This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Orem • After easily dominating Class 2A basketball in Utah the past two seasons, Wasatch Academy decided to test itself with an independent schedule.
That means playing in tournaments throughout the United States and battling some of the top ranked high school teams in the country.
After playing tournaments in Las Vegas and Atlanta, the Tigers came to Orem for the Free Tax USA Shootout that opened Thursday at Orem High School.
And, as evidenced by their 76-65 loss to a strong Overland team from Colorado in the opening game of the tournament, the Tigers are learning that life as an independent can be tough.
"We have an opportunity now to play higher level teams and that's a pretty good team," said Wasatch Academy coach Geno Morgan. "They are one of the top-ranked teams in Colorado. Life as an independent is not going to be easy. And I am trying to explain that to my guys."
Morgan said the Tigers stay motivated without the reward of a state or region title by playing in difficult tournaments and venues throughout the United States.
After playing in this tournament, which includes a 2 p.m. game Thursday against Denver East and another 8:30 p.m. contest against four-time defending Utah 5A champion Lone Peak Friday and a 4 p.m. game against Timpview Saturday, Wasatch Academy hits the road.
They have holiday tournaments scheduled in Chicago and Florida.
Wasatch Academy fell behind early Thursday against Overland, which was led by impressive 6-foot-9 junior De'Ron Davis, who hit 10 of 12 shots for 23 points and added eight rebounds and two assists.
The Tigers, led by 27 points from Koby McEwen and 15 from Shamiel Stevenson and 10 from Cody John, fought back to within six late in the game with a chance to cut the lead to four, but could not pull off the comeback.
"That's one we could have got," said Morgan, whose team is based at a Mt. Pleasant boarding school. "We got hit in the mouth early and we didn't respond. We tried to fight back the entire game. They had pretty good guards and their big kid is definitely a Division One player…We didn't perform offensively or defensively the way we normally do."
In other games, Orem beat Kahuku, Hawaii, 52-40 behind 15 points from Richard Harward and Will Clark; Timpview used a 26-point, seven-rebound effort from Gavin Baxter to beat Richland, Wa., 67-49, and Denver East b ested Jordan 52-41.
This is one of two good tournaments being played in Utah County this weekend, the other being the Utah Elite 8 event at American Fork High.
The Free Tax Shootout uses a round robin format while the Utah Elite 8 will be a traditional tournament with a championship crowned.
Twitter @tribtomwharton -
Friday's schedule
Free Tax USA Shootout
P At Orem High
2 p.m. • Denver East vs. Wasatch Academy
3:30 p.m. • Overland, Colo., vs. Timpview
5 p.m. • Jordan vs. Kahuku, Hawaii
7 p.m. • Richland, Wash., vs. Orem
8:30 • Wasatch Academy vs. Lone Peak