High school boys basketball: Collinsworth has 'sick' game

PROVO — Provo junior Kyle Collinsworth started to feel really sick just after lunchtime on Tuesday afternoon, but the talented underclassman said nary a word to coach Craig Drury.

Why? It was pretty simple.

"I didn't say anything because I wasn't going to let him keep me out," said Collinsworth, nodding in the direction of his coach.

Drury noticed just before tip-off Tuesday evening against Pleasant Grove that his junior guard looked sick, but as the evening unfolded, the veteran coach was awfully thankful for Collinsworth's presence on the court.

On the heels of a 26-point performance in a huge win over Lone Peak and reigning Mr. Basketball Tyler Haws last Friday, Collinsworth followed that game up with another clutch performance against another quality 5A opponent Tuesday.

Despite playing with a fever, Collinsworth finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and five steals and made play after play in the second half on both ends of the court to lead top-ranked Provo to a 57-49 win over No. 5 Pleasant Grove.

"My goodness," Drury said of his star junior. "He's got a fever out there. I probably shouldn't have even (let him play) ... He was sick out there. He wouldn't admit it, but he's huddled over in the corner with towels around him and blankets around him."

Each time he stepped on the court, however, he shrugged off the effects of his fever and made numerous big plays.

With BYU-signee Brandon Davies saddled with foul trouble for most of the third quarter, Collinsworth took his team on his back and helped Provo maintain a slender lead over Pleasant Grove throughout the second half.

A Collinsworth free throw with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter gave Provo a 49-40 lead, and while the Vikings responded with back-to-back buckets via C.J. Wilcox just after that point, Provo kept its composure down the stretch to collect the win despite shooting just 11 of 24 from the free-throw line.

Wilcox, who's signed with the University of Washington, led all scorers with 26 points, while LeSeason Wilcox added 13 for the Vikings.

On the other hand, Davies had 16 points and Beau Hunter added nine to complement Collinsworth's 23.

In the end, that proved to be enough for the Bulldogs to avenge a preseason loss to Pleasant Grove last year. Provo also upended Lone Peak a season ago, only to get blown out by Pleasant Grove in its next game.

Collinsworth made sure that didn't happen this time around.

"The Lone Peak game was a big environment, and it got us ready for this environment," said Collinsworth. "And we just didn't want to lay an egg like we did last year."

The Bulldogs most certainly didn't, and now they'll look to extend their perfect 4-0 start when they host Payson on Friday. Pleasant Grove, meanwhile, travels to Spanish Fork that same day.

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