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WEST VALLEY CITY — Josh Pollard had a double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds as No. 1 Orem defeated No. 2 Bountiful 44-36 to reach the 4A state championship game.
The score at halftime was 15-9 with both teams combining for just 8 field goals. The pace picked up a little in the 2nd half where Orem was finally able to pull away in the 4th quarter.
The key sequence in the game occurred in the 4th quarter. Orem was clinging to a one-point lead when sophomore Dalton Nixon blocked a Bountiful shot. That led to a 3-point play on the other end by Josh Pollard that gave the Tigers a 4 point lead. Moments later Nixon got open in the paint and slammed in two points that gave Orem a seven point lead, a lead they kept the rest of the game.
Orem was able to win the game despite shooting just 28 percent from the field and making just 9 shots. The difference was at the free throw line where they scored 26 of their 44 points. The Tigers went to the line 38 times compared to Bountiful who made just 8 trips to the foul line.
Bountiful was led by Brit Harding who scored 14 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.
Orem will play Olympus Saturday at 1:30 for the 4A Championship.