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OREM — Jordan’s boys basketball team hadn’t been to the Class 5A state tournament in four years prior to Monday’s opener against Fremont.
Indy Hanson made the Beetdiggers’ return to the postseason enjoyable.
Hanson had 18 points, two assists and three steals in the second half, including a back-breaking 3-pointer to cap a 12-0 third-quarter run, to help the Beetdiggers rally past the Silver Wolves 66-55 in a 5A state first-round game at Utah Valley University.
“I just do what I can to help my team win,” said Hanson, whose full first name is Indiana. “That’s what we’re going for, and we’re ready for the next round.”
Crew Wakley added 15 points, four rebounds and five steals for the Beetdiggers (15-10), and Dyson Koehler had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Just as important as his offense, Hanson helped hold Fremont leading scorer Saxton Morby below his average in the second half. The senior Silver Wolf finished with a game-high 26 points and five rebounds, but scored just five in the fourth quarter as Hanson and Wakley pressed him with a double-team combo.
Jordan forced 15 turnovers, including 10 steals.
“Fearless. Reckless. Out of control. But he’s a warrior,” Jordan coach Trace Bevell said of Wakley, the freshman quarterback who led Jordan to an 8-3 record and a state quarterfinal berth. “He is what he is; his skills aren’t all there basketball-wise, but just like in football, he runs right through you. He’s the toughest kid I’ve got.”
The Beetdiggers took their first lead of the game at 37-35 on Hanson’s 3-pointer with 4:41 left in the third quarter, and never trailed again.
Jordan outscored the Silver Wolves 22-7 in the third, including a 12-0 run to open the second half.
“We were coming in hot from the second half,” Hanson said. “At halftime, we were excited and pumped up; it’s the first time we’ve made it to the playoffs in four years. We were really excited to get one.”
Morby drilled a three to pull Fremont (12-9) within 53-49 with 3:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Cameron Blunck finished off a steal in transition to push the Beetdiggers’ lead back to six 24 seconds later, and Jordan never looked back.
Josh Christensen’s dunk with 3:01 remaining put an exclamation on the Beetdiggers’ comeback.
Jordan's Josh Christensen had this exclamation point in Jordan's 66-55 win over Fremont. #kslsportspic.twitter.com/j2mMnakpTF
— Matthew L Glade (@matthewLksl) February 28, 2017
“My guys were tight,” Bevell said. “We played scared in the first half. We’ve never been in that type of environment; most of these guys have played big-time football, but none of them have played big-time state basketball.”
Even Hanson’s fifth foul with 1:28 remaining couldn’t sully the comeback. The Silver Wolves pulled within four in the final minute of play, but could get no closer as Jordan finished the game on a 7-0 run, including Wakley’s and-one flush off a bad pass.
Crew Wakely was more than a little excited for his steal and 1 that helped seal the game for Jordan. pic.twitter.com/N5kr6JO67q
— Matthew L Glade (@matthewLksl) February 28, 2017
Jordan will face Lone Peak in Wednesday's quarterfinal round at 4:15 p.m. MT at Weber State.
Lone Peak 81, Syracuse 56
At UVU, Chantry Ross scored 10 of his 17 points in the first half to help the Knights overcome a slow start and roll past the Titans.
Max McGrath supplied 14 points and five rebounds for the Knights, and teammates Nathan Harkness and Max Brenchley each scored 13. Steven Ashworth had 11 points and 11 assists for Lone Peak (21-4).
Andrew Carlson scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to pace Syracuse (14-10), and Dylan Brower added 13 points for the Titans.
