By Steve Pimper
MaxPreps.com
With the Region basketball battles across the state reaching the mid-point of league play, it took overtime for several teams to hang on to the top spot this week.
Starting in South Sevier, the hometown Rams were pushed to the limit by the upstart Grand Red Devils before prevailing in triple overtime.
It took a 38-point, 14-rebound effort from Derrick Forbush to keep South Sevier on top of the Region XII standings as the Rams finally subdued Grand by a 82-73 count. Bryce Twitchell added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the winners as South Sevier pushed its record to 13-3 overall and 7-1 in league play.
Meanwhile in Region II action, the fifth-ranked Hillcrest Huskies defended their home hardwood and held on to a piece of the Region lead by finally clipping the Skyline Eagles 62-56 in double overtime.
The Huskies were led by their usual double threat guard duo of Ryan Brimley and Donnie Lao, who had 37 points between them in moving their season mark to 13-2.
Up north it was more of the same as the visiting Viewmont Vikings slipped by the Warriors of Weber 44-41 in an overtime Region I battle.
And in West Valley City the Hunter Wolverines trailed throughout before Harold Molenia netted two free throws with three seconds remaining in regulation to send the game with Copper Hills into overtime.
The Wolverines then sent the Hunter fans home happy by prevailing 67-63 in a Region III showdown that keeps the postseason hopes of Hunter alive. Brady Hatt and Scott Friel each scored 21 points for the victorious Wolverines.
For Copper Hills it was the second extra period game of the week as the Grizzlies managed to hang on for a 69-68 double overtime win at Kearns last Tuesday.
The Grizzlies head coach, Jeff Price, is still chewing the Tums, taking his heart medication and applying the Rogaine to replace his pulled out hair after seeing his Grizzly squad split this week's two extra-session affairs.
In the big battle in 4A the Bountiful Braves used their 6-10 junior, Ben Aird, to overpower Roy in a 66-55 win. Aird dumped in 25 points as the Braves claimed sole possession of the Region V lead with the victory.
In a not-so-close contest the Riverton Silverwolves - with University of Utah signee Morgan Grim - hosted the Bingham Miners in a showdown for the top spot in their Region.
The Miners held Grim to 17 points as five Bingham players scored double digits in dismantling the Silverwolves in a 73-45 blowout.
In Utah County the Region IV race has four of the best teams in the entire state knocking heads for their league crown.
With Pleasant Grove (13-2) ranked No. 1, Lone Peak (14-1) ranked No. 2, Spanish Fork (10-4) at No. 6 and American Fork (11-4) currently at No. 7, it's going to be a photo finish to see which squad grabs this Region's top seed come state tournament time.
Pleasant Grove is led by a trio of stars with Tallon Robertson averaging more than 19 points per outing and C.J. Wilcox throwing down 16 a game. Factor in Brady Thurgood who scored 16 in Friday's 69-58 victory over the rival Cavemen of American Fork and the Vikings are serious state title contenders.
For the Knights of Lone Peak and super-soph, Tyler Haws, who scores more than 20 points per game, it was a Friday night romp in a 67-35 win over Mountain View.
Still it's Spanish Fork that has the only unblemished record in the Region IV wars and the Dons host the top-ranked Vikings this Friday in the Beehive State's premier matchup.
Among the small schools the Layton Christian Eagles continue to fly high behind the guard play of B.J. Porter. Porter knocked down 33 points Friday as the Eagles soared to 115-64 win at West Ridge.
Looking at the girls roundball action last week, the only undefeated basketball team in the state is the Lady Templars of Manti.
Manti leads Region XII with an 8-0 mark after edging San Juan, 55-53, and Grand County, 38-30, this week. On the year, Manti is now 16-0 thanks to the scoring duo of Kassie Tucker and Sili Hafoka, who are both scoring at a 14 point per game average.
In 5A, the No. 1-ranked Lady Darts of Davis High hit 22 of 29 charity attempts to edge league rival Fremont, 58-56, and move their season mark to 15-1 overall. The leading scorer for Davis, Dani Hosking, got 16 points on the night but it was Jessica Wilde's total of 18 that led the Darts. Brittney Libby of Fremont netted 19 for the Silverwolves.
In Region II it was Dani Peterson and Theresa Upi combining for 37 points as the second-ranked Skyline Eagles cruised past the visiting Lady Huskies of Hillcrest, 67-40.
The third-ranked Lady Miners of Bingham avenged their only Region III loss of the year by crushing Riverton in their rematch, 57-41. BYU-bound Megan Marks totaled 14-points as four Lady Miners scored in double figures.
In 4A, the top two ranked teams are both from northern Utah's Region V as Box Elder and Mountain Crest continue to dominate.
Box Elder is now 16-1 on the year after topping Bonneville, 73-55, while Mountain Crest's latest victim was cross-county rival Sky View. The Lady Mustangs whipped the Lady Bobcats, 48-39, to run their record to 15-1.
The Lady Bees of Box Elder lead the state in scoring differential outscoring their opponents by more than 23 per game.
All eyes will turn to Brigham City this Thursday for the rematch and probable Region V Championship tilt as Box Elder will try to exact revenge for their one-point, 30-29 loss at Hyrum last December.
Setting aside the basketball roundup this week, a sad note to report as former head football coach, Bruce Takeno of Hillcrest High School was found dead in his office last Thursday evening. He died of an apparent heart attack and is being mourned by the coaching and teaching community around the state. He will be sorely missed for his leadership and high standards example which he always exhibited to all that knew him.