On senior night, Timpview girls blow out Payson

PROVO — In the topsy-turvy world of Region 7 girls basketball, at least one team took care of business the way it was supposed to Friday night as Timpview defeated Payson 48-29.

That finish and those of the other two Friday games in Region 7 leave a lot of unanswered questions for the league's final games of the season next Tuesday.

When the T-Birds finished their blowout of the Lions, they assumed their final game of the season would be relatively meaningless minus the simple necessity of defeating their longtime rival Provo and the need to keep playing strong heading into the state tournament. But soon afterward they got news that the next game just might mean a little bit more.

The Orem Tigers secured at least a share of the region title last Tuesday when they narrowly defeated Provo, and they were the heavy favorites going into tonight's contest with last-place Lehi. But the Pioneers stunned the Tigers, who were once again without starter Natasha Martin, and threw things into disarray.

Now the Timpview Thunderbirds, who are 7-2 in region play, have a chance to snag their own share of the league title if they can win on Tuesday and Orem, which is now 8-1, loses to Springville.

A shared title could mean the two teams would switch places come the state tournament, giving the region's No. 1 seed a slightly easier road.

Payson now has a couple of its own problems to worry about. As both Lehi and Springville now stand at 2-7 and the Lions have fallen to 3-6, a scenario could develop that would land the three teams in a three-way playoff to reach the tournament.

Five teams from the region will make the state playoffs, meaning two of these three teams will advance, but the huge question mark now is which two.

Payson must play Lehi in its final game of the season. If the Pioneers win, the two teams would be tied for fourth. If Springville finds a way to knock off Orem, there would be a three-way tie and some sorting out to do late next week.

This one, though, was about winning one for the seniors on Timpview's senior night.

"They played their hearts out. This was an emotional game today. The seniors wanted to go out with a win," said Timpview coach Kawika Akina of the six seniors on his squad. The team got exactly what it wanted as Payson came out flat and stayed that way through the entire contest.

Timpview's stingy defense held the Lions to less than double digits in each quarter, and Payson never really put up much of a fight.

"We came out with effort and energy. And we played hard in the second half. Last time we played Payson we had a second-half lull," said Akina, whose team went into halftime with a 25-13 lead and extended it in each quarter.

Kelden Wright started the team off with eight first-quarter points and finished with 10. Karlee Weight added 10 of her own, and Gabrielle Pinegar finished with eight, seven of which came in the second quarter. Jane Anne Jackson had a solid game with seven.

Karlie Mangelson was Payson's leading scorer with 11, and Allie Lunt followed with eight.

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