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Woods Cross • Two seasons after missing the state tournament, the Woods Cross Wildcats celebrated their second straight Region 5 championship on Friday night after a 75-49 win over second-place Ogden.

"We're really excited," Woods Cross coach Casey Walkenhurst said. "It's exciting for our school, I don't think we've ever won back-to-back region titles before. We understand it's just one stepping stone to what we're trying to accomplish … but you never take a region title for granted."

Woods Cross' second region championship run was led by University of California recruit Trevin Knell, who scored 27 points on Friday night. After starting the game 0-for-3 from the field, the star senior had to remain poised in order to dig his team out of an early 12-4 deficit.

"I was struggling a little bit, my shot just wouldn't fall," Knell said. "[Point Guard] Taylor Smith came up to me and just told me to 'calm down and play my game'. That ultimately got me back in my rhythm and by the half I felt like I was playing a lot better … if you're a shooter you've just go to keep shooting."

Knell's 13 points in the first half were able to get the Wildcats back in the game, but the defense had its hands full trying to limit the athleticism and 3-point shooting of the Ogden duo of Jaxon and Hunter Clarke. Thanks to a pair of Cameron Allen free throws before the halftime buzzer, Woods Cross was able to take a 29-27 lead into the half.

"Coach Walkenhurst was pretty mad at us at halftime," Knell said. "He came in and said 'We're up by two and I'm [angry]. We looked at each other and knew that we're a way better team than that first half showed. We came out in the second half and played our game. We defended, we moved the ball, our assists went way up … it was more of a team game and the scoreboard showed it."

Woods Cross used a 7-0 run, fueled by Knell and senior forward Trevor Trost, to pull away in the third quarter for a 49-36 lead. With Ogden fading in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were able to extend the lead to the eventual 26-point margin.

"To be honest, it felt dull out there in the first half," Trost said. "We really needed to come out pumped up and firing and that's what we did. Going into the state tournament, you want to be on a roll. This game, especially the way we played in the second half, is a good way to get that roll started. We're excited for the weeks ahead." —

Storylines

• Woods Cross claimed their second straight Region 5 title behind Trevin Knell's 27 points.

• Woods Cross senior forwards Cameron Allen and Trevor Trost combined for 18 points.

• Seniors Jaxon and Hunter Clarke combined for 35 points for Ogden.