Taylorsville • Woods Cross used a 16-0 run that spanned the second and third quarters to dispose of Wasatch 40-30 in the first round of the Class 5A girls’ basketball state tournament Monday night.
The Wildcats, who were held scoreless for the game’s first four minutes, closed the first half with an 11-0 run and built an 11-point lead before Wasatch scored again.
“We just work hard,” Woods Cross senior Olivia Barton said. “Talking is big because when we talk, that’s when we start getting turnovers.”
Barton scored 13 of her game-high 17 points in the first half and nearly outscored Wasatch by herself before the break. Woods Cross led 21-15 at halftime and 26-15 on Sara Noel’s 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter.
“We were obviously struggling to make some shots and get a feel for how the court was,” Woods Cross coach David Simon said. “It was big for us to get a little bit of confidence going into halftime.”
Woods Cross (15-7), one of three Region 5 teams to win Monday, advanced to meet Highland in Wednesday’s state quarterfinals.
Woods Cross’ defense made a statement in a game in which points were at a premium. The Wildcats forced 21 turnovers, including a stretch of five consecutive Wasps possessions in the third quarter.
“Their pressure on the ball caused us problems,” Wasatch coach Norman Hayter said.
Barton and Noel both had three steals and combined for all three of the Wildcats’ 3-pointers. The teams combined to shoot 3 of 26 from beyond the arc.
“The seniors are just go, go, go. They don’t let up,” Simon said. “They lead because of their effort and how hard they play. They refuse to give up.”
Wasatch, which played from behind the entire second half, got 7 points apiece from point guard Faith Fitzgerald and Mackenzie McBride. Both girls fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
Woods Cross advanced past the first round of the state tournament for the first time since 2010.
WOODS CROSS 40, WASATCH 30 <br>• Olivia Barton scores 17 points and is the only player in double figures for either team. <br>• Wasatch (16-7) commits 21 turnovers, including five in a row in the third quarter. <br>• The Wildcats use a 16-0 run that spans each half to take the lead and never look back. They led by as few as 5 points with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter.