Bruins hold off pesky Payson

OREM — The Bruins held on for their third win in region play 49-45 against visiting Payson despite a fierce comeback by the Lions. Mountain View led by as many as 14 but couldn't manage to shake Payson in the second half. But juniors Megan Goodman and Christina Augustin helped the Bruins hang on by dominating the boards and scoring ten points a piece.

"Payson's defensive intensity really stepped up in the second half," Bruin coach Laura Romo said. "They're a great team and you have to give them credit. They played hard and aggressive."

Mountain View jumped out to a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter, but Payson answered with a 7-0 run of its own sparked by a Melissa Orton 3-point play. Junior Candace Rowley stole a pass on the Bruins' next possession for a fast break layup, and by the end of the half Payson was back in the game 27-20.

Payson came out cold in the third quarter, but luckily for the Lions, so did Mountain View. Neither team had a field goal in the first three minutes of the period, and the two teams combined for just 12 points.

But Mountain View managed to do just enough to hold off the charging Lions late in the fourth quarter. Payson scored 19 in the fourth including eight of ten free throws. Lion senior Amanda Skinner hit a big three with three minutes left to cut Mountain View's lead to five. A few plays later Karlie Mangelson, who finished with a game-high 12 points, got the Lions within three with a fast-break layup. But after a Brooke Hiatt 3-pointer fell short with 13 seconds left, Mountain View junior Ashley Williams hit a free throw to push the Bruin lead to four with just three seconds left on the clock.

Romo praised her team's effort on the glass where Mountain View out-rebounded Payson 22-14. When the Bruins couldn't hit from outside Patricia Madsen, Augustin and Goodman protected Mountain View's lead with second-chance points.

"That was what we thought the key was going in," Romo said. "Rebounding is pivotal. If you control the boards you always have a shot. You may not always win but you give yourself a chance. It was a really solid team effort."

Mountain View improves to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in Region 7 while Payson drops its seventh game in a row. The Lions are now 2-11 overall and have yet to win a game in region play.