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TAYLORSVILLE — Jasmine Espinoza tore her anterior cruciate ligament a year ago, so she missed Timpview’s run to the girls basketball state semifinals.
She wasn’t going to let it happen again.
Espinoza scored 19 points while sporting an enormous knee brace, and Taylor Ross added 15 points to help the Thunderbirds return to the semifinals with a 58-37 win over Box Elder in a 5A quarterfinal Wednesday night at Salt Lake Community College.
“This means the world to me,” Espinoza said. “Seeing the floor but then coming back to here is an amazing experience. I don’t even know how to describe it. But it’s amazing — outstanding.”
Shalyn Fano scored 14 points for the Thunderbirds (19-4).
Timpview made six of its first seven shots from the field, starting the game blazing hot.
But even with the hot start, the Thunderbirds did the “little things” to turn a 15-9 first-quarter edge into a 26-15 halftime lead. Box Elder made just three field goals during the 11-6 second-quarter run.
“A lot of nights, we can shoot the ball pretty well,” Timpview coach Aimee Dorais said. “But for us to continue to be successful, you have to commit to the little things on top of that.”
When Box Elder tried to defend with the full-court press in the second half, the Thunderbirds broke it with seeming ease. Espinoza broke through for an uncontested layup once, and then found a way to get to the free-throw line late to ice the win.
Timpview’s 46-26 lead to start the fourth quarter swelled to 53-27 on Espinoza’s 3-point play with 5:47 remaining, and the Thunderbirds cruised to the finish.
“We were up by a lot, but that doesn’t mean to settle,” the 5-foot-9 junior guard said. “Our coach always tells us, no matter, what shoot again as if it’s a state championship — no matter the circumstance.”
Emily Isaacson had 12 points to lead the Bees (12-12).
The Thunderbirds will face defending state champions Skyline at 2:30 p.m. MST Friday, a rematch of last year’s semifinal that the Eagles won en route to the Class 4A title.
“It’s a matchup we’ve been looking forward to for a long time; 12 months to be exact,” Dorais said. “That’s the fun of high school sports: rivalries are created, whether in region or at the state tournament.
“We know what they are, what they are capable of; they are a great team. I expect a battle and a good game.”
The 6A quarterfinals tip at 2:30 p.m. MST Thursday at Salt Lake Community College. Every game will be streamed on live.ksl.com.
