5A boys basketball quarterfinal preview: Bingham quietly in quarters, again

OGDEN — In many ways, Bingham can be best described as the forgotten top seed in this year's 5A boys basketball tournament.

The Miners did not enjoy the same degree of hype surrounding the other three No. 1 seeds — Davis, Brighton and Lone Peak. Bingham wasn't even considered a favorite within its own region after West Jordan ripped off a 12-game winning streak.

But here, in the last week of February, the Miners are again the Region 3 champions. And once again, they are doing what they do best in the postseason.

Winning games by dominating teams with suffocating defense.

Bingham might not be the talk of the town yet, but the Miners are at least inserting themselves in the state title conversation after thoroughly dominating Weber for a 46-35 victory at the Dee Events Center on Monday night.

Everything the team has accomplished so far feels sweeter than it would have in a typical season after losing one-time leading scorer Kyle Harrison to a broken foot.

"It feels great just to come back from our adversity," sophomore center Ben Clifford said.

Clifford did his part in helping the team overcome a sluggish night on offense by dominating on both ends of the court. He finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots — easily leading both teams in all three categories.

As a whole, Bingham overwhelmed the Weber offense. The Miners allowed Weber to score only six points through the first quarter and a half of the second half.

Bingham coach Mark Dubach hopes that kind of defense can be Bingham's calling card throughout the tournament.

"I feel like we know what we're going to accomplish against whoever we play," Dubach said. "I don't know if it will work or not, but I know what we're going to try."

Clearfield should test Bingham's defensive prowess.

Clifford, only a sophomore, will get all he can handle down in the post going against seniors Nick Thompson and Cameron Evans.

The duo gave Pleasant Grove more than it could handle in the first round.

Thompson and Evans easily controlled things around the basket in the Falcons 52-47 upset victory over the Vikings. Evans scored 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Thompson added 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. It was a typical solid performance from a pair of seniors who routinely come up with them.