The semifinal round of a state prep basketball tournament provides the spectrum of emotions, and Friday was no different in Utah.
Orem and Olympus punched their state 4-A tickets, while Lone Peak and Brighton and claimed much coveted 5-A berths in action at West Valley City's Maverik Center.
In the state 1-A ranks, Layton Christian took the mystery out of its semifinal game with Rich, scoring the game's first 13 points en route to a 70-48 victoy over the Rebels at Richfield's Sevier Valley Center.
Coach Bobby Porter's Eagles (13-9) will take on Bryce Valley in today's championship at 5 p.m. at the Sevier Valley Center.
Quincy Mason and Remington Rawlings, a pair of seniors who didn't have great quarterfinal performances on Thursday, burst out of the gate Friday against Rich, leading the Eagles out to a Rebels to a 41-17 halftime edge. Mason ran the floor with energy from the opening tip, while Rawlings discovered his outside shooting touch.
Rawlings finished with 20 points, while Mason chipped in with 15 points for LCA. Scifon Shayaka added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Joe Haugen added six points and six assists for the Eagles.
Layton Christian Academy helped its own cause with a 12 of 13 effort at the foul line in the semifinals.
Bryce Valley (22-3) will provide a big challenge for Layton Christian. The Mustangs topped Wayne 50-40 in a game full of spills and thrills until the final minute.
4-A tourney
* OREM 44, BOUNTIFUL 36: At West Valley City, a game full of momentum swings went the Tigers way in the fourth, and Orem will play for its first hoops title in 56 season.
With the score tied at 23-all in the final seconds of the third quarter, Bountiful had a 3-pointer waved off and fizzled after that.
Josh Pollard led Orem with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Brit Harding led the Braves with 14 points and eight rebounds in the loss as the Region 6 champions saw their 14-game winning streak end a game too soon.
* OLYMPUS 64, PROVO 51: At West Valley City, the Titans jumped out to a quick lead and coasted to the finish line.
Will Cannon led the way for Olympus with 24 points.
Adam Finch led Provo with 14 points.
5-A tourney
* LONE PEAK 68, WEST JORDAN 56: At West Valley City, the Knights outran the Jaguars in a battle of perhaps the top teams in the 5-A ranks.
T.J. Haws scored 22 points with four 3-pointers for the Knights while Nick Emery and Talon Shumway netted 16 apiece.
West Jordan's Jordan Loveridge scored 24 points in the loss
* BRIGHTON 61, RIVERTON 56: At West Valley City, the Bengals held off a late charge from Riverton and will take on Lone Peak for the title.
Brandon Miller led Brighton with 24 points, while Bryce Callahan added 14.
Stephan Holm and Dave McCleary scored 14 points each for Riverton.
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