With its game against Ogden tied 2-2, Judge scored nine points in a minute and a half to take an 11-2 lead. Not a bad way to start off a 78-54 win over the Tigers in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament.
The Bulldogs came at the Tigers mainly from one angle in the first quarter as Noel Hollingsworth scored 12 of his 24 points and Judge took a commanding 23-12 lead.
"We've done that quite often this year," Judge coach Jim Yerkovich said. "It's something we try to do. We try to play as quickly as we can at the start of the game to get off to a fast start."
There wasn't much slowing down Saturday night.
While Hollingsworth cooled down, other Bulldogs found ways to step up to carry the team.
In the second quarter, it was point guard Stallon Saldivar who scored eight points as Judge built a 39-22 halftime lead. Saldivar finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
And in the third quarter it was Oliver Hughes who found his shooting touch, hitting a pair of threes and a couple of free throws en route to his 15 points.
Want to shut down Judge? Pick your poison.
"Most of the kids have roles," Yerkovich said. "It's something we try to do is define roles. But they've played better than I thought we would."
That's very bad news for the rest of Class 3A.
jpatrick@sltrib.com
Playoffs
Saturday, first round
Judge Memorial 78, Ogden 54
Logan 67, Union 63
Uintah 63, North Sanpete 60
Bear River 63, Park City 43
Canyon View 49, Juan Diego 35
Cedar City 59, Emery 35
Wasatch 79, Morgan 63
Delta 63, Grantsville 56, OT
Quarterfinals
Thursday, E Center
Wasatch vs. Delta, 9:30 a.m.
Cedar City vs. Logan, 11:10 a.m.
Canyon View vs. Bear River, 12:50 p.m.
Judge vs. Uintah, 2:30 p.m.
