5A boys high school basketball: Haws does it all in easy win over Riverton

WEST VALLEY CITY — Tyler Haws has heard it all.

The Lone Peak senior has been called names, taunted, tormented and most especially insulted by opposing crowds since he started dominating basketball games. So when the Riverton crowd referred to him as "Kobe" in Lone Peak's 55-38 semifinal win Wednesday, he just smiled.

"I think it's funny," said the BYU-bound senior who led his team with 24 points and 10 rebounds. "It comes with the game. I just laugh it off."

Haws can do that because the Knights secured another berth into the 5A semifinals with a serious defensive effort.

"Four quarters of defense and one quarter of offense," said Lewis, referring to the quick start Lone Peak got offensively in the first quarter. The Knights led 23-10 at the end of the first quarter and Haws scored 10 points in that first quarter. Senior Nate Austin added another 10 to start the game and the center finished with 22 points and eight rebounds.

While defenses are able to key on Haws and Austin, Lewis said teams would be making a mistake to overlook the rest of the Knights' line-up.

"That's kind of been the difference in our team in the second half of the season," said Lewis. "Those guys are very capable."

Senior Dillon Smith only had three points, but it was the fact that he hit a 3-pointer shot midway through the third as Riverton was making a run at the top-ranked Knights.

"Everything we do is a team effort," said Austin, who went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the critical final minutes. "During the summer I worked hard on my free throws. I wanted to be the guy on the line when the game was being decided."

Austin said the Knights might have started to relax a bit offensively, but agreed with his coach that the team's defense kept them in control of the game.

"I think we're a little underrated as a team defensively," said Haws. "We play hard-nosed defense."

Senior forward Scott Friel led the Silverwolves with 16 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Thomas added six points and nine rebounds, while Sean Nielson added seven points.

One big difference was in the teams shooting percentages. While Lone Peak shot 41.9 percent from the field, Riverton managed just 26.5 percent from the field. The Knights also earned seven steals, while Riverton had just three and nine turnovers.

Both coach and players are ecstatic to be headed back to the semifinal round of play where they will take on Bingham at 7:15 p.m. Friday at the E Center.

"It's awesome ... Winning never gets old in the state tournament," said Haws with a grin. "It's just difference as a senior. The pressure is still the same, but I just go out and play hard."

Lewis said the two teams may play very different styles of basketball, but it should mean an exciting game.

"It's the semifinals and it's going to be tough," he said. "I don't take anything for granted."

And as for the heckling, Haws expects that will persist.

"I'm used to it," he said. "I just use it as motivation."

E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com