5A girls basketball semifinal: Skyline stymies Riverton rally to advance to 5A title game

TAYLORSVILLE — Neither Skyline forward Dani Peterson nor coach Deb Bennett can remember what was said in the timeout, but the fact that it came after Riverton had reeled off eight-straight points was the key.

"When momentum changes, that's hard," said Peterson, who helped the Eagles to their third-straight 5A girls state championship game with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the semifinal win over Riverton 48-42 Friday night. "When Deb called that timeout, that really helped."

When asked what her coach said to her that calmed and inspired her, she couldn't remember.

"It was more a chance for me and Jenteal to talk and we just said, 'We need to take better care of the ball. This is it if we lose. There is no tomorrow,"' Peterson said.

Bennett said she called the timeout to regroup.

"I don't even know what I said. It was just the break. I did tell them to stay calm, to take care of the ball and to work for good shots," she said.

Despite Skyline jumping out to a 14-8 lead in the first half, the Silverwolves played right with the Eagles most of the game. Skyline took a six-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Silverwolves came out in the third quarter on fire.

They scored eight points in two minutes and held Skyline to just four points in the third quarter.

"Riverton just came out with a great plan," Bennett said. "I don't think we came out with enough intensity, but they were rolling. I thought they stepped it up and looked to attach more."

Added Peterson, "I don't think we expected that pressure."

The Silverwolves are a deep team and they could go big in the post or small and quick. Bennett said that made adjustments a constant concern.

"They have different looks and we had to keep adjusting, but I thought we countered it really well most of the time," she said.

Peterson said the free throws made by all of the Eagles in the game's final minutes "were huge." The Eagles only made three field goals in the second half with 18 of their second-half points coming from the foul line.

Senior guard Jenteal Jackson said dealing with the intense defensive pressure means focusing on the smallest details.

"We definitely have to try to breath," said Jenteal Jackson, who finished with 17 points and five assists. "You certainly can't focus on how much is on the line."