Bengals, Lancers meet for title

TAYLORSVILLE — Anybody who plays the defending 5A state champion Bengals knows how dangerous point guard Vanessa Hutson is, and that without containing her there is no hope of beating Brighton.

But in Friday's 61-53 semifinal win, the Fremont Silver Wolves were asking, "Marissa who?"

"I thought (Vandersteen) killed us more than anyone," said Fremont coach Larry Flinders after losing to the same team they did last year in the semifinals. "She dominated the game on the boards . . . I didn't really expect her to come out and scarf everything up."

Brighton came out with all of the offensive fire, while Fremont was very flat. The Bengals led 13-6 after the first quarter, which is when Fremont initiated a full-court press that seemed to spark its offense. Both teams played extremely physical and nearly all post players on the floor were in foul trouble, except Vandersteen.

During the regular season it's been Vandersteen's partner down low, Danielle Newell, who's been the team's power in the paint.

So when she fouled out with 5:26 to play in the team's semifinal game against Fremont, her coach was understandably concerned.

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"I was worried, but Maya Gross has been very tough defensively for us," said Jim Gresh after the Bengals held off a second-half comeback by the Silver Wolves. "She is my most physical player. I didn't tell her not to foul, because when I do she seems to foul more."

It wasn't Gross, however, who took over Newell's responsibilities offensively or in rebounding. It was junior forward Marissa Vandersteen, who finished with a double-double and was the only post player on either team not in foul trouble.

"We watched tape of last year's games and all of a sudden in the tournament she turns it on," Gresh said. "In the tournament it's Marissa time."

Vandersteen finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds and was key in holding off a frantic comeback by the fourth-ranked Silver Wolves because of her defensive presence and dominance on the boards.