Knights struggle in win

OREM — It wasn't pretty, but the Lone Peak Knights held on to defeat the Mountain View Bruins 50-39 in girls basketball Tuesday.

It looked early as if it was going to be Lone Peak going away. The Knights scored the first eight points of the game and led by 11 at halftime.

Despite a lack of scoring by senior Caitlyn Sears, who finished the first half with only two points, the Knights were well on their way to victory over the 1-11 Bruins.

But the Bruins decided it wasn't going to be that easy.

After Lone Peak used the first four minutes of the third quarter to dash to a 41-20 lead, and the game appeared all but over, Mountain View came on strong. The Bruins managed to put in the final 11 points of the third period and the first four of the fourth. When the 15-point run was finished, they were within six points and the game was within reach.

"We got a lead and thought it was over, but we should have known better because Mountain View's not going to give up in their own gym," said Lone Peak coach Keith Flood, who is concerned with the way his team allowed the Bruins to get back into the game.

"We started taking quick attempts offensively. Our perimeter players

weren't penetrating. Our post was playing too soft, and we just weren't staying aggressive defensively," added Flood of his team's troubles when the No. 5-ranked team in 5A gave up 15 straight points.

But Lone Peak finally got it back together. Amanda Farish nailed a 3-pointer to end the Mountain View scoring run and added a rebound putback moments later to give the Knights a 46-37 edge.

"Farish had two nice buckets, and that relaxed us enough to win the game, I think," said Flood, who expects his team to be more physical inside and stay aggressive on offense when it plays Timpanogos on Friday night.

And Sears produced in the second half to finish with nine points.

"(In the first half) Caitlyn was not looking to attack and we weren't looking for her ... but they did a good job on her," Flood said of Mountain View's stifling defense.

Shannon Harmer led the Knights with 11 points, including two 3-pointers in the second quarter. Farish also put in 11 for Lone Peak, including her five key points in the fourth that brought Lone Peak's offense back to life.

Ryan Littlefield put in eight points for the Knights, while the Bruins were led by Chelsea Tressler with 11, Julia Ruplinger with nine and Jaimie Stroshine with eight.

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