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Show BY PORTER LARSEN PLarsenDSN The Dixie State Uni- versity basketball teams celebrated senior night on Saturday, then another kind of celebration unfolded after the games. Mens Basketball It was a night of anticipation at the Burns Arena against Point Loma Nazarene University, as the senior class took the home floor for the final time. Senior jam-pack- ed guard DeQuan Thompson, a communication major from Las Vegas, said that it was business as usual despite the games hype. I came in with the same mindset as any other game, Thompson said. Go in and get the job done. Dixie came out of the gates cooking. As a team, the Storm shot a terrific 66.7 percent from downtown in the first half. Junior guard Mason Sawyer was perfect from the field and led the Storm with 14 points at the break. The Sea Lions connected on nine threes, keeping them within striking distance. PLNU closed the gap to 11 midway through the second half, before a 13-- 0 DSU run closed the door. Junior forward Mark Ogden Jr. converted an and blocked a shot on the other end, which led to a ThompThis son had the capacsequence ity crowd at the Burns buzzing. The 4,052 on hand Saturday night was the highest attendance total of the season and most since 2013. Dixie never looked and-on- e back from that run, pulling away from the Sea Lions and winning the Pacific West Conference regular season championship in the process. As a result of the conference title, the Storm cut down the nets for the fifth time in the last six years. Sawyer finished the contest with 18 points, and Thompson added 13. Senior center Zach Robbins had 13 and also notched a career-hig- h 19 rebounds. The seniors that were honored on the night were Robbins, Thompson, forward Jordan Rex and guard Connor Van Brocklin. Robbins is the leader in points Robbie Nielson, a junior business administration major scored, games played, from Gresham, Oregon, celebrates, holding a piece of the net after the mens team won the conference championfield goals made, free ship game. The Storm locked in the overall top seed in the throws made, rebounds, Pacific West Championship. blocked shots, games started and minutes played at DSU. the Storm record books. field goals made, free By seasons end, has throws made, rebounds, Thompson currently Thompson will likely have played 110 games at DSU steals, and minutes played. played more games than and is top five in school After the game, Thompson anyone else in school hishistory in all the following was a little more sentitory, as well as having his mental. categories: points, field name strewn throughout A lot of emotions were goals made, three-poiall-ti- nt running through me, Thompson said. I felt so accomplished, so loved. It was a special feeling. Along with closing out the regular season in fashion, the Storm secured the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. I couldnt be any more proud of my guys, head coach Jon Judkins said. They accomplished what they set out to do, but we arent done yet. The Storm, now 20-- 6 on the season, are now preparing for the tournament. They will face the winner of and Point Loma in the semi-finat 7:15 p.m. on Friday in Irvine, California. BYU-Hawa- ii al Womens Basketball The DSU womens basketball team also celebrated senior night on Saturday, but its celebration would be short lived. The Storm, led by its seniors, started the game on the right fool, battling Point Loma to a 1 tie midway through the first half. After that, the Storm went cold, missing 21 of their next 24 shots. Dixie State shot just 37 percent from the field en 9 route to the loss to the Sea Lions. The three seniors combined for 38 points and 17 rebounds. Center Haileigh Emerine notched her usual double-doubl- e with 11 points and 12 rebounds, guard Kaylah Miller 21-2- 81-5- netted her 200th career while posting 10 points, and guard Taylor Maynes scored a career-hig- h 17 in the loss. It was a night of mixed emotions said Emerine, a communication major from Spanish Fork. It was thrilling and sad all at the same time, Emerine said. It was exciting that it was another opportunity to leave everything on the floor, but sad that it would be the last game with my teammates in that gym. Emerine finished her e in career fifth DSU rebounding. Maynes wrapped her stint at DSU with 252 points and 272 rebounds. Miller ends her illustrious career at Dixie after filling up the record books. Miller ranks first all-tim- all-tim- e in three-poi- nt field goals made, second e in points, and fourth in assists. The women will not make the conference tournament, effectively ending the season. DSU finished its season with a record and will lose its leading scorer. That's something that head coach Jenny Thigpin says she isnt worried about. Im so proud of our seniors and how they A fought, Thigpin said. three of them were great and we will miss them, tllt our younger girls are awesome, and Im excited to see what we can build on. all-tim- 8-- see" si te ti d b m se oi th Pi oi he fii st sn as th cc lo to de sa ne hi re M Oi ve m av sti ha to ad Ai ren Ta |