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Logan • Want to know how to win in the playoffs? The formula is simple: Survive and advance.

Morgan entered its Class 3A girls' basketball quarterfinal against Grantsville as underdogs, but the Trojans used lockdown defense to build a sizable lead at the intermission after flustering the Cowboys into shooting 4 of 24 over the first 16 minutes.

Morgan was on its heels in the second half, but precision at the free-throw line prevented Grantsville from completing the comeback in what evolved into a 56-49 win for the Trojans at Utah State University on Thursday.

"This last part of the season, in the later end, we kind of got out of what Morgan does, and that's defense, so we've really focused on that," Trojans coach Kade Morrell said. "These girls' focus right now is defense, and as long as they keep going like that, they'll always have a chance."

The Trojans will face Richfield in the 5:50 p.m. semifinal Friday.

Brookelyn Hurlbut led Morgan with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while adding four steals. Jalyn Van Dyke contributed 14 points, while Morgan Cragun finished with 11 points, including connecting on 9 of 12 free-throw attempts.

The efficiency at the line is what saved the Trojans. They hit 23 of 34 attempts, including 21 of 30 in the second half, as Grantsville continued to foul to prolong the game.

"We were looking at the running score, and it was free throw, free throw, free throw," Morrell said. "That was huge."

Morgan led 27-13 at halftime and built its cushion to as many as 19, but the Cowboys steadily chipped away at the deficit behind Abby Butler (11 points and 10 rebounds) and Brayle Crosman (10 points), getting as close as five points.

"It was really fun," Hurlbut said. "We started out really well; came out strong. They couldn't really do anything to score on us, so that was big."

tphibbs@sltrib.com

Twitter: @trevorphibbs

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Morgan 56, Grantsville 49

• Morgan builds huge first-half lead and holds on to defeat Grantsville.

• The Trojans hit 23 of 34 free-throw attempts, including 21 of 20 in the second half.