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Home > Archive > Feb 21, 2008

Warriors, Panthers Look to Keep Momentum Going
By Layne Roberts
Before last Wednesday’s Snow Canyon/Pine View game, the Panthers had been victorious four out of the last five games, though they lost to the Warriors near the end of the season last year.
Coming into the game, both teams controlled their own fate. Meaning a victory in both games against each other would have clinched the Region 9 title for either team. More importantly, a number one seed in the upcoming 4A State Tournament was at stake.
This year, the Panthers – 3A state champions last year – had lost only three games coming into the matchup with Snow Canyon. In their losses, they scored 19,19, and 20 points respectively in the first half, though they did win a game (Payson) while only scoring 19 in the first half. This is the same Panther team that averages more points than any other 4A team in the state, and has on multiple occasions scored more than 20 points in the first quarter.
They only put 13 points on the board in the first half last Wednesday against Snow Canyon. This was due, in large part, to both the Warriors’ aggressive defense and the Panthers’ struggles shooting the ball.
“It was a combination of things. We wanted to make sure their perimeter guys did not get going early. They seemed to settle a little bit with quick jump shots. That is how we have been playing basically all year long,” Snow Canyon Head Coach James Brown said after the game.
“We have not been consistent all year long. (Some games) we come out strong in the first quarter, other games we have not. (Snow Canyon) played intense defense; we did not play a full game,” Pine View Head Coach Steve Melessa said last week.
Snow Canyon could not have hoped for a much better performance through two quarters as they led 25-13 at the break.
“Last year, we were down ten or twelve points at half in their (Snow Canyon) building, and we came back and forced overtime, even though we lost. But we reminded them of that (at halftime), that they have been in this position before,” Melessa said.
The Panthers did get back into the game and even outscored the Warriors (32-31) in the second half. The Panthers even had the ball with just under a minute and a half to play while trailing by six points, but the Warriors relentlessly pushed them away claiming the 56-45 victory in the first of two rivalry games this season.
“We were very pleased. We have come out slow a couple of times lately. We had a couple of plays to come out in a row with to see if we can get guys going. It did not work perfectly, but our guys were able to get the ball,” Brown said.
The Warriors ended the game shooting 55 percent, while the Panthers struggled, shooting less than 50 percent from the floor and only 33 percent from the field.
Snow Canyon senior Dalton Groskreutz led all scorers with 26 points and shot very well from the field. Groskreutz also created the greatest crowd excitement with two consecutive dunks late in the game.
Last year, the Warriors defeated the Panthers late in the season, but after a loss to Union in the first round of the playoffs had to watch their rival win game after game en route to the 3A title.
This year is a different story.
The Warriors are now in the proverbial driver’s seat and need just one more victory to claim Region 9 and the number one seed for the 4A State Tournament.
While some may consider the Warriors season as quiet and a surprise, no one who has been paying close attention or the other coaches in Region 9 would agree.
When region play began other coaches used words such as, determined, very hungry, experienced and loaded, when talking about the Warriors potential and roster. This year, the Warriors have played, well, and have been determined and hungry and have proven to be experienced and loaded with talent.
The Warriors have yet to lose a region game, and their losses, by all accounts, have come against very good competition. Not to mention, the Warriors also are ranked in the upper tier when it comes to scoring offensively (57.39), and they allow a 4A low of 46 points per game, giving them the largest average point differential in 4A (11.39).
Snow Canyon was slated to play three of their four true region games consecutively to end the year, something some may not consider the best-case scenario. But because they are playing so well, it may not matter. Dixie, for example, had to wait 11 days before their game against Snow Canyon on Tuesday, and Pine View will have waited eight days before the rematch this evening.
Even though the Warriors may have the Region title secured already, both coaches said their preparation for the game would not change for the 7 p.m. game this evening at the Burns Arena.
The first round of the playoffs begins Tuesday Feb. 26, at Weber State University, and both teams, no matter what seed they receive, will play teams from Region 6 in the first round.
The Region 9 number one seed will play the five seed from Region 6, who will likely be West, Cottonwood or Highland.
The Region 9 number two seed will play the three seed from Region 6, who looks to be Highland or Granger, but could be Murray or Olympus as well.

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