4A girls high school basketball: Bruins back in title game after beating Warriors

TAYLORSVILLE — The Bruins are officially back. The Mountain View team has returned to the state championship game for the first time since 2004, and they're looking to build a new dynasty, or at least grab the first title en route to every high school's ultimate goal.

Though many other people in the state may be of the opinion that the state championship was decided in the Sky View versus Springville matchup played after the Bruins defeated Snow Canyon 61-47, the Bruins beg to differ.

"They've gotta come through us. I think we're one of the best defensive 4A teams in the state, and I think we can stop people. The state champion has to come through us," said Mountain View coach Andrew Blanchard, who is using other people's lack of faith in his program as a tool to fire his girls up in the locker room.

And the Bruins' eight seniors were able to stop Snow Canyon in every quarter except the fourth when the two teams each hit 19 points.

"Our focus is on winning all four quarters," said Blanchard, whose team is renowned for it's slow starts.

His team only led 8-7 after the first, but the Bruins want to wear the other team down in the long run, which they seemed to do with Snow Canyon.

"We also changed our defense (coming into the third quarter), and that helped us. We picked up the intensity. We're a good second half team," said Blanchard, who acknowledges that his team will have to come out with a stronger opening quarter in the championship game.

"We've had a problem with that all season," said senior Anjie Lines about the team's first quarter difficulties. "We're just going to have to get after it in workouts, work hard, blast music in the locker room and get ready," she added about the need to come out with intensity from the top.

Lines put up an Andrei Kirilenko-type line with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in her attempt to fill up the score sheet.

But she isn't the only versatile player on the Mountain View team as the Bruins are known for their balance.

"When they start to pick 4A all-stars, I don't know who they'll pick from our team, we have so many solid players. We just hit the open person and make plays. We aren't focused on getting any one person the ball. If you're going to beat us, you have to beat all eight seniors," said Blanchard. And that sentiment was certainly true in the semifinal game against Snow Canyon.

In addition to Lines' impressive line, three other Bruins scored in double figures, led by JJ Petit's 13. Megan goodman added 12 on 5-12 shooting with one trey, Chelsea Kocherhans added 10 points, and Aja Domingo finished with eight assists and three steals.