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Show Panthers win cat fight r By TY BRONICEL SALT LAKE CITY Friday night the Woods Cross Wildcats took part in a Utah basketball production pro-duction of West Side Story. In place of the Sharks and the Jets, were the Panthers and the Wildcats, two teams ready for a good old-fashioned catfight. The two didn't disappoint, putting put-ting on a physical affair that left both school's coaches offended at the game officials. In the end, however, despite theu typically inspiring performance, the Wildcats again found themselves in the shadow of the winner's spotlight as the Panthers' fine ensemble cast stole the show's final fourth quarter act en route to a hard-earned hard-earned 59-51 home win. The loss drops the Wildcats, who were led by Jamie Coombs and Shawn Keams (12 points each), to 1-9 in Region Six play. Meanwhile, the race for the region championship champion-ship was further muddled by West's win, which left the Panthers tied with Murray, Tooele and Bountiful, all 6-4, for second place in the league. (Granite and Jordan are co-leaders co-leaders at 7-3 apiece.) "There were a lot of bad calls made on each team," said West head coach Bob Lyman. "The refs let the game get out of control." "The officiating was horrid on both sides," agreed Woods Cross head man Kevin Wilson. Despite the win, Lyman wasn't exactly thrilled. "That was our worst win of the year," said West coach Bob Lyman, afterward. "Both teams played real sloppy." Except for at the free-throw line, where West hit a sizzling 13 out of 14 in the fourth quarter, helping the Panthers keep the Wildcats at bay anytime Woods Cross tried to make a run. "West did a great job down the stretch," said Woods Cross coach Kevin Wilson."Thirteen out of 14? It's hard to beat that." Not so, says Lyman. "We were 13 for 13 against them the first time, said Lyman, referring to West's victory at Woods Cross earlier in the season. By halftime of Friday's rematch, the Wildcats were in a legitimate position of evening the score. West's talented junior star, Chris Stepan, whose 15 first-half points helped give the Wildcats a 35-30 intermission lead, was about to begin a second half in which he would foul out before scoring a fj j single point. In addition, West was without the services of Brandon Powell, a starter who sat out Friday night The Wildcats led 18-14 after one period and trailed by just three, 41-38, 41-38, heading into the final x minutes. Vr West's 59" point guard 5am Johnson started the quarter playing like Magic, hitting a three-pointer, grabbing rebounds, then stealing a Wildcat pass and scoring a layup. Woods Cross hung around thanks to Keams soft inside shots, but whenever the Panthers appeared to be on the ropes, their near impeccable impec-cable free-throw shooting bailed them out "Woods Cross is gritty, admired ad-mired Lyman. "They're not quitters." With less than two minutes to p as West continued its torrid str ipy from the charity stripe, Wildcats' shooting turned cold, as Kearns ' touch suddenly disappeared. disap-peared. "That was the spot to go to, said Wilson. "They were good shots, they just wouldn't fall. That's a story the Wildcats know all too well. Friday, Feb. 7 WOODS CROSS 1-9, 1-15) 18 12 8 1351 West (6-4, 9-7) 14 2161859 WILDCATS (51): Coombs 4 4-4 12 Cosper 2 1-4 1-4 5, Morns 2 0-0 6, Brummett 2 3-4 7 Keams 5 2-2 12, Smith 3 0-0 6, Etling 1 1-2 3, Totals 18 11-16 51. PANTHERS (59): Adams 0 6-7 6. Stepan 6 3-5 15. S. Johnson 4 6-6 14, Gridley 0 2-2 2 Gaddis 1 1-2 3. Byrd 1 4-4 6. Nelson 2 0-1 4' Brown 4 0-0 9, Totals 18 21-26 59 Three-point goals-Woods Cross 2 Morris), west 1 (5 Johnson, Brown). 1 Ii |