ST. GEORGE – It seems like coaches are always harping about putting together a complete four-quarter game. Obviously, if they can only get their teams to play for half the game, it’s likely they won’t win many games. Unless that half-game is the second half.
The Pine View Panthers saved their best stuff for the second half tonight en route to a 70-64 win over Salem Hills at the Red Rock Rumble. And while they didn’t necessarily play poorly in the first half, they just didn’t put it all together until the second.
Limited warm-up time and a less-than-solid game plan will do that to a team. Pine View coach Darrell Larsen made it very clear that the lackluster effort in the first half was just as much his fault as it was the players.
“I didn’t have them prepared,” Larsen said. “We got here late. We didn’t go through our regular routine that we’ve normally done. I took full responsibility for the lack of energy in the first half. The first half was on me.”
The Panthers trailed by two points at halftime, but came out re-energized in the second half, scoring 19 points in the third quarter and 25 points in the fourth. Sophomore Kody Wilstead led the way for Pine View and recorded 26 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks for his sixth double-double in seven games. Wilstead has become a machine and has failed only twice this season to finish with a double-double.
“I’m just happy we played as great as we did against a great team,” Wilstead said. “I’m just happy we won.”
Old reliable Dallin Milne turned in another impressive performance with 21 points and four assists, the fourth time this season he has finished with 20 or more points.
“Our coach said our true character would be showing if we were able get up and play this game after an emotional win (last night),” Milne said. “I’m just really proud of our team that we were able to come out and still play hard after a big region win.”
Junior guard Jack Bangerter cooled off from 3-point range against the Skyhawks, but again proved his worth as a defender. Bangerter was called on to slow down the opponent’s leading scorer for the second straight night and he responded by doing just that.
Prior to the meeting with Pine View, senior guard Alejandro Llamas had been averaging nearly 20 points per game for Salem Hills, but Bangerter held him to a season-low 10 points. With Llamas bottled up, senior Daniel Quesenberry stepped up and finished with 21 points to lead the Skyhawks, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
Pine View improves to 7-2 with the win and is set to take on Manti Friday at 6:45 p.m. in the second round of the Red Rock Rumble at Dixie State.
Boxscore: shpv122012
Lehi 64, Hurricane 37
Cody Lebaron bounced back from a low-scoring game last night and finished with 13 points. Garet Cahoon had his most productive outing since injuring his wrist against Dixie last week and finished with 10 points. However, Lehi proved too much and overwhelmed the Tigers right from the start. The Pioneers had five players finish in double figures and nailed a combined 10 3-pointers.
The Tigers fall to 1-6 on the year and will face Maple Mountain Friday at 11:45 a.m. at Dixie High School.
Desert Hills 58, Manti 50
Jordan Hokanson scored 18 points and the Thunder improved to 7-2 on the season with the win over the Templars. Taylor Houston also had a solid night with 12 points and nine rebounds and Brycen Williams was the third Desert Hills player to finish in double figures with 10. The Thunder pulled away in the second quarter and were able to hold off Manti the rest of the way.
Desert Hills will take on Viewmont Friday at 3:15 p.m. at Burns Arena.
Payson 60, Snow Canyon 56
The Warriors and Lions traded punches throughout most of the nightcap game. Daniel Reno led all scorers and finished with 22 points for Payson, which outscored Snow Canyon in the third quarter and held off the Warriors in the fourth.
Chandler Gines led the Warriors with 13 points while Brendon Truman and Nate Gottfredson each finished with 11 points. Snow Canyon falls to 2-4 and will square off with Salem Hills Friday at 5 p.m. at DSC.
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