This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

The last team to qualify for a state basketball tournament is usually the first team to be eliminated.

But don't float that theory to Westlake, which won a thrilling 54-48 victory over Brighton Thursday to make the Final Four of the Class 5A tournament at the Huntsman Center.

Late in the Region 4 season, the Thunder lost four straight games and found themselves in danger of missing the tournament. Only victories in the final two league contests and a play-in win last Friday against Lehi allowed them to qualify.

But after blowing Region 1 champion Weber out of the gym Tuesday in Ogden and then surviving the war with Brighton on Thursday, Westlake is right where coach Nate Carling figured it would be all along.

Carling said that, despite the adversity, he has thought all along that the Thunder belong in the Final Four. He said that Westlake played many of the top teams during the summer and beat them.

"We started the year out great, and had some adversity," he said. "The league is tough. We had a four-game losing streak and we regrouped. When you go through something like that, it's about overcoming adversity and fixing your problems. I thought we learned from it and came through tonight."

Carling said Westlake has not had a winning basketball tradition, so learning to win close games such as this one was rewarding.

And there is no doubt that this was a close game.

The Thunder's largest lead was the winning margin of six points. Brighton never led by more than three. The score was tied six times and there were 16 lead changes.

It was also a defensive struggle, which meant that it would be decided on two big steals by Westlake's Chaz Ah You.

The first came with 30.5 seconds left in regulation and led to two free throws that ultimately put the game into overtime.

The second came with Westlake clinging to a 41-38 lead when Ah You stole the ball from Brighton star Simi Fehoko and was fouled. His subsequent two free throws sealed the victory.

"That was all preparation," said Ah You, known more as a defensive football star. "We talked about how Simi gets the ball. I could tell from his position that he was going to flash over there. I kind of read it and jumped over there. I was playing defensive back out there."

Asa McCord scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds and three assists to pace Westlake, while Maizen Fausett added 13 points, 12 boards and four assists.

Brighton got a nice game from Jake Fisher, who scored 16 points, including some huge threes when Brighton fell behind. Chayse Mims had 13 points and 18 rebounds.

As for Westlake, Ah You said it best.

"All the way from preseason, we have been through everything," he said. "There is nothing we haven't seen. There has been overtime, double overtime and close games. We were prepared."

Twitter @tribtomwharton —

Storylines

• Chaz Ah You grabs a big steal in regulation and another in overtime as Westlake holds off Brighton.

• Asa MCord scores 14 points and has 14 rebounds to lead Westlake, while Maizen Fausett adds 13 points, 12 boards and four assists.

• Jake Fisher leads Brighton with 16 points, while Chayse Mims has 13 points and 18 rebounds.