Here’s a recap of Wednesday’s 4A quarterfinals at Weber State, with No. 3 Pine View advancing. This story will be updated.
Pine View 38, Mountain Crest 26
Offense was not easy to come by for either Pine View or Mountain Crest in their 4A quarterfinal on Wednesday. Both teams shot below 36%, and the quarterfinal quickly turned into a gritty battle.
In the end, No. 3 Pine View advanced with a 38-26 win.
It certainly wasn’t a pretty win for the Panthers, but they had the hustle plays that mattered. Their defense was dominant, holding the Mustangs to just 26 points, including a shutout in the second quarter.
“It was not just a win, it was a playoff game,” said Pine View head coach Ben Luce. “I’ve watched them on film for a week now, and they’re a physical team. I’ve worried since Saturday about how we were going to score against them, because they (do) man, zone, full-court press.
“I was proud that our defense rose to the challenge and we did well rebounding and guarding their guys. It was a dogfight.”
Pine View’s Ella Fiefia led both the scoring and rebounding efforts with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. Kalea Schlenker also added 10 points.
Since the set half-court offense was a struggle for both teams, it largely came down to turnovers and second-chance points, and that’s exactly where Pine View capitalized.
Fiefia and Kenedy Eves combined for 20 rebounds, and Pine View scored 10 second-chance points. It also scored 18 points off turnovers.
“The rebounding and the second chance points are huge,” Luce said.
“We’re not much in transition, but forcing those turnovers and going and capitalizing on them. Those second-chance points, I mean (Mountain Crest’s Leighton Pratt) has more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds, and averages is a double-double practically. To be able to match her on the boards and get those second-chance points said a lot about Kennedy and Ella and Aniva down there."
Mountain Crest had a small boost of momentum in the start of the second half after Emersyn Brown hit two 3-pointers. However, it didn’t last long as Pine View got right back down and retook its double-digit lead. Brown led all scorers with 13 points.
The win gives Pine View its first semifinal appearance since 2021.
“This is a group that hasn’t been to the state tournament,” Luce said. “It’d be easy for them to just be happy to be here. They’ve taken the attitude since they’ve earned the right to get here, that they belong and they’re as good as anybody else.