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Taylorsville • If you happen to run into Copper Hills' guard Breaunna Gillen, don't bother pointing out the difference between hitting clutch free throws in a state quarterfinal contest and making a few to finish practice.
You see, it's all about the same for Gillen. That attitude also might ring true up and down the Grizzlies' roster.
The Grizzlies went 10 for 10 at the charity stripe in the last minute-plus to secure a 56-48 victory over Lone Peak in the quarterfinal round of the CLass 5A girls' basketball state tournament Wednesday.
Copper Hills (21-3) initially broke a 44-44 deadlock when Taela Laufiso penetrated the middle for a layup with two minutes to play.
Then it was free-throw time for the Grizzlies.
The first to be targeted was the sophomore Gillen, who calmly drilled a pair with 1:13 left for a four-point lead. After teammate Lenisi Fineanganofo did the same 14 seconds later, Gillen swished another two from line for a 52-44 lead with 48 seconds remaining.
Before time expired, Laufiso also hit all four of her attempts from the free-throw line.
"In practice, we have to make 9 our of 10, or 5 out of 5," before Copper Hills players can leave practice for the night, Gillen said. "We're just prepared for that."
Lone Peak (10-13) fell behind the favored Grizzlies by a 9-3 count early, but rallied to tie by the end of the first quarter. The Knights grabbed a 23-16 lead after Savannah Flanary hit a couple of foul shots to start the second half.
The game was a series of back-and-forth spurts from that point on.
After the Grizzlies closed to within three, Lone Peak's Emma Clark hit consecutive old-fashioned three-point plays for a 31-22 lead with 4:15 left in the third. That's when Copper Hills quickly retaliated with 10 consecutive points to go up by one on a putback by Emily Larsen.
The final swing came after the Grizzlies went up 42-37 by scoring the first eight points of the fourth period. The Knights, paced by Clark's 16 points, responded with a 7-2 run to tie — a streak capped by two free throws with 2:09 left.
That's when Laufiso answered with the drive to the hoop and forced the Knights into fouling.
"This has been a hallmark of our team throughout the season," Copper Hills coach Ben Morley said. "We have great senior leadership, we really do, but any given game we're going to have a freshman step up. We had Breaunna Gillen step up and it was Emily Larsen in the first game," a 55-47 opening round win over Clearfield.
Fineanganofo, a freshman, led Copper Hills with 17 points, while Gillen added 11 and Laufiso 10.
"Obviously Copper Hills is a great team. We just went into that fourth quarter a little more passive than we wanted to be," Lone Peak coach Nancy Warner said. "And turnovers really killed us." —
Copper Hills 56, Lone Peak 48
• Copper Hills took a 46-44 lead on a inside basket by Taela Laufiso with two minutes left and then extended the margin with 10-for-10 free throw shooting down the stretch.
• Lone Peak, led by Emma Clark's 16 points, took e a 31-22 advantage midway through the third after Clark converted a pair of consecutive three-point plays.
• The Grizzlies were led by Lenisi Fineanganofo's 17 points while sophomore Breanna Gillen added 11.
Class 5A girls' tournament
at Salt Lake Community College
Wednesday's quarterfinal scores
Copper Hills 56, Lone Peak 48
American Fork 51, Fremont 38
Viewmont 54, Bingham 37
Sky View 69, Pleasant Grove 40
Friday
Semifinals
2:30 p.m. • Sky View vs. Viewmont
4:10 p.m. • Copper Hills vs. American Fork
Saturday
11 a.m. • Championship game
Class 4A girls' tournament
at Salt Lake Community College
Thursday
Quarterfinals
9:30 a.m. • Skyline vs. Alta
11:10 a.m. • Timpview vs. Springville
12:50 p.m. • Box Elder vs. Maple Mountain
2:30 p.m. • Judge Memorial vs. East
Friday
Semifinals • 5:50 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
1 p.m. • Championship game
Class 3A girls' tournament
at Utah State University
Quarterfinals
Thursday
4:10 p.m. • Carbon vs. Desert Hills
5:50 p.m. • Juan Diego vs. Union
7:30 p.m. • Cedar City vs. Richfield
9:10 p.m. • Grantsville vs. Morgan
Friday
Semifinals • 4:10 p.m., 5:50 p.m.
Saturday
11 a.m. • Championship game
Class 2A girls' tournament
at Sevier Valley Center
Quarterfinals
Thursday
4:10 p.m. • North Summit vs. North Sevier
5:50 p.m. • Kanab vs. San Juan
7:30 p.m. • Beaver vs. Layton Christian
9:10 p.m. • Emery vs. Enterprise
Friday
Semifinals • 4:10 p.m., 5:50 p.m.
Saturday
5 p.m. • Championship game
Class 3A boys' tournament
at Utah State University
Quarterfinals
Thursday
9:30 a.m. • Stansbury vs. Desert Hills
11:10 a.m. • Ridgeline vs. Carbon
12:50 p.m. • Dixie vs. Canyon View
2:30 p.m. • Richfield vs. Juan Diego
Friday
Semifinals • 7:30 p.m., 9:10 p.m.
Saturday
1:15 p.m. • Championship game
Class 2A boys' tournament
Sevier Valley Center
Quarterfinals
Thursday
9:30 a.m. • Summit Academy vs. Grand County
11:10 a.m. • South Sevier vs. Layton Christian
12:50 p.m. • South Summit vs. Waterford
2:30 p.m. • Emery vs. North Summit
Friday
Semifinals • 7:30 p.m., 9:10 p.m.
Saturday
7 p.m. • Championship game