Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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"That is the best high school basketball team I have ever seen!"
That's a quote from me to every random person I bumped into last Wednesday night after witnessing Lone Peak dismantle the 2nd best team in the state, Brighton, like they were a poorly constructed Jr. Jazz team. The final score, 79-59 doesn't exactly do justice to what I saw and I give credit to Brighton for coming back strong in the second half; however, this game was over after the 1st quarter.
Lone Peak started the game on a 16-0 run and led 23-3 before I had a chance to white balance my camera.
Does my opening statement still feel like a bit of hyperbole?
Who are you gonna guard? Are you gonna guard Eric (Mika) or are you gonna guard us out there?
–Nick Emery
Allow me to continue; a few days later Lone Peak traveled to the Midwest for the Chicago Elite Tournament where they faced the number 13 ranked team in the country, Proviso East out of Illinois. The result, they doubled them up. Well not quite, but 87-46 is pretty dang close.
T.J. Haws dropped 24 points, Nick Emery had 19, and big man Eric Mika only finished with a double-double, 18 points and 15 rebounds; all against some of the best talent in the country. They started the week ranked the 6th best team in the country, and now today, Max Preps moved them to number 3.
Keep thinking .
Has it sunk in?
Right now, in the state of Utah, we have, what is considered the 3rd best High School Basketball team in the country. If this were the BCS, they would be contending for the National Title. They're the Oregon of High School Basketball. The way this team moves the ball in transition, shoots from outside, and attacks the rim is unlike anything you have ever seen from a high school team.
As Emery said after the Brighton game, "Who are you gonna guard? Are you gonna guard Eric (Mika) or are you gonna guard us out there?"
They have 4 legitimate shooters, when you include Conner Toolson and Talon Shumway, and a dominant big man on the court, any of which command a double team at all times. If you're a basketball fan, do yourself a favor and get to a Lone Peak game this season.
Jeremiah Jensen was at the game with me last Wednesday, we felt the need to sit down and discuss what we saw. The above video is our reaction.
