High school girls basketball: No. 2 Riverton rolls past Lone Peak

RIVERTON — The Silverwolves hear the hype. They're just trying not to let other people's expectations spoil their fun.

"We're just really excited to be playing basketball again," said senior Alle Finch after second-ranked Riverton defeated fifth-ranked Lone Peak 56-34.

Riverton was voted No. 2 in the state in preseason polls, but they said they don't feel any more pressure than usual.

"American Fork is the team to beat," said Riverton coach Ron Ence of the state's top-ranked 5A team. "All of that, the tournament, it's such a long way down the road. We're really (abiding by) the oldest cliche in the book. We really are just trying to take it one game at a time."

Riverton's defense and efficient offense was just too overwhelming for a young, but very talented Knight squad.

"Riverton is a great team," said Lone Peak coach Keith Flood. "They have that senior experience, and that's what showed tonight. They're very aggressive, very patient, and they play very tough defense."

Despite the game being Lone Peak's first loss, the coach said it was exactly what his team needed at this point in the season.

"This is what we need being a young team," Flood said. "We'll learn and grow from this. We had some spurts where we played like we needed to ... but we need to run our half court offense better."

Sophomore forward Whitney Johnson led the Knights with 17 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Megan Smith and sophomore guard/forward Marquelle Funk both played well for Lone Peak.

The Silverwolves were led by senior center Chelsea Sorensen, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Dani Lockhart, who added 14 points, and senior guard Alle Finch, who scored 13 points, but was even more effective defensively.

Ence said his team was just happy to earn a win against a talented team.

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