3A girls state tourney: Last-second shot gives South Sevier first state title since 2008

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TAYLORSVILLE — The final game of the 3A girls state tournament took place Saturday at Salt Lake Community College. Follow along with a recap of the tournament games.

Saturday, 06:55pm

Final: South Sevier claims first state title since 2008

TAYLORSVILLE — The top two 3A teams in the state of Utah faced off in the state championship game Saturday afternoon at Bruin Arena. South Sevier's Cassie Johnson hit a jump shot in the final seconds of the game to lift the Rams over the Judge Memorial Bulldogs 47-46. The first half of the game was a low-scoring affair as neither team had an easy time finding the bottom of the net. Nerves were apparent and tensions were high as both teams seemed to be overly aggressive throughout the first half. The low scoring continued as the two teams only found the basket five times each. The Rams finished the half shooting only 32% from the floor while Judge countered with an abysmal 24% shooting performance. Early foul trouble put the Rams in a bind as one of their top scorers had to check out of the game a minute into the second quarter. The Rams were solid on the defensive end as Presley Chappell picked up a clutch shot block, which led to South Sevier’s first scoring opportunity. Chappell’s 10 rebounds and 8 first-half points allowed the Rams to take a 21-16 lead at the halftime break over the Bulldogs. "I felt like nobody could stop me (in the first half)," Chappell said. "I felt like we were the better team. We just had to keep shooting a bit." Judge came out of halftime firing as the opening inbounds pass was stolen by Teya Sidberry, and the team's first basket of the second half followed. South Sevier’s grittiness kept the Rams in the fight as they extended their lead to eight. Unfortunately for the Rams, fouls kept Judge in the ball game as the Bulldogs fought back to within two near the end of the third quarter. A Brookell Brindley buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter gave the Rams a 33-29 lead heading into the final quarter. Judge scored quickly in the fourth quarter before Sidberry tied the game with foul shots with seven minutes remaining in the game. Judge took the lead one possession later on a Mia Tarver steal and score. Sidberry battled for offensive rebounds and gave Judge a spark, adding to their lead. But she picked up her fourth foul a few moments later and was subbed out before checking back in with three minutes to play. Emily Malouf scored five consecutive points to give the Bulldogs a 5-point lead with four minutes left to play. A Kenzie Jones 3-pointer brought the Rams back within one with just over 30-seconds in the game. And with 11 seconds remaining, the Rams inbounded the ball and their swift passing opened up Johnson for the final shot of the game. The ball graced the bottom of the net to put the Rams up by one and the win. "I just kept depending on us and believed in our team." Johnson said. "It’s a dream come true." With the win, South Sevier picked up its first state championship since 2008. "I told them, the fourth quarter of play will be a lifetime to remember," South Sevier head coach Stuard Hepworth said. "That’s what matters to me most is that these kids can take that home and remember it forever." — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Friday, 08:27pm

Semifinal: Sidberry hits game-winner, sends Judge to state final

TAYLORSVILLE — Judge Memorial’s leading scorer Teya Sidberry didn’t collect her first points of the game until several minutes into the fourth quarter. But with the final seconds of the game ticking away, she drained a game-winning 3-pointer to beat Grantsville 40-37 and to send her team to the 3A championship game. "We didn’t have a play; did we have a play?" Sidberry said through laughs after the game, looking toward her coach, Josh Pike. "When I got the ball, I was thinking of attacking immediately and I just wanted to score." For as much as Sidberry struggled for the first three quarters of the game, she was unstoppable for the final six minutes, scoring 17 of her team’s 19 fourth-quarter points. After her first bucket, she stole the ball on the next possession and took it to the hole, scoring again. Suddenly, the Bulldogs had their swagger back. "I was disappointed in myself, but I knew I had to be there for my team to help us push through," Sidberry said. "It was hard for me to remain calm. They’re really good defenders and they’re good to play against, they’re definitely talented." Grantsville played a tough, physical style of play that kept Sidberry from getting the ball in the post and took the Bulldogs out of their rhythm. In the team’s third game playing each other this season, the Cowboys had a clear game plan — force someone other than No. 32 from beating them; and for most of the game, it worked. With the win, Judge takes the season series over Grantsville after splitting games during region play. The score after the first quarter was 6-5 Grantsville thanks to 4 points from the Cowboys’ Maison White. Judge got on the board late in the quarter with a 3-ball from Mia Tarver, but the low-scoring first quarter was marked by ugly basketball on both ends. There were enough turnovers to make the official scorer need an Aspirin. As the second quarter got under way, however, both teams began to settle down and effectively move the ball running crisper offensive sets. Grantsville didn’t trail in the game until 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys maintained momentum over a visibly frustrated Bulldogs squad that was not accustomed to being offensively stifled –— they average over 66 points per game this season. The Cowboys held a lead for much of the game thanks to a fantastic effort from White, who finished the game with a monster 19-point, 15-rebound double-double. Despite her play, it felt throughout the game that it was just a matter of time until Sidberry, and Judge, woke up. Judge advances to face No. 1-seed South Sevier in the state championship Saturday with tip off set for 5 p.m. MST. — Ty Bianucci, KSL.com

Friday, 06:04pm

Semifinal: Kenzie Jones has Rams searching for first title since 2008

TAYLORSVILLE — One could say Kenzie Jones has been preparing for top-seeded South Sevier’s 3A state semifinal with Richfield for years. And that assessment would be correct for the Monroe native and longtime Richfield rival. Jones poured in 22 points, including three 3-pointers, to help the Rams hold off the Wildcats 49-36 at Bruin Arena. “I’ve dreamt about this ever since I was little, watching my brothers play Richfield,” said Jones, who grew up playing against Richfield through Junior Jazz and other youth tournaments. “In this state tournament, I really wanted it and I’ve been practicing hard for it.” Brookell Brindley added 11 points and five rebounds, and Presley Chappell supplied eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots for the Rams, who advanced to Saturday’s state championship at 5 p.m. MT. South Sevier (24-1) held the Wildcats to one first-quarter field goal, taking an 11-4 lead early after Kenzie Jones dropped a triple following a 6-0 spurt. Jones opened the second in the same way — with a 3-pointer — and the Rams jumped out to a 21-4 lead while holding the Wildcats scoreless from the field for the first three minutes of the quarter. But Richfield came back, holding the Rams scoreless from the field for the final 4 minutes of the half to pull within 23-15 at the break. South Sevier opened the third with back-to-back threes from Brindley, but Richfield closed with an 11-1 run that included Passion Reitz’s last-second jumper to pull within four, 33-29. Yet there was no panic in the Rams’ demeanor. “We knew their scorers, and we just had to talk,” Jones said. “It’s hard to talk in there, with how loud it was getting. But we knew we had to get stops.” South Sevier would let them get no closer, closing the game on an 11-2 run to seal their championship game berth — and quiet a rival. “It’s crazy; when we play them down there, the gym is so full and they have a big gym,” Jones said. “Everyone’s cheering loud, and there are sometimes fights after. It’s pretty crazy.” Rebecca Poulsen led Richfield (19-6) with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Reitz finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Wildcats, who will play in a consolation final Saturday at 1:20 p.m. MST. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Thursday, 11:56pm

Quarterfinal: Grantsville sends San Juan packing in 49-35 win

TAYLORSVILLE — Ashlee Edwards’ offensive showcase led the No. 3-seeded Grantsville Cowboys to a 49-35 victory over the No. 11-seeded San Juan Broncos in the late game of Thursday’s 3A girls basketball tournament. The first half was all Cowboys, but the first few minutes of play included a back and forth slugfest. The low-scoring affair came to a halt when Edwards’ 3-pointer and back-to-back layups put the Cowboys up by eight. Grantsville had a strong defense throughout the first half, totaling 11 steals against the Broncos. They were also able to keep San Juan in single digits throughout the opening 15 minutes of the game. Edwards’ 15 first-half points led the Cowboys into halftime with a 24-13 lead. The second half of play continued just the same as the first half did. Grantsville grabbed onto the reigns and didn’t let go. Every San Juan point was matched by the Cowboys, and Edwards’ shots couldn’t miss. With Edwards' offense, combined with a stellar defensive performance from Maison White, Grantsville cruised to victory. Grantsville led by as many as 18 points in the second half on their way to a 14-point win. Edwards led the way for the Cowboys with 20 points, while White cleaned up the glass with 14 rebounds and five steals while adding 17 points. The Cowboys advance to the semifinal round to play Judge Memorial. The game will tip off at 5:50 p.m. at Bruin Arena at Salt Lake Community College. — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Thursday, 10:15pm

Quarterfinal: Behind Teya Sidberry, Judge blasts Morgan to reach semis

TAYLORSVILLE — Judge Memorial head coach Josh Pike has seen sophomore Teya Sidberry do a bit of everything: the acrobatic shots, the strong rebounds, the soft floaters. At this point, nothing really surprises him. “Teya is a different creature I guess you could say,” Pike said. “She has a dance background. So she's very light on her feet. And with that, it's kind of hard to say what you can and can't do.” The rest of Utah is still finding out what the best player in the state can do — and hoping to find out if there’s anything she can’t. Sidberry had 22 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in Judge’s 54-47 win over Morgan — in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate. Senior Abbey Storms added 11 points for Judge in the win. After a sluggish start — not to mention a very physical one — the Bulldogs blitzed Morgan in the second quarter, erasing a 1-point deficit and turning that into a 13-point advantage by halftime. The lead grew to 20 in the fourth. Morgan simply didn’t have an answer for Sidberry who had 14 points alone at halftime. And, well, few teams have. “You see her doing her little — I mean I won’t say the word right — but contorting her body in different angles and the shot is still a decent shot,” Pike said. “You know, you get a normal person trying to hit that shot, it's completely different. I think just by her being a light on the feet, the kind of stuff allows her to do different things, and we really take advantage of that.” Judge led by 20 points with 5:04 remaining before Morgan rallied in the final two minutes with the Bulldog starters out of the game to cut it to seven (Judge inserted Sidberry and Co. back in and the rally immediately ended). Even with the relatively comfortable win, the Judge players still stormed the court in celebration. That showed two things. First, it was a sign of their youth — a number of Judge’s stars like Sidberry, Mia Tarver (who exited the game with a knee injury), and Marika Collins are sophomores. And second, it showed how much they are trying to overcome some heartbreak. Last year, the team missed the semifinals by a layup. So, yes, they were going to enjoy this. “I think that hurt and should hurt,” Pike said of last year's loss. “They know they have some unfinished business.” — Ryan Miller, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:46pm

Quarterfinal: South Sevier rolls over Manti in 62-31 win

TAYLORSVILLE — A brisk Thursday night set the stage for South Sevier and Manti as the Rams and Templars went head to head in the quarterfinals of the 3A girls basketball tournament. It was all Rams behind the sharp shooting of Kenzie Jones, Leah Torgersen, and Presley Chappell, leading the team to a 62-31 win. The second quarter is where the game began to break open for South Sevier. After finishing the first half with a 13-9 lead, the Rams extended their lead to 11 quickly off the hot hand of Jones. Jones’ shooting found the bottom of the net multiple times for the Rams, scoring 11 points in the opening moments of the game. The Rams' quick ball movement and vision of the court would provide many open shots through the first half, allowing for a 53% shooting performance. Chappell was also dominant down low for the Rams, chalking up two blocks and snatching four rebounds in the first half. Her offense was felt for the benefit of the Rams, too, scorching the net for 9 points. The Rams would take the Templars into halftime with a 31-15 lead. South Sevier’s dominance remained in the second half as the team went on a 16-2 run to start the third quarter. Manti’s luck would continue to diminish as Megan Olson went down with an ankle injury early in the quarter. The rest of the second half would go as expected and South Sevier cruised to a 31-point victory. Jones, Torgersen, and Chappell led the team in scoring, while Torgersen’s 12 rebounds and Chappell’s two blocks led the Rams on the defensive side of the ball. South Sevier will play again Friday at 4:10 p.m. against the Richfield Wildcats. The 3A semifinal will once again take place at Bruin Arena in Taylorsville. — Brayden Ramsay, KSL.com

Thursday, 06:34pm

Quarterfinal: Vakautakakala pushes Richfield past Carbon

TAYLORSVILLE — Richfield junior Sipola Vakautakakala was feeling a bit ill before Thursday’s quarterfinal. Actually, that might be an understatement. “I was puking,” Vakautakakala said. It was due to some nerves; it was due to some excitement — but, by the end, she was the one making Carbon feel a bit ill. Vakautakakala led Richfield with 19 points and nine rebounds as the Wildcats (19-5) ran away from the Dinos (16-9) in the second half for a 50-36 victory in the 3A quarterfinals at Salt Lake Community College’s Bruin Arena. “We knew that we had the advantage inside,” Richfield coach Marc Peterson said. “First half, we just didn't take advantage of it. With Sipola inside, we just knew that we could dominate, we did a better focus to get the ball to her. She finished — which was big.” The No. 4-seed Wildcats entered the half trailing by 1 to a team they had already beaten twice this season. It simply wasn’t the start they wanted. That meant a good talking-to at halftime. “We had a pretty good talk about, where do we want to be?” Peterson said. “At the end of this game, do we want to be thinking about consolation stuff or do we want to go for championship stuff?” In the second half, the Wildcats made it clear that a championship was on their minds. Richfield outscored No. 5-seed Carbon 17-9 in the third quarter to take a lead they’d never surrender. Carbon couldn't stop Vakautakakala down low, guard Passion Reitz scored 9 of her 11 points after halftime, and Jarica Steck added 8 of her 11 points in the second half. “I think the seniors, since we have four, I think they realized that if we would have lost it was their last one,” Vakautakakala said. “And this whole year, we've been pounding that we want to take state and we want to make it to the next two days. So that's what changed our momentum.” As for Vakautakakala, she felt the nerves leave as she warmed up. Yes, this was a bigger game than most. But she also knew that she needed to have a big game because of it. “I was kind of like, ‘Shake it off,’” she said. “Now, it's like, ‘I gotta go. I gotta go.’” She did just that. And Richfield is going onto the next round because of it. — Ryan Miller, KSL.com

3A girls state tourney: Last-second shot gives South Sevier first state title since 2008

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - Feb. 22, 2020 at 7:09 p.m. | Posted - Feb. 20, 2020 at 4:37 p.m.

Final: South Sevier claims first state title since 2008

Semifinal: Sidberry hits game-winner, sends Judge to state final

Semifinal: Kenzie Jones has Rams searching for first title since 2008

Quarterfinal: Grantsville sends San Juan packing in 49-35 win

Quarterfinal: Behind Teya Sidberry, Judge blasts Morgan to reach semis

Quarterfinal: South Sevier rolls over Manti in 62-31 win

Quarterfinal: Vakautakakala pushes Richfield past Carbon

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3A girls state tourney: Last-second shot gives South Sevier first state title since 2008

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - Feb. 22, 2020 at 7:09 p.m. | Posted - Feb. 20, 2020 at 4:37 p.m.

Final: South Sevier claims first state title since 2008

Semifinal: Sidberry hits game-winner, sends Judge to state final

Semifinal: Kenzie Jones has Rams searching for first title since 2008

Quarterfinal: Grantsville sends San Juan packing in 49-35 win

Quarterfinal: Behind Teya Sidberry, Judge blasts Morgan to reach semis

Quarterfinal: South Sevier rolls over Manti in 62-31 win

Quarterfinal: Vakautakakala pushes Richfield past Carbon

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