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SALT LAKE CITY — It was a nervous start for the Bountiful Braves. A 12-0 deficit straightaway in the 5A quarterfinals?
"The kids get out here in the bright lights of the Huntsman, and they go 'Oh,'" Bountiful coach Mike Maxwell explained.
But Maxwell's timeout settled them down, and Bountiful's offense got back to basics, outscoring Skyline en masse the rest of the way on route to a dominating 80-62 win.
The basics for Bountiful? A fast-paced, small-ball lineup focused on speed, forcing turnovers, and making threes.
"I've got a bunch of shooters and I've got a bunch of speed guys. I don't have big guys. Everybody's bigger than us," Maxwell said. "We usually get outrebounded, we know it, and we've got to make up for it with speed and quickness and turnovers and trying to get threes."
The best example was sophomore Camron Chism, who led the Braves with 21 points. Twelve of those 21 came from the 3-point line, as Chism shot 4 of 8 from the 3-point line, including by taking a few threes from beyond NBA range.
"I like this arena, but I can shoot anywhere," Chism said. "You just have to trust in yourself and know your shots are going to go in. Then you can take them when they're there."
That constant confidence stands out to Maxwell.
"I love that little Chism. He's got no conscience, and he shoots from anywhere," Maxwell said. "At one time, I was going 'Swing it!' and then he swishes it. Unbelievable confidence from a sophomore."
Skyline's fast start happened behind the hot shooting of Hollan Schweitz, who scored seven of the Eagles' first 12 points. But Schweitz scored only two points for the rest of the way, while center Andrew Clark finished with just 12 points to lead Skyline in scoring. Both players shot 4-11 from the field.
The poor shooting allowed Bountiful to take the lead by halftime with a 20-8 second quarter. And after an even third period, Bountiful ran away with the fourth quarter, 28-14, as Skyline scuffled to come back after an initial Braves run.
Chism wasn't Bountiful's only efficient scorer. Guard Brig Willard scored 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting and even added 10 rebounds. Jaxon Wood shot 5 of 8 from the floor to score 12 points, and David Stevenson scored 10, closing the game out from the free throw line in the game's final minutes.
The Braves will play the winner of Olympus and Viewmont on Friday at the Huntsman Center at 4:10 p.m.
