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PROVO — The 5A state championship game in the Marriott Center in Provo was a low-scoring affair.
After a poor first half shooting performance, Olympus found itself in a 5-point hole with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. The Titans had only shot 18% from the field in the first half but eight turnovers from Woods Cross in the first 16 minutes of play kept Olympus alive.
The Titans crawl back into the game, thanks to the strong play of sophomore Dutch Dowdell, who scored 9 points in the third quarter to tie the game with one quarter left to play.
In the fourth quarter, the Titans locked in defensively and limited the Wildcats to just 4 total points in the final frame. Dowdell finished the game with 23 points and Olympus knocked down a few free throws to secure the 5A state championship in a 40-31 win over Woods Cross.
"We just kept hanging in there and played defense one possession at a time," head coach Matt Barnes said. "We just grinded it out; and everyone always talks about our defense has been terrific and really carried us."
The Wildcats shot 52% from the field in the first half before the Titans held them to just 19% in the second half. Olympus also forced 13 turnovers total and only gave up 10 second-half points.
A big factor in Olympus' success on the defensive end this season had been senior Anthony Olson, the future BYU tight end. On Saturday, he had the tough task to guard one of the state's premier scorers in junior Mason Bendinger, who was held to his lowest scoring output of the season.
"It just feels amazing," Dowdell said. "This is what we've worked for all year and we're all best friends, so to win it with this group of guys is special."
In the Titans' two previous games, Dowdell only scored a combined 21 points but was able to step up when his team needed him most on the biggest stage.
"Those past couple of games where a little rough, so I was glad I could get in a good rhythm tonight," Dowdell said. "My shots were able to fall from the outside and my teammates did a good job finding me on some slips to the basket."
Barnes' son, Jordan, led the state in assists by more than 50 this season and remained an integral part in Olympus' win over Woods Cross. Barnes said he has a strong relationship with his son and was thankful to have reached the mountain top with him by his side.
"It's so fun, and I tell him all the time it's not easy to be a coach's son," an emotional Barnes said. "You're going take a lot of crap and criticism, but he and the rest of the group never let the moment get too big. But to win one with my boy is a dream, and to do it with the 19 other boys I have on this team is what it's all about."
Another key contributor in the Titans' championship run has been future Northern Arizona athlete Jack Wistrcill. The senior center was held to just 7 points in the contest but was just happy to capture a state title after losing in the semifinals to Lehi a year ago.
"Ever since I was a little kid I worked for this moment," Wistrcill said. "When I came out here my sophomore year (2019) I wanted to win a state title, and there truly is no feeling like it."
