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SALT LAKE CITY — This week's KSL.com Clean Simple Eats high school hoops players were instrumental in a pair of upsets early in region play.
Provo's Aaron Castagnetto helped the Bulldogs to a 56-46 win over an 11-2 Timpanogos team to start 4A's Region 8 play Tuesday in Provo. Castagnetto had 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to match his second-best outing from beyond the arc this season.
"I want to win the chip," Castagnetto said of his goals this season, which included a state championship. "We want to win the region. We're a freaking good team and everyone sleeps on us."
The Bulldogs stay in Provo to take on Payson this Friday as region play continues.
The Cedar Valley Aviators had the other big upset Tuesday, as Olivia Kaaihue and the girls basketball team took down one of the top teams in 5A's Region 7 with a 57-45 win over Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork.
The Aviators led wire-to-wire, but Kaaihue hit several clutch free throws down the stretch to withstand a second-half comeback attempt by the Golden Eagles.
"We're always good at bringing energy out from the start and keeping it throughout the whole game," Kaaihue said. "My goals are to make my teammates better and get open shots for them, while also creating shots for myself and just coming out with a win every game."
Cedar Valley welcomes Wasatch to Eagle Mountain Friday as the Aviators look to go on a run after starting region play 0-2 before Tuesday's win.
If you'd like to nominate a basketball player for their impact on or off the court, email our sports team at onlinesports@ksl.com.
