Skyline didn’t seem particularly comfortable when East turned on the full-court pressure in the late stages Tuesday night.
But the Eagles did what they’ve done very well over the last couple of seasons, winning postseason tournament games and contests in the regular season that feel like a playoff.
Indeed, the girls’ basketball battle between Skyline and East felt like a playoff game, and it even went to overtime.
And it was the Eagles who triumphed 52-46 despite giving up a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.
“I think our whole team is very competitive, and it really means a lot to us to win,” Skyline senior center Cameron Mooney said. “This was really emotional because East gets all the hype. A lot of people doubt us.”
Doubting the defending Class 4A state champions?
“I think after losing to Taylosville — and we played terrible — people just looked down on us and just didn’t think we could make it back to where we were last year,” Mooney said.
Credit for the win over East (13-2, 3-1) in great part can go to Mooney, who finished with only eight points but yanked down 13 rebounds, blocked three shots and twice poked away interior passes for turnovers in the last few minutes.
“It’s always fun,” Mooney said. “I usually don’t get a lot of steals.”
Skyline (12-5, 4-0) led 24-15 at the end of the first half, and Mooney already grabbed nine boards. Just as impactful was the defensive problems she caused East post player Lani Taliauli, who had only three points at intermission.
But Taliauli got going in the second half. She finished with 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and a couple of midrange jumpers over Mooney. East, meanwhile, bothered the visitors with a full-court press and scored 10 consecutive points in the fourth to tie the game at 40-40.
“Their big, Mooney, it’s hard to get around her,” East coach Junior Solovi said. “I think it was an adjustment for her [Taliauli] early on. We just told her that she needed to stay loose and continue to play.”
Liana Kaitu’u hit a layup with 23 seconds left to tie the game at 44-44 and force overtime.
Skyline’s Madison Grange, a Utah Valley commit, started the scoring with a 12-foot baseline jumper, part of her team-high 14 points. The margin went to three on a free throw by Barrett Jessop, who finished with 13.
The Eagles were up 49-46 with time running down when a 3-point try by Taliauli went in-and-out, and two offensive putbacks were errant. Skyline’s Kate Vorwaller, who was fouled in the scrum, then extended the margin to four with a free throw with 18 seconds left in the extra session.
Skyline coach Lynette Schroeder noted afterward that her team would have to work on some things — breaking the press, for instance — before the teams meet again.
“I’m sure they’ll pressure us all game instead of half the game,” she said.
SKYLINE 52, EAST 46 IN OT <br>• Madison Grange scores 14 points and teammate Barrett Jessop adds 13 as Skyline stays undefeated in region. <br>• Eagles senior center Cameron Mooney records 13 rebounds, nine in the first half, and also blocks three shots to go with her eight points. <br>• Lani Taliauli paces East with 16 points while Deserae Falatea chips in 12.