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OGDEN — In Tuesday’s first-round game versus East, Olympus’ Jake Lindsey didn’t have the type of game he is used to.
The Baylor commit scored 21 points but made just 6-of-21 shots from the field. The Titans barely crawled by the Leopards, and it took two overtimes to walk away with a 56-49 victory.
Thursday, Lindsey improved his individual performance while still leading the team to victory, as Olympus advanced to the 4A semifinals with a 58-57 win over Maple Mountain in the 4A quarterfinals at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
The game literally came down to the final moment, as the Titans held a one-point lead as the Lions’ Jaren Hall drove with the ball and a chance to win. However, Hall’s shot came short off the rim.
The game featured 13 lead changes, and the score was tied 13 times. Both teams scored 22 points in the paint and were never separated by more than two points in the margin of the quarters.
Olympus and Kearns play in a 4A semifinal game at 5:50 pm in the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
Olympus coach Matt Barnes said the game was an instant classic.
“That was a hell of a basketball game; what a high school game,” he said. “That game there, both teams, we answer and they answer; big shot after big shot. We just hung in there and tried to dig it out. Those games are so great to win, and so hard to lose.”
The Titans held a narrow 25-24 lead at the end of the first half, but the Lions led 38-37 going into the final period. Neither team shot particularly well (42 percent versus 34 percent), but it was the scoring efficiency of Olympus that allowed the Titans to prevail.
Lindsey led all scorers with 24 points. Miles Keller also shipped in 15 points.
It was Keller who hit the go-ahead basket for the Titans. Trailing 57-56, Keller hit a driving elbow jumper to give Olympus a one-point lead.
Barnes said Keller made the right play at the right time.
“I didn’t want to call timeout; I didn’t want (Maple Mountain) to set up,” he said. “We just ran our motion game, and passed it and moved. We had the angle, and Miles attacked.”
Olympus will face Kearns in a 4A semifinal at 5:50 p.m. in Ogden. Like the Titans, the Cougars have had two close wins. Kearns prevailed over Logan 51-48 in its quarterfinal game.
The Cougars are one of the better rebounding teams left in the tournament, which Barnes said could present a problem for his team.
“They are athletic and very long,” he said. “It will be a war and a battle. I was so happy for (Kearns coach Dan Cosby) to win and get there. It’ll be great for us.”
Maple Mountain’s Kade Poulsen finished with 20 points.
