Boys basketball: Ogden can’t rally in ‘promising’ game against bigger Mountain Crest
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- Ogden’s Bingham Call (22) looks to pass against Mountain Crest’s Rigdon Anderson on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Jesse Jones, rear right, shoots over Mountain Crest’s Kaden Hess on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Stockton Marriott (12) dribbles against Mountain Crest on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Teegan Porter handles the ball against Mountain Crest on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s boys basketball team huddles during a game Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Jesse Jones attempts a jump shot against Mountain Crest on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Teegan Porter dribbles against Mountain Crest on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Bingham Call makes a pass against Mountain Crest on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Stockton Marriott (12) surveys the floor against Mountain Crest players Mason Smith (10) and Jaxon Murray (23) on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Ogden.
OGDEN — “Paper Tiger” is a term referring to something that appears to be powerful or threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.
Ogden High’s boys basketball has built a glossy win-loss record this season playing a combination of high-caliber teams and some pushovers, but faced a formidable challenge Friday night against a Mountain Crest squad with a similar slate compiled against much tougher competition.
Turns out the Tigers are pretty good after all.
Although Ogden lost a competitive, 58-50 non-region contest to the Mustangs, there were a lot of bright spots moving forward.
“We wanted to mix in some games where we felt we could establish some things and work on us,” Ogden coach Trent Porter said. “And we definitely have teams on our schedule that (tested) us, like 3A Richfield and Juab, plus 5A Granger. Then tonight, 4A Mountain Crest.”
The test came early when the Mustangs (8-1) ran to a 17-7 lead after the first quarter.
“We were a little starstruck to start the game. We were prepared, but seeing bigger kids out there warming up … we’re young,” Porter said.
Ogden (7-2) gained some traction in the second quarter, outscoring Mountain Crest 19-13 to trail 30-26 at the break.
Mountain Crest led 25-12 in that second quarter but an 8-0 run by the Tigers closed the gap. Teegan Porter started the spurt with a 3-pointer, Stockton Marriott had a traditional three-point play with a steal and free throw and Bingham Call added a bucket inside to make it 25-20.
But five points by Mustang senior Kaden Hess down the stretch kept them ahead at the half. He finished with a game-high 19.
The Mustangs came out of the locker room hot and won the third period 16-10, again sporting a 10-point lead (46-36) at the end of three.
“We did some things that we wanted to; we did some things that cost us. There were a couple of runs early in the first and early in the third that set us back a bit,” Porter said.
From there it was catch up and Ogden got within 55-50 before Mountain Crest put the game away from the free-throw line in the closing seconds.
So Ogden lost the first and third quarters and won the second and fourth.
“We’ll try to get four quarters of us playing solid basketball,” Porter said. “That’s why we play the preseason, try to eliminate mistakes.”
Marriott led the Tigers with 17 points, including 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Niyol Hauet also scored double digits, netting 11 points.
“That’s a really good Mountain Crest team. We wanted to play them. They have a good tradition up there,” Porter said. “This was a good gauge game to see if we can play with a bigger school, bigger guys. Can we compete? That was promising.”