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Orem • Lone Peak overcame a ragged first quarter to pair tough defense with efficient offense on its way to an 81-56 victory over Syracuse in the first round of the Class 5A boys' basketball state tournament Monday night at UVU.

The Knights shot better than 52 percent from the floor, including 12 of 16 in the third quarter. They got eight 3-pointers, including three apiece from junior guard Chantry Ross and senior wing Nathan Harkness.

Ross finished with a team-high 17 points and five rebounds, while Harkness had 13 points and seven boards.

Senior wing Maxwell McGrath scored 15 points with five rebounds. He said the team wasn't ruffled despite the uneven start.

"It's a state playoff game, so jitters are going to come," McGrath said.

The team talked at the end of the period about getting back to its defensive roots.

"We always focus on defense first, and that transfers to everything else," he said. "When we play both ends together as a team, it energizes us. When we play hard, we forget about nerves or anything else."

Ross' contributions helped push the team all night. He said he's accustomed to playing multiple roles.

"Some Lone Peak teams of the past have had one or two stars," he said. "This year, we succeed because we all step up when we need to. We aren't relying on just one or two guys. We win together. My job is to do whatever my team needs me to do."

Besides making some timely baskets during that second-quarter run, Ross led his teammates as they amped up the defense.

"It's one of my bigger responsibilities to put pressure on the opposing point guard and prevent him from penetrating so he can't kick out," Ross said.

He succeeded admirably, forcing the Titans into shots they didn't want to take.

"I think we felt a shift in the momentum when we picked up the tempo and started to hit some shots, and we feed off of that," Ross said.

The Knights (21-4) take on Jordan (15-10) in the quarterfinals at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday at Weber State. —

Lone Peak 81, Syracuse 56

• After a jittery start, Lone Peak takes control with a 19-8 edge in the second quarter.

• Five Knights score in double figures, including Max Brenchley, who shot 4 of 5 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line for 13 points off the bench.

• Junior guard Stephen Ashworth posts a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. Syracuse senior forward Andrew Carlson leads all scorers with 19 points and seven boards.