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Richfield • North Sevier's Peyton Torgerson is that rare small-school girls' basketball player who has the height to play any position on the floor and the skills to pull it off.
The 5-foot-11 senior put all of her considerable talents to great use Friday as she led the Wolves to an easy 69-55 semifinal victory over Kanab in the Class 2A state semifinals at the Sevier Valley Center.
Her fine game put North Sevier , located in Salina about 17 miles from Richfield, into Saturday's 5 p.m. state championship game. The Wolves will be seeking their sixth state girls' title overall and first since 2006.
Torgerson is like a coach on the floor. A natural leader, she shouts out commands and offers encouragement to her teammates. She's almost as adept at passing as shooting.
The Southern Utah University commit proved her worth with a stat line that showed 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals. She never left the floor.
"That's a once-in-a-lifetime player you get to coach," said North Sevier coach Lexa Larsen, whose team will be playing for the state title for the second year in a row. "She has never been one to worry about stats. She is unselfish and all about the team. It's the leadership she brings. It's hard to teach someone to be a leader."
Torgerson said that while she is happy to play any position, she likes running the point.
"I like getting people in position," she said.
Kanab stayed with North Sevier for a half and trailed 19-15 after a quarter. But then the Wolves went on a 23-5 run to take a 42-20 halftime lead. Kanab cut that to nine in the final two minutes, but Torgerson wasn't going to let the Wolves lose.
"I feel like we quit attacking and played not to lose," Torgerson said. "We need to attack."
Larsen said her team may have been fatigued, largely because the only game the Wolves have needed their starters to play all 32 minutes was against Emery.
"We kind of ran through region this year," she said.
And now the North Sevier fans who live in nearby Salina will be out in force hoping to come home with the gold instead of silver this year.
wharton@sltrib.com
Twitter @TribTomWharton
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North Sevier 69, Kanab 55
• North Sevier uses a 23-5 second-quarter run to take control.
• Wolves star senior Peyton Torgerson scores 19 points, hauls down 11 rebounds, records five assists and grabs four steals.
• Sidney McDonald leads Kanab with 18 points.
Class 2A girls' tournament
at Sevier Valley Center
Friday's semifinal scores
North Sevier 69, Kanab 55
Beaver vs. Emery
Saturday
Championship game
5 p.m. • North Sevier vs. (Beaver vs. Emery winner)