Knights rout Vikings for region title

HIGHLAND — It's always a classic battle whenever Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove meet up on the basketball court.

Well, maybe not always.

But for the past few years, at least, some of the most exciting and hotly contested boys basketball games have occurred when the Knights and Vikings faced off. There's good reason why it's always the toughest seat to get in Utah County.

However, Friday night's rematch on Lone Peak's gym fits more into the category of "stunner" than "thrilling." Lone Peak's 78-44 win, an impressive victory that gives the Knights back-to-back Region 4 titles, was a blowout all the way. It was a game that clearly qualifies for the ever-popular "this game's over chant" in the first quarter. Even both coaches agree.

"I think they missed a few shots early and they didn't get off to the start they did last time, and it just kind of snowballed a little bit once they got down," Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis said.

Pleasant Grove coach Randy McAllister said his team took bad shots from the opening tip, got out of its game plan and played desperate the rest of the way.

"Against a team like Lone Peak, which is such a different breed of team that you don't ever see in high school with that kind of size, you have to be very patient and very poised all the time ... we lost our poise from the opening tip until about six minutes into the game and never recovered," McAllister said.

Even though the Knights didn't exactly come out on fire, they did score the game's first eight points. But more importantly they didn't give up a field goal until C. J. Wilcox popped in a short jumper with 2:12 left in the first period.

Actually, the Vikings finished the opening quarter on back-to-back baskets by Adam Nielson to cut Lone Peak's lead to 10-6. But the Knights exploded in the second with a 19-4 run and finished the first half leading 34-15. A 10-2 run to start the third put Lone Peak ahead 44-17. With just over five minutes remaining in the third period, the Vikings — a team that normally can light up the scoreboard with the best of them — had only eight field goals.

"You have to stay with Lone Peak if you want to beat Lone Peak. You have to get them down early," McAllister said.