By Ben Raskin

| Special to The Tribune

Ogden • It’s not just doing the little things that gave Bear River the 66-61 victory over Judge Memorial.

It’s the Wade Miller and Co. commitment to doing the dirty work.

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In a roller coaster of 3A state quarterfinal, Bear River relied on Miller’s scoring prowess and his supporting role players. Miller set the tempo with 15 points in the first quarter and finished with 29.

But Miller credited teammates Kody King, Stetson Summers and Austin Miller for clearing the way by setting screens and creating turnover.

"I give it all to them. They’re the ones doing the dirty work," Wade Miller said. "This is Stetson’s game. He’s going to get physical with you — give you key rebounds and points."

Judge ran set plays on offense while Kaden Ellis and Tanner Riley went to work holding the Bears to 10 points in the quarter to send the teams to the locker room tied at 30-30 at the half. The Bears seized the momentum on 3-pointers by Austin Miller and Garrett Fronk.

"As a leader on this team, sometimes maybe your shot won’t fall, but your intensity level and your ability to do the dirty work — getting into the paint, getting after rebounds — you can’t have those things go to pass," Wade Miller said. "We never let up."

Bear River felt at ease during the fourth quarter, when the teams jockeyed for the lead.

"We’ve been in this place before," said Bear River coach Kasey Winters, whose team played a three-overtime game against Ogden earlier this season. "We know the feeling. We are willing to make changes and hopefully keep ourselves out of those situations."

Wade Miller drained two 3-pointers and Kyle Zundel made his last free throws to secure the victory.

Bear River faces Snow Canyon in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal at the Dee Event Center.

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