By Steve Pimper
MaxPreps.com
In college, it's called "March Madness." In Utah it's been dubbed "Super Saturday in Frenzied February."
Whatever it's called, it's been a week of buzzer-beating baskets of joy and season-ending tears of disappointment as six state championship basketball trophies found new homes in four different classifications Saturday night.
The common storyline in several of the title tilts pitted bitter rivals from the same Region against each other for the third time this year with the biggest prize of all at stake. Factor in that many defending champions were trying to hoist the gold hardware in a repeat performance of their 2006 victory celebration and all the factors of drama, domination and revenge were in play.
This Saturday sweet revenge prevailed over domination.
Starting in the girls 2A division, the same two teams that squared off for the 2006 championship fought through the bracket with the North and the South doing battle again.
The South prevailed this time as cross-county South Sevier reversed last year's final in dethroning North Sevier, 56-52, for the top spot in the state. The difference maker in the Rams' victory over the Wolves was sophomore Aubrey Lindgren, who posted five assists, eight rebounds, and a team high 18 points in the championship game. Chanda Hollows tallied 22 points in a losing effort for North Sevier.
Moving to the 3A final, it was the Lady Spartans of Emery claiming their first ever girls basketball crown by downing Dixie, 51-40.
Emery was led to victory by their usual star player, Camille Fehlberg. Fehlberg racked up 27 points, handed out five assists, and put forth a stellar defensive effort in an MVP-type outing.
Stepping up to the 4A ranks, two teams from Region VII conquered all foes in advancing to the title game. Defending state champion and league top dog Orem was a prohibitive favorite having clobbered Timpview twice during the regular season by scores of 56-49 and 40-19.
The Lady Thunderbirds however were ready for Orem as tournament MVP, Gabrielle Pinegar scored 12 first quarter points to stake Timpview to a 19-9 advantage and were never seriously threatened as they posted a 57-49 championship victory.
Joining Pinegar on the All-Tourney team from Timpview was Chelsea Bridgewater while the Tigers also placed their scoring duo of Jamie Sagers and Jessica Saliby on the elite team. Freshman Amy Andrus of Skyview and Mountain Crest's Jaicee Kuresa rounded out the fab five.
Finally in the 5A title matchup it was Brigham Young University-bound Megan Marks stuffing home 13 points and hauling down nine boards to propel the No. 2-ranked Lady Miners of Bingham past defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Skyline in a 48-28 route.
In Cedar City's Spectrum arena, the 2A boys title was also decided Saturday night as North Summit claimed the first state basketball title in its history by downing Millard, 62-53. The champion Braves were led by the dynamic duo of Drew Robinson (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Kamren Garfield (16 points, including 9 of 9 from the charity stripe).
The finale of Super Saturday again featured two rival squads from Southern Utah as Pine View squared off with Dixie at a packed Burns Arena in St. George.
The two teams split their Region IX games in close contests and the championship tussle was more of the same as Pine View prevailed 45-38 thanks to a balanced scoring attack and a long rebound.
With Pine View leading 41-38 and less than 11-seconds remaining in the game the Panthers missed two free throws that would have iced the game but Louis Garrett of the Panthers corraled the rebound and Dixie was forced to foul again. This time Tyler McGinnis knocked down both tosses and secured Pine View's second basketball state title in the process.
Trey Ping led the Panthers with 15-points while Tyler Fink netted 20 for the second place Flyers.
The frenzy isn't over yet as the big boys take to the hardwood this week at Weber State University in Ogden. Both the 4A and 5A tournaments get underway on Monday (February 26) with 32 teams, 30 games and two more gold state championship trophies being handed out this Saturday.