Lions
| 02/07/25 vs Uintah | 54 |
| 02/04/25 @ Mountain View | 57 |
| 01/31/25 vs Timpanogos | 60 |
| 01/28/25 vs Provo | 49 |
| 01/24/25 vs Orem | 61 |
| + 16 more games |
A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Lions face off against the Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Payson is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 54.8 points per game this season.
Pine View will be up against a hot Payson team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. Payson was the clear victors by a 54-29 margin over Uintah on Friday. Given the Lions' advantage in MaxPreps' Utah basketball rankings (they are ranked ninth, while the Utes are ranked 63rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Payson's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Quincey Mathews, who went 7-for-14 to rack up 16 points along with five boards and three steals. Emmy Hales was another key player, almost dropping a double-double with nine points and ten rebounds.
Meanwhile, two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Pine View walked away with it. They strolled past the Mustangs with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 52-38.
Payson better focus on containing Reese Gustin and Ella Fiefia as the pair were huge in Pine View's win. Gustin posted 18 points and four steals, while Fiefia dropped a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards. What's more, Fiefia also racked up six assists, the most she's had since back in December of 2024. Another player making a difference was Aniva Seve, who put up seven points.
Pine View smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in six consecutive matchups.
Pine View's win bumped their record up to 13-11. As for Payson, their victory bumped their record up to 19-2.
Keep an eye on the arc in Friday's game: Payson has been dynamite from deep this season, having made 37.1% of their three-pointers per game. It's a different story for Pine View, though, as they've only made 21.5% of their threes this season. Given Payson's sizable advantage in that area, Pine View will need to find a way to close that gap.
Payson came up short against Pine View when the teams last played back in December of 2017, falling 45-39. Will Payson have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other basketball content.
