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Show Page 6 OREM GENEVA TIMES Thursday, December 1, 2005 COMMUNITY SPORTS. PEOPLE AND OUTDOOR FUN Much expected from Orem schools as basketball season gets underway Neil K. Warner, Jared Lloyd and Chris Peterson The basketball season has started, and there's no lack of excitement among local prep players. There's aLso not a shortage of talent among local high schools. The following is a lxk at the three Orem squads: 5A girls Mountain View Bruins kegion 4 2004-2005 record: 20-3 (overall). (over-all). K-0 (Region 7, class 4 A) Head coach: Dave Houle The Bruins' success starts with 6-frxt-2 post sensation Michelle Mi-chelle Harrison. But it doesn't BRUIN HOOPS Harrison's goal: A state title Chris Peterson ,:,. hi n. Among all the accolades, the attention and the buzz involving her signing a letter of intent to play at Stanford next season, Michelle Harrison really cares atniut just one thing: Winning a state championship. The 6-fxt 2 Mountain View sensation "She's a leader. She basically gives us everything she has. She just loves to play." Dave Houle is aware that those goals will change if she moves on to the next level and plavs for the" Cardinal. But for now, her focus is on leading lead-ing the Bruias to a 5A title. "It's my dream." I larrison said. "I know when I get to Stanford my goal will be to win a national championship, but right now I have total focus on this season." railing in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament last season after transferring from Lehi was a huge disappointment. disappoint-ment. "Hopefully, since we didn't win last year, it would be more meaningful if we win this year," Harrison said. "Losing was hard to take, but we have so many positives going for as right now." It was a busy off -season for Harrison, to say the least. In addition to playing a full summer sum-mer basketball schedule, she had colleges that were seeking her commitment to play for them courting her. She made her decision to play at Stanford final when she signed a letter of intent on Nov. 9. Knowing where she will be playing next year will help Harrison Har-rison get where she wants to be this year. "Ever since I was a freshman I knew that I wanted to sign before be-fore my senior season started," she said. "It's good to have the support from Stanford." Competing at Mountain View on a nationally -ranked team (the Bruins are No. 11 in the country) has helped her career, Harrison said. "It's made me feel more at ease to be here," she said. "It's good to have friends and people that care about me." Tor a player that is so team-oriented. team-oriented. Harrison especially appreciates the camaraderie and team unity that exists at Mountain View. "We just aU get along really well," she said. "The coaches have been awesome. They understand un-derstand what it takes to win a state title, and everyone's on the same page." Mountain View coach Dave 1 Joule said Harrison ls someone who thrives on being on the See HARRISON, Page 7 end there. The preseason All-American that recently signed a letter of intent to play at Stanford next season is a presence that opponents op-ponents must deal with in the middle. But she can aLso step out and nail jumpers from the perimeter. Houle says that while Harrison Har-rison and Vanessa Kiggs are the lone returning starters, the Bruins will be good enough to compete with the test. Also seeing lots of time will be sharpshooter and penetrator Lamb worn a hm s mmt r-.r' ""7 k , JJi " f:l - " J J, ! v FILENorth County Orem's Tanner Lamb (23) is swarmed by his teammates as he lays on the floor after hitting a miraculous three-pointer at the buzzer at the end of double overtime to give the Tigers the victory over the American Fork Cavemen during 4a playoff action in Ogden on March 2, 2005. Tigers are looking for more big shots from miracle maker Tanner Lamb Jared Lloyd Almost nine months ago, Orem forward Tanner Lanib, then a junior, tossed up a prayer at the end of the second sec-ond overtime in the state boys basketball quarterfinals. His desperation heave from back-court back-court hit the glass and caromed through the hoop, knocking out American Fork and putting the Tigers into the semifinals in one of the most dramatic moments in Utah prep playoff history. Timpanogos girls roll past Lehi in season opener Chris Peterson Timpanogos was able to take advantage of a quick start and some first -game anxiety by Lehi. as the Timberwoives rolled to a 80-51 win over the Pioneers last week. Lehi coach Khalil Sikander iasisted it wasn't a case of not being prepared. He said his team's shortcomings were a result of not executing. "It was a shock; I was kind of disappointed because I thought we had worked hard Maylene Ornelas, Krica Eye-stone Eye-stone and Natalie Hall. Coming off what I loule describes de-scribes as an "untested bench" will be Monique Smith, Allison Perkins, Brittany Mikalowski and Jamie Stroshine. Said Houle of 5-foot-10 Stroshine, who will play at both the 4 and 5 spots: "she's all-day mean; we've got to tape and brace everyone in practice just because of her." Timpanogos Timberwoives Region 4 2004-2005 record: 11-10 (overall), (over-all), 44 (Region 7, class 4A) Head coach: Liz Darger Darger Is stepping out of the shadows of former T imp view head coach Ray Scott and into the fire. After assisting Scott "I just remember getting hit after the shot," Lamb said. "It went in, even though I didn't think it would go in. I thought it was right. I just got tackled by everyone. I'm surprised I didn't get injured. I've watched it a couple of times and I was in the air when four guys hit me. It was undescribable." One of the first guys to get there was guard Craig Cusick, who was also a junior at that time and hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime. "I remember jumping on in practice," Sikander said. "I think it was a matter of first-game first-game jitters." On the other side, the Timberwoives Tim-berwoives jumped out to a 13-1 lead to begin the game and were in control from there. "Our biggest goal coming into the game was to have intensity in-tensity and positive energy," said Timpanogos coach Liz Darger. "I thought from the first minute to the last minute, we accomplished that." The Timberwoives' inside game was too much for the home team to handle, as Amy for five years, Darger is excited about the prospects of leading the Timberwoives. "I'm really excited," Darger said, "I've inherited a good group of girls." Timpanogos features four returning starters, including Chelsey Brown, Jennifer Harris, Har-ris, Cali Nelson and Amy Weit-zel. Weit-zel. Darger sees her team as talented, tal-ented, and says they have more strengths than weaknesses. "As far as tangibles go, I think we're athletic and deep," she said. "Intangibles, I think our strength is unity. We get along really well, and look out for each other." With speed and big team goals of intensity and positive TIGER HOOPS top of him after the shot was made," Cusick recalled. "He did the same thing to me when I made my shot earlier in the game. When he raised his hand, there was almost a feeling feel-ing that it was going in. It was a great shot." The question now: What will Lamb do for an encore? "We thought we were good enough to get to the championship champion-ship game," he said. "This year we want to get to that game and have our shot to win it. I think we can because I think we're really good." TIMBERWOLF HOOPS Weitzel recorded a double-double double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Cali Nelson was also a force inside the paint, coming com-ing up with two blocks as part of a Timpanogos team total of seven. Weitzel aLso added two blocks. After the Pioneers came to within six points at 18-12 late in the first quarter, the Timber-wolves Timber-wolves went on a 15-0 tear to take command. They took a 42-21 42-21 lead into halftime. Lehi went to a fuU-court press coming out of the locker room, and it worked for a while. It energy, the Timberwoives will try to accomplish another objec tive: to run the ball. "We want to be up-tempo and I.. i-.ii i-i " r- . : .1 iuii i lie Dun a 101, uaigei saiu. Players to watch I Michelle Harrison, Mountain View: 6-foot -2 preseason All-American All-American post player is headed to Stanford I Vanessa Riggs, Mountain View: Other returning starter for the nationally -ranked Bruins I Chelsey Brown, Timpanogos: Led Timberwoives in scoring last year with 13.5 ppg I Jennifer Harris, Timpanogos: One of the main reasons the Tigers come into the season as one of the favorites in Region 7 is the talent of their 6-foot-4 forward. "His athleticism is incredible," incred-ible," Orem head coach Mike Conner said. "When he wants to play, he can dominate physically. physi-cally. He is really an athlete." Cusick, who has battled Lamb in practices and been on his team for years, said Lamb's athleticism gives him a big advantage on the basketball court. "He (Lamb) can jump out of helped to produce a 10-2 run that trimmed the deficit to 44-31. "When they put on that press, it frazzled us a little bit," Darger said. But Timpanogos responded with an 18-5 spurt of its own, a run that completely deflated the home team. The Timber-wolves' Timber-wolves' advantage grew to as many as 32 points. The Timberwoives' emphasis on defensive pressure paid off, as they collected eight steals. Despite falling behind so far so early, Sikander saw some positives from his team. 5-foot-ll player can play both inside and outside 4A b0VS Orem Tigers Region 7 2004-05 record: 15-9 Head coaches: Mike Conner and Greg Sheide The Tigers might have the best combination of pieces in the county, with one the best shooters in the state in 6-foot-2 senior guard Craig Cusick, the size and athletic ability of 6-5 senior se-nior forward Tanner Lamb and the hustle of 6-2 senior forward Brian Gonzalez. Toss in the size of 6-1 1 senior See PREVIEW, Page 7 the gym," Cusick said. "He's long, he's got a good shot for his size, he's good offensively, and he gets tons of boards. He's a good player all around." Lamb said he believes his combination of size and ability makes him tough to guard. "I think I'm kind of a mismatch," mis-match," he said. "If I'm put on a bigger guy I think I can beat them to the hole. If it's a smaller small-er guy, I can play pretty well in the post. My driving from the perimeter sets up my shot, See LAMB, Page 7 "I liked the level of play in the second half," he said. "I liked the aggressiveness, and although our motion offense needs some work, that was also better in the second half." Chelsey Brown led Timpanogos Timpano-gos with 16 points, while Jennifer Jen-nifer Harris added 12. Brown also had four assists. Lehi's Kayla Burningham led all scorers with 17, while Breezy Chandler had 10. I Chris Peterson can be reached at 344-2556 or cpetersonfaheraldextra.com. POOR |