Knights refuse to falter

OREM — The top-ranked and undefeated Lone Peak Knights have had several chances this season to falter down the stretch in a close game, but they haven't done it once.

Playing a little shorthanded and using a cast of unlikely heroes, the Knights pulled another one out of the hat Wednesday in defeating the Mountain View Bruins 69-65 in an overtime thriller. With three starters fouling out and sophomore star Cory Chase sitting out with an illness, Lone Peak outscored the Bruins 13-9 in the four-minute overtime to sneak off with a road victory in both teams' Region 7 opener.

While junior Jackson Emery carried the Knights most of the game, reserve Justin Stoddard and center Brandon Knight made the big plays in the extra period. Stoddard, cold off the bench, drained a long 3-pointer from the corner to give Lone Peak a six-point lead. Knight scored the first four points of overtime and then calmly sank 3-of-4 foul shots in the final seconds to keep Mountain View at a safe distance.

"I thought we got contributions from a lot of unlikely sources," Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis said. "That's how we get over the hump in this game."

Lone Peak, with guards Russ Jackson and Emery attacking the basket from the get-go, took command of the game early. Emery was especially effective in helping Lone Peak to a 15-10 first-quarter lead. The slender junior swished home a long 3-pointer to open the game and then added a short leaner and a tip-in. He also fed the ball inside a couple of times to give his teammates easy layins.

Lone Peak didn't shoot especially well in the first quarter and missed several chip shots, but controlled the offensive boards and scored three early put-back baskets.

"We didn't execute or shoot the ball as well as we're capable of doing tonight, but we made up for it by getting the loose balls," Lewis said.

Mountain View coach Jason Young started the second period with a three-guard lineup that proved to be effective in helping the Bruins tie the game at 17. Reserve A. J. Millet played extremely well off the bench, dropping in a layup, nailing a 3-pointer and connecting on two free throws.

However, more offense from Emery, who sank two more 3-pointers late in the second quarter, helped the Knights maintain a 29-24 lead a halftime.