Enterprise 53, Duchesne 34

OGDEN — The Enterprise girls’ basketball team overcame a slow first quarter to beat Duchesne 53-34 and advance to the 2A state semifinals.

Trailing 12-6 going into the second quarter, Enterprise finally got into rhythm thanks to an effective full-court press and some hot shooting. Ronnie Robinson scored 13 of the team’s 20 second quarter points while shooting 3-of-3 from behind the 3-pont line as the Wolves won the quarter by a score of 20-9 to take a 5-point lead going into the break.

Enterprise head coach Lance Jones gave the credit to his team for wanting to switch to a full-court press in the second quarter.

“We got off to a slow start, coming up here to a different venue — the girls just had their nerves,” Jones said. “We just said, ‘settle down, let’s play our style of basketball.’”

What exactly is Enterprise’s style of basketball?

"Defense,” Jones said. “When we get after them on defense and start putting pressure on them our offense comes with that.”

The Wolves lived up to that, not allowing more than 10 points from Duchesne in each of the next three quarters on their way to a 19-point victory.

After getting on track in the second quarter, Enterprise kept the momentum going in the third, jumping out to a 32-21 lead thanks to a 6-0 run that featured a steal and a big offensive rebound. The Wolves kept their foot on the gas, and after a couple 3-pointers by Kindy Christensen and Averie Staheli late in the quarter, Enterprise took a 45-29 lead going into the fourth.

The Wolves continued the strong defense in the fourth quarter, coasting their way to a berth in the 2A state semi’s.

Robinson finished with 21 points to lead the Wolves while Paula Tesoro led the Eagles with 12 points.

Beaver 52, Altamont 23

In the second 2A quarterfinal game of the night, Beaver started off fast on their way to a 52-23 win over Altamont.

After a 2-2 start to the game, Beaver used a 19-0 run that featured everything from layups to 3-ponters to take a 21-2 first-quarter lead.

Beaver head coach Jonathan Marshall was pleased with the way his team came out at the beginning of the game.

“We played man defense and tried to put some pressure on them,” Marshall said. “We did a good job of forcing turnovers.”

Beaver finished the game having forced 28 Altamont turnovers, compared to only 13 of their own.

The Beavers kept things rolling in the second quarter, which continued through the rest of the game, on their way to 10 first-half steals while only giving up one Altamont field goal to take a 31-7 lead at the half.

Brittlyn Carter and Brailee Robinson hit two 3-pointers as part of an 8-0 second-quarter run that gave the Beavers a 24-point lead at the break.

After trading buckets to start the third, Beaver went on another run, this time 11-0, to take a 45-10 lead late in the quarter. Altamont would score at the end of the quarter to make it 45-12 going into the fourth.

Despite trailing by double digits for most of the game, Altamont remained aggressive, drawing fouls and hitting free throws up through the end of the fourth quarter. Beaver would remain on top, however, winning by a final score of 52-23.

Carter led the Beavers in scoring with 13 points while Gracey Gardner and Laynee Shiner each scored 4 points to lead the Longhorns.

Beaver will play Enterprise Friday, Feb. 22 at 5:50 p.m. at the Dee Events Center in Ogden. The semifinal matchup will be the third meeting between the Wolves and the Beavers this season, who have split the season series 1-1.

“We’re going to have to play well tomorrow night,” Marshall said. “Enterprise is a great team, we played them in the semifinals last year as well and get to play them often being in the same division.”

Altamont will also take on Duchesne in the consolation side of the bracket at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Related topics