ST. GEORGE – Pine View blasted Nevada neighbor Moapa Valley and most of Region 9’s boys basketball teams tipped off at various tournaments Friday.
Jack Bangerter scored 10 first-half points and the Panthers unveiled a new up-tempo style in rushing to a 24-6 first-quarter lead en route to a 70-46 victory at home against the Pirates.
“It’s been a long time since we scored 70 points in a game at Pine View,” Panthers coach Darrell Larsen said. “This kind of tempo is what I was taught, by my dad and by (former PV coach) Lynn Christensen and I guess I’ve just been afraid to play this way. I figured we’d try it.”
Pine View looked sharp early behind the shooting of Bangerter and the inside game of Kody Wilstead and Collin Dowdell.
“We didn’t know what to expect from Moapa Valley,” Bangerter said. “They’re a totally different team than they were last year. But we just wanted to come out and play up-tempo and play good defense.”
Sixty seconds into the game, Bangerter hit his first trey. Dallin Milne was also active for Pine View in the full-court press and the Panthers held a 10-5 lead with five minutes to go in the first quarter. That’s when Larsen’s boys turned up the heat. Over the next 4:15, Pine View would score 14 unanswered points, with many of the buckets coming on steals and layups. During one stretch, Moapa Valley turned the ball over on five straight possessions.
“We just wanted to come out and play with intensity,” Milne said. “Coach wanted high energy and for us to work together as a team and I think we did.”
The Panthers led 35-18 at the half and the Pirates actually pulled within 13 in the third quarter. But PV outscored Moapa 18-9 in the final period to coast to the season-opening win.
Bangerter ended up with 15 points and Wilstead added 13. Dowdell and Milne also scored in double-figures and the Panthers forced 25 MVHS turnovers.
Boxscore: PV vs Moapa Valley 113012
Desert Hills 57, Morgan 46
Many experts are picking these two teams to play deep into the state tournament in late February and the Thunder’s convincing win should be a good sign for Desert Hills faithful.
Josh Anderson showed no ill effects from playing deep into the football playoffs as he scored 12 points and snagged 12 rebounds. Chase Thompson had 14 points and five boards for DH as the Thunder captured their season-opener at the 3A/2A Preview tourney in Richfield.
Desert Hills shot the ball well, hitting 53 percent from the floor (20-38) and 88 percent from the line (15-17). The Thunder pulled away late in the third and early in the fourth quarter.
Spanish Fork 62, Dixie 53
The Flyers had a horrible first quarter and never could quite recover.
It was a small measure of revenge for the Dons, who lost just two weeks ago to Dixie in the state football championship game.
Jordan Hall and Kyle Hansen each scored 12 for the Flyers, who fell down 17-6 early. Mitch Wilkinson hit a pair of treys for Dixie.
Stansbury 56, Hurricane 47
The Stallions stampeded past the Tigers in the third quarter despite a great game from Cody Lebaron. He had 14 points and six rebounds, but Hurricane blew an eight-point halftime lead.
Stansbury trailed 19-11 at the break, but scored 23 points in the third quarter and 22 in the fourth to overcome the deficit. The Tigers managed just 11 in the third to surrender the lead.
Hurricane shot just 31 percent from the floor in the game.
Cedar 75, North Sanpete 50
Five different Redmen scored in double-figures, led by Kordan Nielson’s 16, as Cedar romped to the easy win.
Canyon View 79, Delta 71
Not a lot of defense at CV tonight. The Falcons led 67-44 after three quarters and withstood a furious Rabbits rally. Chad Corry hit four 3-pointers and had 21 points to lead the way.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.