Boys basketball playoffs: Ben Lomond sprints past Providence Hall, into 2nd round
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- Ben Lomond High’s Zeb Whetton, left, drives the baseline during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Jaerdan Van Beekum (30) rises to shoot during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Bryan Campos (0) eyes the paint during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Issac Stephens (34) looks to score in the paint during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Korver Van Beekum fires up a jump shot during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Makale Aytch drives the lane during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Zeb Whetton, left, shoots a jumper during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Jaerdan Van Beekum, right, operates against the defense of Providence Hall’s Ashton Melendez (3) during a 3A first-round playoff game on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Korver Van Beekum, left, puts the ball on the deck for a drive during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High boys basketball coach Tanoka Beard looks up at the scoreboard during a timeout in a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond High’s Bryan Campos, right, pushes up a shot during a 3A first-round playoff game against Providence Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Ogden.
OGDEN — Ben Lomond senior guard Jaerdan Van Beekum was feeling it when he launched a fall-away, 3-point shot from well beyond the arc and landed on his butt as the ball splashed through the net.
That was the kind of night it was for Ben Lomond in its 3A first-round boys basketball playoff game Wednesday against Providence Hall.
The No. 15 Scots pieced together massive second and third quarters, advancing to the second round with a dominant, 64-34 victory over the No. 18 Patriots.
“I got the offensive rebound and I heard people yelling ‘shoot’ and I just turned and shot it with confidence and it went in. The kid came in my landing space and I fell on the ground,” Van Beekum said. “Be confident no matter where you shoot it from.”
Ben Lomond (6-18) led 29-19 at the break and pasted Providence Hall (4-18) by 16 points in the third quarter.
“We talked about not letting them back in the game, like in the first half when they made a few shots,” Van Beekum said. “Coach (Tanoka Beard) said come out and hit an ant with a hammer; punch them first and end it in the third quarter. That’s what we came out and did.”
With a 20-4 third period, the Scots were clicking on both sides of the ball.
“We always talk about defense. We know we can score on offense. That’s what we focused on tonight, making sure we beat them on the defensive end and know our shots would come on offense,” Van Beekum said.
Van Beekum scored 14 points in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 23, including a pair of 3-pointers.
“Just staying positive and focused. My teammates know my spots and if I can get to them, I trust the ball is going to come,” Van Beekum said. “Hit the shot and take advantage of it when it gets there.”
Things looked a little shaky early as the home team trailed 12-8 with 1:54 left in the first quarter, before going on a 9-0 run that carried into the second stanza.
“We started to move the ball better and play as a team. Really running that motion offense, getting everyone open and everyone shots,” Ben Lomond junior forward Zeb Whetton said. “We were trying to figure out plays and once we got the offense going, we got baskets inside.”
Whetton had two baskets in the paint and a steal in a second quarter where he scored six of his eight total points.
“I was running straight to the rim and the guards were hitting me inside for easy layups,” Whetton said.
Ben Lomond outscored Providence Hall 17-7 in the second quarter, sprinting from a 12-all tie after one.
After an 0-10 region slate, the Scots now have confidence heading into a second-round matchup against No. 2 Canyon View on Saturday in Cedar City.
“Coach said it’s a new season; go out and act like it. Go play our hardest,” Whetton said.
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