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OREM — Olivia Hamlin knew what the feeling was like to be on the cusp of playing for a championship and coming up one game short.
Now, she and the rest of the Snow Canyon Warriors will get their shot to do so against the reigning champions.
The state's leading scorer in girls basketball had 35 points, with seven 3-pointers, as No. 2 seed Snow Canyon used a 32-point second half to propel them to a 62-35 victory over the No. 3 Cedar Reds Tuesday afternoon at the UCCU Center.
The Warriors will face the No. 1 seed Ridgeline Riverhawks Wednesday at 3 p.m. MST, in a highly anticipated showdown that will also pit the state's two top scorers in Olivia Hamlin and the Riverhawks' Emilee Skinner.
Annalyse Shimada led the Reds with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.
"This is what we wanted all year, to be back here," Hamlin said. "Now we're going to get our chance."
Snow Canyon will get their chance behind an epic performance, both offensively and defensively, from their star senior guard. First-year Warriors head coach Sue Hoskins said the feeling of being in a state championship game is amazing.
"This has been a such a fun year with this team," Hoskins said. "I'm just proud of them."
The same goes for Cedar and head coach Corry Nielsen. The Reds were picked to finish sixth in their region coming into the season, despite winning two state championships in the last five seasons.
"This has been one of the best teams I've ever coached in my 25 years," Nielsen said. "They just came to work and they never complained."
Cedar's toughness was on full display in the first half. Despite the Warriors' constant pressure, forcing a number of turnovers, the Reds were still only behind 31-20 at the half.
That's when Hamlin took over. Her play in the second half fueled Snow Canyon to a double-digit lead, blowing the game open. Hoskins that kind of play is just what Hamlin is made for.
"The bigger the stage, the better she gets," Hoskins said. "She eats, sleeps, and drinks basketball."
Hamlin said her play was defined by what was said in the locker room at halftime.
"We came together and said we needed to pick up our energy," Hamlin said.
And that's exactly what the Warriors did, turning up the defensive pressure and knocking down shots from all over the floor.
"I give them lots of credit," Nielsen added. "I don't think it's anything we as a team didn't do. When a team hits open shots and executes, that's the difference."
And that difference is what gives Snow Canyon a chance to dethrone the Ridgeline Riverhawks Wednesday afternoon.
"I think that you're going to see a display of two scorers trying to outdo each other," Hoskins said, speaking about the duel between Skinner and Hamlin.
"Emilee's a really good player," Hamlin said. "We just have to come out hard and see what happens.
No. 1 Ridgeline 54, No. 5 Payson 30
Emilee Skinner scored 27 points as the top seed and defending champion Ridgeline Riverhawks advanced to the 4A girls championship game with a dominant 54-30 victory over No. 5 seed Payson in the first girls semifinal Tuesday afternoon.
The bigger story of the day was the Riverhawks defense, which held the Lions' leading scorer Oaklie Jackman to just 4 points. Cheznie Roundy led Payson with 9 points.
"Defensively, my girls just get after it," Ridgeline head coach Ainsli Jenks said. "They play really hard, and we pride ourselves on doing that."
Skinner said the defending champions welcome the pressure, calling it a privilege.
"All of the girls rise to the occasion when that happens," Skinner said. "The adrenaline really helps us play together as a team."
Payson head coach Chad Bahr, whose Lions won a region championship this season, said the experience taught his team to appreciate the pressure of a big stage.
"That's part of this run, to set that foundation," he said. "With four starters coming back for us, the sky's the limit next year."
