This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Draper • The Corner Canyon student section rushed the court. Technically, the No. 2 Chargers' 62-59 victory against top-ranked Timpview was an upset.
It probably didn't deserve that type of reaction, but the third-year program can be excused. The team is headed to the postseason for the first time, and Tuesday's win is arguably the biggest in program history.
The loss snapped Timpview's 15-game winning streak dating to mid-December. The Thunderbirds (17-5, 9-1) maintain a one-game lead in Region 7 over Corner Canyon, which improved to 18-4 and 9-2 in league play.
"It's just exciting and fun," Corner Canyon guard Braxton Coon said of the playoff-like feel. "I love it."
Corner Canyon dominated the first quarter, doubling up Timpview's score, 14-7, with Coon's leaner off the glass, but the Thunderbirds' hot shooting from the perimeter keep the deficit within reason.
The opening eight minutes mirrored the first meeting, which Timpview won 76-69 in Provo, when the Chargers built an early lead only to allow the 'Birds to embark on a 10-0 run in the second. This time, it was Corner Canyon that enjoyed the major swing after launching a 15-3 run to kick-start the second, ballooning its advantage to 35-18.
For the majority of the sequence, Timpview's leading scorer, Gavin Baxter, sat on the bench with one foul. It was the first of several unusual moves by the Thunderbirds.
The second was the handling of Jordan Sagers in the offense. In the first meeting, Sagers made six 3-pointers and finished with 19 points, yet he was virtually invisible for the first half on Tuesday. When he was emphasized in the third quarter for his well-known shooting ability — as evident with three quick 3s — it spread the Corner Canyon defense thin, and Timpview began to mount its comeback.
"We kind of fell asleep mentally and let their shooters get hot," Coon said.
Timpview finally overcame the 17-point hole with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter for a 56-52 lead. It was another example of Corner Canyon's inconsistencies on the offensive end when it goes long periods without scoring. The Chargers' first bucket in the fourth quarter — a 3-pointer by Brayden Johnson — was at the 2:24 juncture.
"We had it going for a little bit," said Chargers coach Tony Cannon," but it's kind of hard to sustain against a team as good as Timpview. I was proud that when the chips were down, the players were able to come through and grind it out at the end."
Johnson's 3 was the first of nine straight points, however, as Coon, who Cannon referred to as the "heart and soul of our team" and "one of the smartest kids I've ever coached," converted four straight at the line before Baxter buried a 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left.
Coon made 1-of-2 on the ensuing trip, allowing Baxter to attempt an off-balance 3-pointer, which fell short.
"It was the attack," Cannon said of the difference in the second meeting. "The first time we played tentative. We were there to watch the show. This time, we were there to be the show."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Storylines
R No. 2 Corner Canyon, playing at home, snaps top-ranked Timpview's 15-game winning streak.
• The Chargers build a 17-point lead and hold on in the fourth quarter.
• After falling behind by four points, the Chargers reel off nine straight in the fourth quarter.