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HIGHLAND — With less than four minutes to play in the game, the fifth-ranked Skyridge Falcons held a narrow 3-point lead over the sixth-ranked Lone Peak Knights.
The Knights had trailed most of the game but outscored the Falcons 17-10 in the third quarter to regain momentum and to bring a home victory within their grasp.
But just as he had done all game long, Skyridge senior guard Nick Holland kept the Falcons ahead when he drove through the heart of the Knights' defense for a scooping layup to make it a two-score game with under two minutes to play.
On the following Falcons possession, Holland connected with fellow senior Bryson Baily on a baseline cut that pushed the lead to 7 points. It was a deficit that would end up being too much for the Knights to conquer as they fell 61-54 to their region rivals.
"I was proud of our kids," Skyridge head coach Jeff Gardner said. "This is a tough place to play against a good basketball team that's well-coached, and I was pleased that we were able to hold on."
The environment may have been hostile but unlike a typical road game, Skyridge had a large support group with the Falcons student section nearly that of the home Knights.
"The Skyridge community was awesome," Gardner said. "Everyone just comes together as a school and community, and it's a lot of fun for our kids to have their support."
Holland said it's a family atmosphere on the team, especially since many have played together for years. "I've been playing with these guys since third grade and I trust them so much that when I kick it out to them, I know those shots are going in," said Holland.
Holland finished the game with 17 points, with 11 of them coming in the second quarter, Colby Carter scored 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and Baily accounted for 12 points.
"It's always great to beat your rival," Holland said. "They knocked us out of the state tournament a couple of years ago and we still haven't forgotten that. But just to come in to their building and get a win by executing our game plan is a great feeling,"
Skyridge was able to jump out to an early lead when they drilled three triples and forced a Lone Peak timeout with five minutes to play in the first quarter. The Knights locked in defensively and held the Falcons to just 2 points the rest of the quarter and methodically made baskets to take a 1-point lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Falcons rode Holland's hot streak to a 34-22 lead at the break. Skyridge went on to maintain the lead, in large part due to their defense.
The Falcons were able to lock their talons in defensively by holding the Knights to their second-lowest point total of the season, something that didn't go unnoticed by Gardner.
"Defensively, I thought we were good tonight," he said. "We have been able to rely on our defense this year. Our kids like to play it and they do a really good job of getting to shooters and rebounding the ball."
The Knights were able to play well individually in stretches but never at the same time. Lone Peak forward Luke Fotheringham, the younger brother of former Utah tight end Cole Fotheringham, scored seven of his 10 points in the first quarter.
In the third quarter, it was Knights center Kao Hansen, who had 7 of his 10 points in the period. And in the final frame, it was senior guard Mckay Tanner, who scored 9 of his 12 points in crunch time.
Skyridge extended their win streak to five games and now sits at 11-2 on the season, which will help them move up to fourth in the Utah High School Activities Association RPI. Lone Peak falls to 8-4 and ninth in the state rankings.
