Basketball Game Preview: Orem Tigers vs. Payson Lions

Orem is 2-7 against Payson since December of 2014 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. A feisty cat fight will be fought when the Orem Tigers take on the Payson Lions at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Orem took a loss when they played away from home back in December of 2024, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They walked away with a 43-36 win over Park City.

Meanwhile, Payson faced Lehi in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. Payson slipped by Lehi 49-48. The victory was familiar territory for the Lions who have now won five contests in a row.

Orem better keep an eye on Quincey Mathews. She was instrumental in Payson's win, dropping a double-double on 21 points and ten boards. That's the most points Mathews has posted since back in January of 2024. Emmy Hales was another key player, putting up seven points and five rebounds.

Payson's win was their tenth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 10-1. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 59.3 points per game. As for Orem, their victory bumped their record up to 3-10.

Orem lost to Payson at home by a decisive 51-37 margin when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Can Orem avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.