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Taylorsville • In some respects, Sky View is the mystery team of the Class 5A girls' basketball tournament.
The school is located in Smithfield, drawing from an area about as far north in Utah as you can go. Until this year, the Bobcats played in 4A, where they won the title this year.
But, after destroying Lone Peak 72-37 Tuesday in its first Class 5A tournament appearance, Sky View is not only not a mystery but could very well be the team to beat.
The third-ranked Bobcats, rallying behind 20 points from Jamie Nielson and 19 from Kaylee Carlsen, did just about everything right.
The only Knight that had any kind of a game at all was Emily Clark, who scored 16 points.
Sky View went on an 18-2 run near the mid-point of the first quarter and the start of the second. It was soon 29-10 and the only question at that point was how big the winning margin would be.
Nielsen said the Bobcats knew that coming from 4A to 5A would be a whole different story, but that last year's title drive helped.
"We knew we had to come out strong," she said. "It really helped gaining experience and confidence."
First-year head coach Vanessa Hall also admitted that Sky View didn't know quite what to expect. She expected 5A to be tough, but seemed to have a quiet confidence in her team.
"These girls played a lot of ball," she said. "Last year, they had a successful season so we know we can do it. They flat-out know how to play. They faced some challenges and adversity, but kept going and going. They have improved over the course of the season."
Indeed, if it weren't for hard-to-explain close loses to 3A Logan and Morgan in the preseason, Sky View would have come into this tournament as co-favorites with unbeaten Copper Hills and Layton.
"We came out how we wanted to, intense on offense and defense and our shots were falling."
Thus, the team from the school in Smithfield is a mystery no more. It will take a good effort to beat Sky View this week.
Twitter: @TribTomWharton —
Sky View 72, Lone Peak 37
• Jamie Nielsen has 20 and Kaylee Carlson adds 19 as Sky View continues its smooth transition from 4A to 5A.
• Early 18-2 run helps Sky View put Lone Peak away early.
• Emma Clark scores 16 for Lone Peak.