3A boys high school basketball: Cedar overwhelms cold-shooting Judge

WEST VALLEY CITY — The E Center can be a cruel, cruel building to shoot a basketball if you're having an off night.

Cedar found that out last year by shooting 26 percent in a quarterfinal loss. A year later, it turned the tables on the defending 3A state champs. The Redmen shot 58 percent Thursday afternoon at the E Center and capitalized on Judge's woeful 28 percent shooting in a dominating 62-41 victory in the 3A quarterfinals.

"To beat Judge, that's a great thing for us," said Cedar coach Craig Cardon. "Our program has come a long way in the past few years."

Cedar advances to tonight's semifinals at 9:10 against Logan, the same team that knocked Cardon's team out of last year's quarterfinals.

Cardon believes confidence and a bit of adversity had a lot to do with Thursday's win. Last year's quarterfinal appearance at the E Center was Cedar's first in the larger state tournament venue since 1997. For a team that had enjoyed a great regular season and won a region championship, it wasn't prepared mentally for a the larger setting and intensity of a playoff game.

"We had a pretty easy time of life last year. We didn't have any struggles. But this year was a struggle early and it took us a little bit to find out who we were and I think because of that we're much better," said Cardon. "We're tougher mentally and physically."

It showed in a big way against Judge.

With the game tied at 13-13 after the first quarter, Cedar went on a 23-5 run over the next quarter and a half to double up Judge at 36-18 with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter. Judge missed 16 straight shots during the decisive stretch, going nearly 13 minutes without making a basket.

"I think we came out with a lot of confidence and emotionally in it," said Cedar's Kai Eldredge. "Last year we had trouble in this gym."

Joel Einfeldt led Cedar with 18 points, while Eldredge chipped in with nine and Jase Bleazard added eight.

Acknowledging that Judge clearly had an off night shooting, Cedar's coach believes his team is partly responsible. Cardon said he recently read a statistical trend that said shooting percentages drop 25 to 30 percent when a player has a hand in their face. He relayed that information to his kids, who made a point of contesting as many Judge shots as possible.

In reality, it might not have mattered as Judge failed to knock down many of its wide-open jumpers. Dee Crandall was one of the few bright spots for the Bulldogs finishing with 12 points.

E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com