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Kearns • In the course of a run at a championship, a team such as top-ranked Bountiful knows it will run into a hot team in a hostile environment that will test it.
And that's what happened to the Braves Friday night, but they got the key stops and big baskets in the final quarter to take a 78-72 victory over a fast-improving Kearns team.
Bountiful needed almost every one of star Zac Seljaas' 29 points to hold off the Cougars in perhaps the best game played this season in Region 6.
"It was a lot of a test, not just a little bit and we knew it coming in here," said veteran Brave coach Mike Maxwell, whose talented team looks like the one to beat in Class 4A as the state tournament approaches. "I told these guys that this is one you have to win if you are going to win region because this is a good team."
The quick and athletic Cougars hung around until the final seconds, trading baskets, dunks and 3-pointers in a thrilling third quarter.
Kearns, led by Buay Kaujian's 23 points and 17 from Bushmen Ebet and Tayler Martinez, kept the game within three points much of the fourth quarter.
But Seljaas scored eight points in the final quarter and Jeff Pollard, who finished with 19 points, and Austin Parkinson, who had 18, hit some key free throws in the final minute to keep Kearns from the upset.
"It was a tough one, but we pulled it out," said Seljaas. "Coach wanted us to get me the ball and make a good decision. I just found an opening and thought I might as well take it."
Bountiful beat Kearns 63-48 earlier in the season but Seljaas felt like the Cougars were a different team.
"They are a lot more athletic and they played a lot more as a team," he said.
Maxwell had nothing but praise for Seljaas.
"Give it to Zac and get out of the way. That's the offense," smiled Maxwell. "The team played pretty good. They challenged us and we found a way. It was not just Zac. As much as I joke about that, it's the team."
Bountiful, which is the defending 4A champion, plays with a self-confidence that makes the Braves look like they are ready for a repeat.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Bountiful 78, Kearns 72
R Improving Kearns keeps the game close but Bountiful is too strong and confident in the end, keeping control of Region 6.
• Zach Seljaas scores 29 for Bountiful, with some big fourth quarter buckets.
• Buay Kaujian scores 23 and plays an all-around great game for Kearns.