TAYLORSVILLE — Box Elder's Mandy Munns found her game in the second half and poured in 15 points to lead the Bees to a 48-41 victory over Highland in opening-round play of the 4A girls basketball tournament.

"I just wasn't in the flow in the first half," she said. "We mixed up the plays in the second half, and I finally got in sync."

Said Bees coach Kris Harding, "We just needed to keep our composure."

Box Elder entered the game as the favorite and took the opening tip and zoomed out to a 6-1 lead. But the Rams weren't going to lie down. Just as quickly, Highland's Sia Lelea banged in four consecutive baskets, the Rams took a 9-7 lead and the tussle was on.

Eventually the Bees converted 10 of 16 fourth-quarter free throws to seal the win, but this game was no cakewalk for Box Elder.

At the end of the first quarter Highland was up 11-8 with Lelea leading the way. She tallied nine of the Rams' 11 points in the quarter.

To begin the second quarter, both teams were plagued by miscues and errors until the Bees' Bricki Asay nailed a trey to tie the score at 11 two and a half minutes in.

At the half Highland still clung to a one-point margin at 17-16. It looked like all the Bees would have to do is contain Lelea to get the win. But in the second half, Ami White and Losa Faka'osi stepped up for the Rams and kept the pressure on the Bees.

Both teams went toe-to-toe exchanging one-point leads until finally Box Elder stretched the lead to three. Immediately Faka'osi countered with a three-point play the old-fashioned way and the score was tied again. The third quarter ended with the Bees up by one, 32-31.

Munns took over to begin the fourth, and compounding problems for the Rams, Faka'osi fouled out. This seemed to take the wind out of Highland's sails.

The Bees then looked like they were playing volleyball over the rim.

Celeste Wouden hit the magic double-double, pulling down 14 rebounds to go along with 14 points.

The Rams' Lelea led all scorers with 19 points.