewmont coach Jeff Emery


“If you relax against anybody, they’re going to make runs,” Viewmont coach Jeff Emery said. “We traded buckets for a while, and we’re not good enough to just trade buckets. We’ve got to get stops. We re-energized, started getting some stops, and that led to transition opportunities, and that enabled us to get that lead.”

Walker supplied 11 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists for Viewmont, including eight first-half points.

The Vikings forced 17 turnovers, including 14 steals, out of Taylorsville, and Braeden Alldredge added four steals to his four points and three assists. Viewmont turned those 17 turnovers into 27 points, including six on the fast break in a game where they never trailed.

“I thought our zone was active, we had a lot of deflections,” Emery said. “That’s what makes you a good defensive team. We aren’t the most athletic team around, but our kids are finally getting to where they anticipate well.”

Jamison Tonge paced Taylorsville with 19 points, and Remi Prince supplied nine points and seven rebounds for the Warriors.

Viewmont will face Lone Peak in a 5A quarterfinal on Wednesday at 4:10 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.

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