Basketball Game Preview: Payson Lions vs. Orem Tigers

Payson is 7-2 against Orem since December of 2014 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. A feisty cat fight will be fought when the Payson Lions challenge the Orem Tigers at 7:00 p.m. Payson is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last five games.

On Friday, Payson needed a bit of extra time to put away Lehi. They escaped with a win against the Pioneers by the margin of a single free throw, 49-48.

Payson can attribute much of their success to Quincey Mathews, who dropped 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.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Orem, who bounced back after a loss on the road back in December of 2024. They came out on top against Park City by a score of 43-36 on Friday.

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

Payson strolled past Orem when the teams last played back in January of 2024 by a score of 51-37. Will Payson repeat their success, or does Orem have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.