Cavemen get revenge, club Knights

ST. GEORGE — American Fork used the brother act of Rick and James Shoff to capture the championship of the Dixie State Great 8 Tournament Thursday night with a 53-42 win over previously undefeated Lone Peak at Burns Arena.

Rick Shoff, who was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player, scored 13 points in the victory and averaged 18.7 points a game over the three-day tournament.

He had staked his team to a 26-19 lead, but when he had to sit out due to foul trouble midway through the third period, twin brother James Shoff proved he had his brother's back. Rick went out with four minutes to go in the third quarter and Lone Peak immediately made a surge, cutting the lead to 28-25 with two minutes left in the quarter.

James then stepped up and made two of his team's next three baskets, including a 3-pointer, to push the lead out to 36-25. Lone Peak never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

"We want to make sure every possession is important," American Fork head coach Doug Meacham said. "Scores and stops. Stops and scores. The kids are starting to understand that."

The game was close early and Lone Peak, playing without two starters due to injury, actually led 13-9 midway through the second quarter. But American Fork's David Olsen fixed that in a hurry. The lefty buried back-to-back treys a minute apart to put the Cavemen up 15-13 with 2:22 to go in the first

half.

"I love this team and these guys," Meacham said. "Clayton Searle stepped up defensively in the tournament and Olsen made some big plays."

The Knights hung in there behind the play of Justin Stoddard and Matt Bahr and were within 19-17 in the last minute of the half. Olsen hit a pair of free throws and Brenan Davis knocked a freebie down to push it to 22-17 at the break.

A 6-2 start to the second half put the Cavemen ahead by nine. And the Shoff brothers helped them cruise the rest of the way. Olsen led the 4-3 Cavemen with 17 points. Searle was held to six points, but was named to the all-tourney team for his work earlier.

The Knights, 8-1, were led by Stoddard's 17 points. Bahr added 12 and was on the all-tourney team.

Lone Peak was playing without starters Cory Chase (broken foot) and Jackson Emery (thumb ligaments, back spasms). Other all-tourney performers were Brayden Bell of Brighton, Coby Leavitt of Snow Canyon and Nate Clements of Pine View.