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TAYLORSVILLE — As Mountain View post Paulani Tarawa was going for a team-high 12 points in the Bruins’ first-round state girls basketball tournament Tuesday morning, her thoughts turned to the bench.
Specifically, to former teammate Gentry Oldham, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament a little more than a month into her senior season.
Tarawa, with Oldham’s No. 3 scrawled on her arm in permanent marker, lifted the Bruins past Highland with a 54-49 win in the Class 4A state tournament at Salt Lake Community College.
“I always listen to (Oldham) and talk to her, and always go to her for help,” Tarawa said of the bond with her injured teammate. “She’s a post like me, so she always tells me what moves to do and what to look for.”
Stephanie Keele added 12 points for the Bruins (16-5), who moved the ball around to find open shooters as the Rams spent all morning throwing different looks out of their triangle-and-2 defense.
Meanwhile, Oldham watched from the bench, constantly coaching and picking a new player every quarter to provide extra, individual focus separate from the coaching staff.
“She was a four-year starter, honorable mention all-state, and they are really playing for her,” Bruin head coach Alan Groves said of Oldham. “To her credit, she’s really stepped it up and added a new goal.”
Mountain View jumped out to a 6-2 lead early, but Highland, the No. 3 seed from Region 6, responded with a 5-0 run to go up 7-6 on Marlee Marchon’s drive to the basket with 2:37 left in the opening quarter, and the Rams (12-10) held on for an 11-9 lead at the quarter break.
For state, I think we were really prepared. We wanted to be big on the inside, and get in-and-out shots. We know we can knock those down. I think we were ready for Highland.
–Mountain View post Paulani Tarawa
The Bruins opened the second quarter on a 9-1 run, capped by Tiffany Peterson’s 3-pointer from the wing to go up 18-12 with 1:09 to go before halftime, and Mountain View took a 22-17 lead into halftime that it never gave up.
“For state, I think we were really prepared,” Tarawa said. “We wanted to be big on the inside, and get in-and-out shots. We know we can knock those down. I think we were ready for Highland.
Peterson finished with 10 points for Mountain View, which got eight points from Ariana Kailiponi. The Bruins worked to move the ball around the key, finding their shooters when Highland would lock down the current threat. Keele scored six of her 12 points in the second quarter while the Rams zeroed in on Tarawa, who followed with seven points in the fourth quarter.
“These seniors have spent hours upon hours shooting, and it’s just a matter of getting what you practice,” Groves said. “They did a good job of pressuring us in the first half, making us shoot passes from around the key.
“It’s a wonder how shooting it like you practice can do for you.”
Lea Havili had a game-high 18 points for Highland, and Macey Wilson added 10 for the Rams. Lana Oleveo and Machon finished with seven and six points, respectively, for Highland.
Mountain View advanced to face Salem Hills in a quarterfinal Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at SLCC.
For Groves, a key to the win was ball movement — and getting his players adjusted to playing in the first game of the day.
“With those morning games, you just never know what’s going to happen,” said Groves, who ran a Presidents Day scrimmage right at 9:30 a.m. to acclimate his players. “I’ve been up here a couple of times, and you don’t know if the team is going to do what it normally does.”
SALEM HILLS 43, ROY 34 — At SLCC, Tiffany Madson and Jane Nelson each scored 11 points as the Region 8 champ Skyhawks (21-2) pulled away from the Royals (6-15).
Freshman Lauren Gustin added 10 points for Salem Hills, which led only 29-28 after three quarters before a 10-0 burst to start the fourth helped put the game away.
Abbie Tuttle contributed eight points for the Skyhawks.
Shelby Harvey had a game-high 15 points for the Royals, including six of Roy's eight first-quarter points. Josie Williams added six, and Sariah Jones had five for Roy.
SKY VIEW 63, SPRINGVILLE 53 — At SLCC, Lindsey Jensen poured in 32 points to help the undefeated Bobcats oust the defending 4A champs.
Jensen, who averages 22.7 points per game, scored seven of the Bobcats' 11 first-quarter points to take an 11-10 lead after eight minutes.
Tegan Goldman added nine points for Sky View (22-0), which rallied from a 10-5 deficit early and never looked back.
Lydia Austin paced Springville (12-9) with 22 points, and Savannah Sumsion added 16 for the Red Devils.
Both teams combined to shoot 12 3-pointers and made 38-of-43 from the free-throw line.
Sky View will face Murray in a quarterfinal Thursday at 12:50 p.m. at SLCC.
MURRAY 49, CLEARFIELD 43 — At SLCC, Deja Frenchwood and Mickaela Rueckert each scored 12 points to help the Spartans hold off the Falcons.
Shaylee Potter added 10 for Murray, which pulled away down the stretch after Clearfield (14-7) tied the game at 38-38 with 5:04 left in the game.
Frenchwood's behind-the-back layup with 1:10 remaining gave the Spartans (13-8) a 45-41 lead, and Rueckert grabbed a rebound on the next possession with 14.7 seconds left to hold on.
Bailey Douglas drilled a 3-pointer from the right elbow with four seconds left to bring the Falcons within one at 47-46, but Cory Stout made a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds on the clock to keep the Spartans alive.
Ashley Burton led Clearfield with 13 points, and Amber Marshall added 10 for the Falcons.
MAPLE MOUNTAIN 55, BONNEVILLE 44 — At SLCC, Liz Eaton poured in 23 points, including the game-tying 3 in the fourth quarter, to help the Golden Eagles rally by the Lakers.
Shayla Simpson gave the Lakers (15-7) a 32-24 lead with 1:24 left in the third quarter to cap a 14-0 run.
But Eaton tied the game at 36-36 with 6:16 remaining in the fourth, and the leading scorer in 4A gave Maple Mountain (15-6) the lead 20 seconds later on a pair of free throws. The Golden Eagles outscored Bonneville 17-8 the rest of the way during a 27-10 fourth quarter to get the win.
MiKayla Hubbard had 12 points for Maple Mountain and Elzi Nielsen supplied nine.
Shayla Simpson led Bonneville with 15 points, and Savanna Shaw contributed 12 for the Lakers.
SKYLINE 42, JUDGE MEMORIAL 37 (OT) — At SLCC, Hillary Weixler scored 18 points as the Eagles held off the Bulldogs in an extra session.
Kyla Paulus added six points for Skyline, including all four of her free throws in overtime to help her squad avoid the first-round upset.
Rachel Shubella had 16 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Bulldogs.
TIMPVIEW 35, LOGAN 22 — Lyndie Haddock poured in 20 points as the Thunderbirds rose past the Grizzlies.
Sister Lacy Haddock added eight points and 15 rebounds for Timpview, which put the game away by outscoring the Grizzlies 17-8 in the fourth quarter.
Kayla Hugie scored six points to lead Logan.
The Thunderbirds will face Skyline in a quarterfinal Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
