West Valley City • Bountiful entertained dreams of playing for a state championship.
Sky View turned that dream into a nightmare.
On Thursday afternoon, Sky View jumped out to a 21-2 lead and held off a late Bountiful rush to win 62-48.
The Bobcats (19-4), the No. 2 team from Region 5, advance against Timpview in Friday’s semifinals of the 4A girls’ basketball state tournament.
Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Salt Lake Community College.
"We felt like they couldn’t handle the pressure very well," Sky View coach Kimber Hall said.
Hall couldn’t know his pressure would be the perfect tactic against the nervous Braves.
"We were on edge," Bountiful coach Joel Burton said. "It wasn’t anything Sky View did."
Burton’s assessment wasn’t entirely true. Bountiful (15-8), the No. 1 team out of Region 7, couldn’t do anything with Tara Goldman, who finished with 23 points.
The Sky View forward missed just two of 11 shots and grabbed nine rebounds. McKenley Hallstern, who also had seven assists, and Lindsey Jensen combined for 14 points.
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"We had more energy today than we’ve had in a long time," said Goldman, who dominated play in the key. "Since we knew Bountiful and played them before, we were pumped to play them."
Although Sky View had defeated Bountiful by 22 earlier in the season, Burton said the Braves were confident in advancing past the second round for the first time.
Bountiful could not find an offensive flow and converted 21 percent in the first half.
But Bountiful did not quit, pulling to within nine points twice early in the fourth quarter. Tianna Dougher and Kennedy Merrick kept battling, scoring 29 combined points for the Braves.
Sky View, however, had experienced losing large leads this season and had the answer.
"We trusted each other," Goldman said. "Our team knows how to stick to it, so we battled."
Twitter: @tribmarty
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