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Richfield • A year ago, Piute beat Bryce Valley three times in the regular season only to lose to the Mustangs in the state tournament.
Facing the same situation this year, the Thunderbirds took no chances as they captured a 56-38 victory over Bryce Valley on Friday night at the Sevier Valley Center.
The win gave Piute a chance to play for the 1A girls' state title Saturday at 5 p.m. against powerful Panguitch. The unbeaten and top-ranked Bobcats, 55-22 winners over Valley in the semifinal nightcap, have beaten Piute three times this season, by margins of 34, 22 and 21 points.
"That was our fourth time [playing Bryce Valley]," said Piute coach Wade Westwood. "It's definitely hard. Tyson [Brinkerhoff] is a great coach and he knows all our plays. We tried to put in a few new plays and it was tough."
Westwood had to be concerned when Bryce Valley took an early 11-5 lead.
But, with Shaylee Gleave in the lineup, the Mustangs coach had nothing to worry about.
She scored all of her game-high 16 points in the first half when the game was somewhat close.
"I just decided it was time to get going," Gleave said of the late-first-quarter, early-second-quarter rally that gave Piute the lead for good. "The team did good helping me get going."
Westwood, who also got 11 points from Paige Jessen to more than offset 13 points from Bryce Valley's Samantha Chynoweth, praised Gleave.
"She does a really good job attacking the basket and makes good passes," he said.
Gleave seemed excited to get a fourth shot at powerful Panguitch.
"I'm excited for tomorrow," she said. "We are working on stuff and we've been working hard. We'll come out tomorrow."
Westwood said Piute will need to rebound well and force Panguitch to take shots they don't want to take.
"We know we have our hands full," he said.
Watching Panguitch dismantle Valley in Friday's late game, few would argue that statement.
The Buffaloes stayed with Panguitch for about six minutes. But Panguitch began ball-hawking and getting quick, easy baskets. The Bobcats went on a 24-0 run, ending all doubt as to the outcome.
Panguitch could probably compete well with much larger schools. The Bobcats have size in Darri Frandsen, Taylor Bennett and Chesney Campbell. They have quickness in Whitney Orton and Catania Holman. And they are very unselfish. Frandsen had 14, Holman 12 and Campbell 10 on Friday.
It's difficult to see how this team won't win its ninth title since 1999. And the scary thing is, Panguitch only has two seniors.
"Maybe tonight wasn't our overall best offensive night, but again it comes down to defense when you get in the tournament," said veteran Panguitch coach Curtis Barney. "We preached that all year long. Sometimes you can not shoot so well, but you can always play good defense."
He said having to play Piute a fourth time this season is a concern.
"It is a little bit scary," he said. "If you plan a team long enough, eventually they are going to get that one. We just hope it's not this year."
Region 20 put four teams in the semifinals, a fact Barney said is a tribute to the hard work all the coaches in the league put in during the offseason.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Class 1A girls' championship
P Piute vs. Panguitch
At Sevier Valley Center (Richfield)
Tipoff • Saturday, 5 p.m. —
Storylines
R Unbeaten Panguitch will try to win ninth title since 1999 and beat Piute for the fourth time this season in Saturday's title game.
• Darri Frandsen, Catania Holman and Chesney Campbell score in double figures as Panguitch blasts Valley.
• Shaylee Gleave leads Piute past Bryce Valley and into title game.