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Fano, Pope help Timpview pull away from West to open state tourney

By  Talon Chappell
 | Feb. 19, 2018, 12:44 p.m.
| Updated: 4:46 p.m.

(Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune) Timpview's Madelyn Boulton drives to the hoop as West's Brianna White, left, defends in the Class 5 girls' basketball playoff game Monday Feb. 19 2018

Taylorsville • Timpview appeared to be a bit groggy after falling behind 7-2 soon after its 9:30 a.m. tipoff against West, but the Thunderbirds quickly awoke and rolled to a 60-44 victory Monday to open the Class 5A girls’ basketball state tournament.

The Thunderbirds ended the first quarter on a 13-1 run to regain their normal form.

“I feel like they didn’t quite get into a normal rhythm,” Timpview coach Aimee Dorais said. “We showed up about half an hour later than we normally would — got caught in the snow like everybody did — but they did enough of the fundamental principles that we preach in practice. There was enough consistency in chunks to where we were able to get the job done.”

West clawed back into the game with an early run in the second quarter to cut the Timpview lead to 16-14, but the Thunderbirds responded with a 6-0 run of their own to retake control before gaining their first double-digit lead of the game before the half at 27-17.

“It’s more comfortable for us when there’s a gap” in the score, Timpview forward Shaylyn Fano said. “We knew that in order for that to happen, we had to share the ball. When we share the ball, it’s crazy the things we can do. Everyone can shoot.”

Fano led Timpview with 20 points in her tournament debut, but it was her rebounding that took over the game in the third quarter. The junior finished with 16 boards that led to a lot of quick baskets for teammate Ella Pope.

“My teammates were getting crazy rebounds and I had the easy part just to finish the wide-open layups,” Pope said. “They were working hard under the hoop getting the rebounds and passing it out to me, and that was working.”

Pope’s transition offense gave her eight points in the third. The junior finished with 18 points to supplement Fano’s 20 as Timpview began to run away from West by the end of the quarter. The Thunderbirds outscored the Panthers 18-11 in the quarter to take a 45-28 lead into the fourth before the defense squeezed the life out of the Panthers in the fourth.

Despite the long trip through the snowy roads of Salt Lake County and into an unfamiliar venue, Pope said she was proud of her team’s performance.

“It was just a different environment,” she said. “It took us longer to get here and the bus was cold, but I think that we kind of came together as a team and fought through all that.”

TIMPVIEW 60, WEST 44 <br>• Timpview knocks out West in the opening round of the Class 5A state tournament. <br>• Junior forward Shaylyn Fano leads Timpview with 20 points and nabs 16 rebounds, while junior Ella Pope adds 18 points. <br>• West sophomore Whitney Banz leads the Panthers with 20 points.
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