(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skyline's Madison Grange (25) as Skyline faces Springville in the 5A High School Girls' Basketball Tournament at SLCC in Taylorsville, Wednesday Feb. 21, 2018.
Taylorsville • Calm, cool, collected — the attributes of a defending champion marching once more through the state tournament.
Skyline was all that and more Wednesday in a 48-33 victory against outsized Springville in the Class 5A girls’ basketball state quarterfinals.
Skyline center Cameron Mooney’s size was far too much for the Red Devils to handle. She finished with a game-high 21 points and was dominant on the boards.
“I know we have what it takes, we have the experience,” the 6-foot-3 senior said. “But it’s still nerve-wracking to go through it again and play different teams.”
Skyline (19-6) advanced to the state semifinals for the third time in four years and will meet Timpview on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles got contributions from every starter:
Madison Grange had 14 points; fellow senior guard Barrett Jessop had a big 3-pointer and made a hustle play on a ball headed for out of bounds; Kate Vorwaller set up Mooney with a pretty pass in the paint; Kiana Eskelson repeatedly dribbled out of trouble to extend possessions.
It was those calm, collected plays that led to a second consecutive double-digit victory and moved the Eagles to within two wins of a second consecutive title.
Springville (5-17) shocked Region 5 champion Roy in the first round with pressure from its guards. That pressure didn’t faze the experienced Eagles on Wednesday.
“I think it’s experience, but I also thing it’s their demeanor,” Skyline coach Lynette Schroeder said. “We talk about being poised a lot. I was happy with how they showed that tonight.”
Brooke Galbraith had 12 points for the Red Devils, who trailed by nine at halftime, but fell behind by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles’ offense was simple — attack the basket. Mooney had 20 points in the paint, including eight points after an offensive rebound.
“We heard that they don’t really pick up drives and penetration,” Mooney said. “So [going inside] was our game plan.”
SKYLINE 48, SPRINGVILLE 33 <br>• Cameron Mooney scores a game-high 21 points for Skyline, which leads by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter. <br>• Springville gets 12 points from Brooke Galbraith and nine points from Breanna Eves. <br>• The Eagles reach the state semifinals for the third time in four years. They won the Class 4A title in 2017 and were runner-up in 2015.