6A girls championship: Bingham upsets top-seeded Fremont for repeat title

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SALT LAKE CITY — The 6A girls state tournament wrapped up Saturday at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Here’s at look at how Bingham won it all.

Saturday, 08:37pm

Final: Bingham repeats as 6A champs in upset over Fremont

SALT LAKE CITY — It was upset city at the Huntsman Center as the sixth-seeded Bingham Miners beat the top-seeded Fremont Silverwolves 59-51. "It's insane to come three years in a row, but to win it back to back is unreal," Ameleya Angilau said. "Our goal was to play as a team and bring energy. We knew we could do it and my teammates stepped up so well." Bingham jumped out to a 12-7 lead early with great post play from Jaycee Lichtie and 3-point shooting from Angilau and Samantha Holman. Fremont came back at the end of the first quarter and hit a 3-pointer as time expired to take a 2-point lead into the next quarter. Timea Gardiner controlled the Silverwolves offense, scoring 13 of Fremont’s first 20 points of the first half. She helped the Silverwolves take their largest lead of the night with 1:24 left in the half when she swished a jump shot to put Fremont up by 10. Back-to-back threes from Holman and Sierra Lichtie brought the Miners back into the game, cutting Fremont’s lead to four before making one final bucket before halftime to take a 6-point lead into the break. Bingham came out of the break to come within three. Holman hit a 3-pointer with 4:15 left in the quarter to tie up the game. Fremont took a one point lead into the fourth quarter, but it the momentum was all on Bingham's side. Sierra Lichtie kept the momentum going for the Miners and hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, and then another to give the Miners the lead with just under four minutes left in the game. Lichtie's three was followed by a 3-pointer by Holman to ignite the Miner faithful. Lichtie continued her strong game by draining two free throws with 35 seconds left in the game. And Angilau added three more from the charity stripe in the final seconds to seal the victory for the Miners. "It started with her defense," Miners head coach Charron Mason said about Lichtie. "We asked her to step up and guard Timea and she did. She was also motivated by her sister. It’s awesome to have your sister on your team, and she also played for her other sisters and she did a great job. "I’m so happy. So unbelievably happy," Mason added. "I’m so proud of our girls, and I’m just so happy." — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Wednesday, 06:16pm

Semifinal: Lichtie sisters, and a little 'mudita' lead defending champion Miners back to title game

SALT LAKE CITY — Every time Bingham needed a key play, one of two players was there to deliver. The first name alternated, but the last name never changed. Sierra Lichtie had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and older sister Jaycee Lichtie added 13 points and eight rebounds to help Bingham turn a 22-16 halftime deficit into a 47-38 win over rival Copper Hills in a Class 6A state semifinal Friday at the Huntsman Center. “I’m so grateful, to play with her, but to play with them all,” Sierra Lichtie said. “We are all such great friends. I cannot do any of this without them. “But my sister is my best friend.” Bingham’s Amelaya Angilau added seven points, six assists and three steals, and added the key word to spark a third-quarter run that helped the Miners take control for good: mudita, a Buddhist philosophy meaning “the pleasure that comes from delighting in others’ well-being.” “She called that out, and everybody just got on the same page, and just never looked back,” Bingham coach Charron Mason said. “It was awesome. I didn’t feel like we didn’t play as a team before that, but it was a great reminder and one that we needed.” Copper Hills (18-8) jumped out to a 12-6 after the first quarter, and outrebounded the Miners 23-16 en route to a 22-16 halftime lead. Tafisi had eight points, three assists and two steals for the Grizzlies in the first half of a game where she finished with 14 points, five assists and three steals. Carlin Shepherd, who had eight points and 10 rebounds for Copper Hills, scored with 3:25 left in the third stretched the Grizzlies lead to 28-20. But Angilau’s bucket and Sierra Lichtie’s triple with just under 2 minutes left in the quarter paced an 11-0 run that gave Bingham its first lead of the game, 31-28. Copper Hills cut the deficit as low as one just over two minutes into the fourth, but Jaycee Lichtie’s three and Sierra Lichtie’s drive to the rim kept the Grizzlies at bay. Copper Hills never went away, but Bingham (18-6) never lost its only lead, either. “I was just in rhythm. My teammates gave me the confidence to keep shooting. I missed my first two (threes), and Ameleya just told me, keep shooting and they’ll go in. And that one went in.” Mudita, indeed. The Miners advanced to face top-seeded Fremont in Saturday’s 6A state championship. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT in the Huntsman Center. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Friday, 05:19pm

Semifinal: Lockdown defense helps top-seeded Fremont pull away from Skyridge

SALT LAKE CITY — Something was off with Fremont’s girls basketball team as it took a 2-point edge into the locker room at halftime. That something, according to head coach Lisa Dalebout, was defense. The Silverwolves weren’t playing any — or at least, not to the extent they planned — in allowing Skyridge to shoot 41% from the field with eight 3-pointers before the break, including a game-high 15 points from Skyridge standout Ally Blackham. As the coach explained it, she simply reminded her team that defense wins championships, and if they wanted to go home in the state semifinals like last year, to keep playing the “soft” defense like they did in allowing a 20-point second quarter. Or did she? “She basically chewed us out, told us that we needed to buck up and play how we usually play,” said Fremont star Timea Gardner, well-versed in her high school coach’s motivation and halftime adjustments. “We came out kind of timid, and she just told us to play like we usually play. We weren’t playing like ourselves.” Message received. Gardner had 17 points and five rebounds, and Halle Duft added 15 points, five rebounds and seven assists to help the top-seeded Silverwolves pull away from Skyridge 71-55 Friday in the Class 6A state semifinals at the Huntsman Center. However the message was delivered, it was well-received. Blackham scored a game-high 21 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and two steals — but scored just 6 points over the final 16 minutes for the Falcons (18-7). “We defended harder,” Dalebout said of the second half. “I really feel like we had more urgency. I challenged them; I did not feel like we executed the game plan … I feel like they played a little soft, to be honest, in the first half. “I don’t know what happened in the second quarter, and they went off — and we did not respond very well.” Fremont (24-2) ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 23-12 lead at the break. But the Falcons flipped the script in the second, bombing away with five-straight 3-pointers to open the quarter, including three in a row by Blackham that gave the Falcons a 27-26 edge with 4:50 on the clock. Fremont held Skyridge to just one 3-pointer the rest of the half, but the damage was done. Blackham had a game-high 15 points, and the Silverwolves snuck into halftime with a 34-32 edge. It was a close call, and a sign of what Skyridge does best. But it was also a lesson for the Silverwolves, who defended their you-know-whats off after the break. “They took one 2-point field goal in the second quarter, and we talked about that,” Dalebout said. “So they clearly shredded us, and we needed to make an adjustment. You just had to take your chances sometimes and let them go to the basket.” Skyridge only made two 3-pointers in the second half. What’s more, the Falcons only attempted eight, as Fremont used its size advantage to keep the No. 5 seed off the 3-point line. Even Gardner, the 6-foot-3 sophomore who already has offers from virtually any college she could want, was pulled out to distance to limit the 3. “They took one 2-point field goal in the second quarter, and we talked about that,” Dalebout said. “So they clearly shredded us, and we needed to make an adjustment. You just had to take your chances sometimes and let them go to the basket.” Maggie Mendelson added 11 points and four rebounds for Fremont. Keylee Melling had 11 points and five assists for Skyridge, and teammate Kylee Holland added 10 points and four assists. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Wednesday, 11:06pm

Quarterfinal: Bingham holds off gritty Westlake team

SALT LAKE CITY — Westlake made its quarterfinal game close toward the end of the game, but it was Bingham who would escape with the upset 39-37 victory Wednesday night. Bingham was the more dominant team out of the gate as Madison Jones had the first 7 points for the Miners, along with one assist in Bingham early 16-4 lead. The sixth-seeded Miners were relentless through the first half, shutting down Westlake on defense and shooting 34.8% on the offensive end. The Thunder went on a small run before halftime, but the Miners were able to hold them off and take an 8-point lead into the break. Both squads came out firing in the second half, trading blows each time down the court. Both teams chalked up 8 points in the third, but the Thunder went on a 5-0 run toward the end of the quarter to cut the Miners' lead to three. Both teams continued to fight, with the score being within one point for most of the final quarter. With momentum seeming to favor Westlake, a weak inbounds pass turned into a Jones 3-pointer, which put Bingham back on top by two possessions. Frustration seemed to enter the faces of the Westlake players as they committed four fouls on consecutive trips down the floor, as Bingham went on a 6-0 run to push their lead to six with 3.5 minutes left to play. Westlake trudged back with just over two minutes left in the game when Susan Fano hit a 3-pointer to cut the Miners lead to two. Bingham hold the ball to run out the clock until Westlake’s only chance at victory was to send the Miners to the foul line. Bingham's Ameleya Angilau sank both free throws to put the Miners up by three with 44 seconds left in the game. A foul on Westlake’s end of the floor sent Pyper Jacobs to the foul line where she hit one of two shots. Bingham’s Jones was fouled on the ensuing trip and she split her shots to move the Miners lead to four. Angilau was called for a travel and the Thunder were allowed one last hope with 1.6 seconds on the clock, but a poor inbounds pass by Westlake sealed the victory for Bingham. "It was a tough game. It was exactly what you’d want. Come into the game for the first time to the U. for the girls," Bingham head coach Charron Mason said. "It was good to see our girls play, and play together." Bingham advances to take on the Copper Hills Grizzlies in a Friday night semifinal matchup. The game will take place at 4:40 p.m. at the Huntsman Center. — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Wednesday, 09:35pm

Quarterfinal: Rebounding 'rock' helps Copper Hills overturn Lone Peak for upset bid

SALT LAKE CITY — Copper Hills’ girls basketball team missed on 12-consecutive 3-point attempts in Wednesday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal against Lone Peak, and shot just 35.6% from the field. So when the Grizzlies walked off the court victorious, they immediately glanced at their “rock” in the middle of the paint. Carlin Shepherd had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the seventh-seeded Grizzlies outrebounded the second-seeded Knights 48-32 to rally for a 47-40 win Wednesday night in the Huntsman Center. “I was motivated to get all the boards,” Shepherd said. “When shots aren’t falling, the only way you can score are rebounds and putbacks.” Eleyana Tafisi added 13 points, three assists and four steals for the Grizzlies (18-7), and Lenisi Fineanganofo and Keely Dettling each added 6 points and seven rebounds.

Eleyana Tafisi had 13 points & 4 steals to lead Copper Hills (@Copperhillshigh) to a 47-40 upset of No. 2-seeded Lone Peak (@LPHSKnights) in the 5A state quarterfinals. https://t.co/QZ1Wucbgwj pic.twitter.com/doPg8udtt8
— KSL.com Sports (@KSLcomSports) February 27, 2020

But the presence in the middle went back to Shepherd. “Shep has been that rock for us all year long,” Copper Hills coach Ben Morley said. “Eleyana Tafisi gets a lot of attention because she’s a dynamic player, and rightfully so. But Shep’s been our anchor in the middle, on the boards, rebounding — and tonight she scored for us as well. “She’s waited a long time to have her opportunity, played behind a lot of great post players, and had to wait her turn. Abi McVey (4 points, two rebounds) and Sam Rollins (2 points, nine rebounds, three assists) are the same way.” Lone Peak (18-5) cruised to a 19-10 first-quarter lead with an inside-out game paced by Abby Conlee (9 points, eight rebounds) and Kailey Woolston (13 points, four rebounds), and held on for a 24-18 halftime advantage with one eye on Friday’s semifinals. But Copper Hills opened the second half on an 8-0 run, controlling the glass and taking a 26-24 lead on Samantha Rollins’ bucket midway through the third quarter. “We knew we had to find some way on offense,” Shepherd said. “We did that through driving and scoring — figuring out other ways besides the three.” The Knights briefly retook the lead on Conlee’s and-one play, but it was Lone Peak’s only field goal of the third quarter — and the Grizzlies hoisted a 31-29 edge into the final period. Dettling took a charge on the defensive end to preserve a 39-36 edge with 2:28 to go, then finished off a nice pass from Rollins moments later to help pace a 7-2 run to seal the game. “If you would’ve told me that we went 0-for-12 from the 3-point line and won the game, I would’ve really doubted it,” Morley said. “I would’ve laughed. I didn’t think that was positive. “All those extra hustle plays that we got from players like Keely, like Jada Vick, that’s really what won the game for us — on a night when we didn’t shoot the ball very well.” — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Wednesday, 07:41pm

Quarterfinal: Fremont uses strong 2nd half to overwhelm Herriman

SALT LAKE CITY — The Herriman Mustangs kept things close through the first half, but it was all the Fremont Silverwolves from there on out as Fremont finished with the 61-32 victory. Fremont’s Timea Gardiner, Maggie Mendelson and Emma Calvert had their way early on, chalking up a combined 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in the opening half of the game. Herriman hung around, though, chipping away at the Silverwolves’ early lead as they came within one with four minutes remaining in the first. Lexi Jensen had the hot hand for the Mustangs, shredding the nets for 8 points while cleaning up four boards and one steal on the defensive end. Calvert and Gardiner helped Fremont put the first half out of reach with a 3-pointer and a deep two to take an 8-point lead into half. Fremont came out of halftime and suffocated the Mustangs, giving them no room to breathe on the defensive end. The Silverwolves outscore the Mustangs 8-0 to open the second half. Fremont used a solid post defense with their size and athleticism to force Herriman to settle for jump shots and contested 3-pointers. The Silverwolves did not give up any points to the Mustangs in the third quarter. Herriman’s first points of the second half came with just over seven minutes left to play in the game. It was all Silverwolves from that point on as Fremont extended their lead by 21 off of a Calvert layup and free throw. Calvert’s double-double featured an 11-point, 11-rebound performance to lead Fremont to victory over Herriman. The Silverwolves’ Gardiner and Mendelson ended up in double figures with 12 and 13 points, respectively. “I felt like our defensive effort was really good,” Mandelson said. “We tightened down as a team. Our theme this year is ‘Whole Heart,’ and I feel like that’s exactly what we are trying to do.” The Skyridge Falcons await Fremont in the semifinal game, which will take place on Friday at 3 p.m. MST at the Huntsman Center. — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Wednesday, 06:16pm

Quarterfinal: Ally Blackham saves best for last, Skyridge holds off Syracuse

SALT LAKE CITY — Ally Blackham had 19 points and five steals for Skyridge’s girls basketball team in Wednesday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal. None were bigger — on either end of the court — than the last two of each. Blackham forced a turnover and converted it in the final 15 seconds to help the Falcons build a big lead early and hold off Syracuse 46-43 in the Huntsman Center. “I knew it was either now or never. Season’s over,” said Blackham of the game-sealing turnover. “I saw her passing it, and I was just in the right spot at the right time to nick it out of her hands, got it, and went down with one second left. “We knew we were out-sized, but if we could pressure the guards, it would help the post and use it to our advantage.”

Ally Blackham had 19 points and 5 steals for @skyridgefalcons in a 5A quarterfinal vs. Syracuse.

None were bigger than these 2 and 1, though. pic.twitter.com/o8IuUWblyL
— KSL.com Sports (@KSLcomSports) February 27, 2020

Nala Fainga added 8 points, five rebounds and three steals in just her third game of the year for the Falcons, and teammate Keylee Melling added 7 points. But maybe it was fitting that Blackham, who leads the Falcons with 14.9 points per game, sealed the win for Skyridge (19-4). The junior who also had five rebounds and three assists was the key cog of a Falcons squad that took a 25-12 lead at halftime, scoring 8 points with three rebounds, two assists and three steals before the break. “It was a battle, but it came down to one play. And Ally Blackham made the play of the game,” Skyridge coach Gabriel Roberts said. “She’s one of our leaders on defense. We said we’ve got to be ready; we can’t let them get the ball inside. We couldn’t stop them inside. So we had to be ready to get those steals. (Blackham’s) a gambler, and when you gamble correctly, it works out well.” Syracuse fought back in the third quarter, when Baylee Sanders capped a 9-0 spurt out of the break and the Titans outrebounded the Falcons 19-9 to force its way back into the game. Rachel Godfrey had 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Titans, and Whitney Sorenson added 10 points and six rebounds — including an and-one play that gave the Titans their first lead of the game, 39-38 with three minutes to go. Neither team led by more than two the rest of the way, until Blackham’s game-sealing steal-and-sprint. “A good team — and they’re a good team — can get used to our press,” Roberts said. “If they can get it out of our trap, they’re wide open on the back side. We knew that, and they had a heck of a game scoring in the second half in the post.” — Sean Walker, KSL.com

6A girls championship: Bingham upsets top-seeded Fremont for repeat title

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - Feb. 29, 2020 at 8:39 p.m. | Posted - Feb. 26, 2020 at 6:16 p.m.

Final: Bingham repeats as 6A champs in upset over Fremont

Semifinal: Lichtie sisters, and a little 'mudita' lead defending champion Miners back to title game

Semifinal: Lockdown defense helps top-seeded Fremont pull away from Skyridge

Quarterfinal: Bingham holds off gritty Westlake team

Quarterfinal: Rebounding 'rock' helps Copper Hills overturn Lone Peak for upset bid

Quarterfinal: Fremont uses strong 2nd half to overwhelm Herriman

Quarterfinal: Ally Blackham saves best for last, Skyridge holds off Syracuse

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6A girls championship: Bingham upsets top-seeded Fremont for repeat title

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - Feb. 29, 2020 at 8:39 p.m. | Posted - Feb. 26, 2020 at 6:16 p.m.

Final: Bingham repeats as 6A champs in upset over Fremont

Semifinal: Lichtie sisters, and a little 'mudita' lead defending champion Miners back to title game

Semifinal: Lockdown defense helps top-seeded Fremont pull away from Skyridge

Quarterfinal: Bingham holds off gritty Westlake team

Quarterfinal: Rebounding 'rock' helps Copper Hills overturn Lone Peak for upset bid

Quarterfinal: Fremont uses strong 2nd half to overwhelm Herriman

Quarterfinal: Ally Blackham saves best for last, Skyridge holds off Syracuse

Photos

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Utah high school sports group sanctions esports in 'groundbreaking' decision

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