Show B2 — The Herald Journal Log: Utah Saturday May 22 2004 ILakairs stieaD (Samme 1 Weil-rente- Los Angeles tops weary Minnesota d IS (AR) — MINNEAI With five d" off between playoff gr os Shaquille 0'Nca ‘J time to relax get rcjuvc iicd — and even read i up (’ shooting mt extra study time made result you fail’V ' 'he a uig um v- Playoff excellence also is weary Timberwolves in the routine for the Lakers: In a opener of the Western Conferworkmanlike victory that ence finals " ended with a 9-- 2 run they O'Neal had 27 points 1 8 showed why they're playing rebounds and a superb perforfor their fourth conference mance at the line championship in five years' and Kobe Bryant added 23 Game 2 is Sunday night points in the Los Angeles Lakseries moves to Los The ers’ 97-8- 8 victory over Min' Angeles on Tuesday nesota in Game 1 Friday night Karl Malone had 17 points Executing almost flawlessly in and 1 1 rebounds for the Lak- their offensive sets Lbs Angeles ers who seemed unaffected by made just two turnovers in the the Timberwolves or their second half running the triangle deafening Target Center crowd offense and countless enjoying the franchise’s first to perfection And when Minnesota fouled -trip to the conference finals The Lakers nursed a narrow O’Neal the playlead through most of the 1 off foul shooter went fourth quarter until Derek He credited his sudden profiFisher who had 14 points ciency to an article given to from the cormade a him by coach Phil Jackson — ner with 38 seconds left' about an man who made more than 3000 straight essentially clinching the win Fisher also scored eight points flee throws in the final minutes of the “I’ve just really been focusthird quarter to put Los Ange- ing on my routine" O’Neal les ahead for good said “The article said that-imuch' “We really didn’t do any- focus on the too you PLAYOFFS 1 w irec-thro- - free-thro- w pick-and-ro- lls ' - f as their four wins over San thing special tonight’’ Bryant said “We stuck to our basic Antonio: good defense profiNow a cient offense and far too much defensive principles Shaq and Kobe good opportunity is here to go back with two wins and we Neither team took a signifineed to try hard to seize it” cant lead until late in the third ' Kevin Garnett had 16 points quarter whcA Fisher's back- foland 10 rebounds for the Timwere bcrwolves back in action two lowed by another from ' Kareem Rush Fisher added a days after finishing an e series exhausting jumper with 21 seconds left and the Lakers went into the against Sacramento Latrell ' 7 23 fourth up and had while holding Sprewell points Sam Cassell added 16 points Minnesota without a field goal and eight assists despite sit- inthe final 3:41 The Timberwolves got withting out the fourth quarter in 88r86 on Spre well’s jumper with a sore back with 4:04 left but the Lakers Though the Lakers pointed rolled to the finish starting ' out the Timberwolves’ apparwith Devean George’s electrient weariness particularly dunk down the stretch Garnett and fying “Most of the game we had Sprewell rejected that excuse But Cassell limped back out to good energy” coach Flip Saunders said “We just had two bad the court at halftime then sat stretches When you’re playing out the final 13 minutes when a team as good as the Lakers his back tightened up — and the Wolves missed his offenyou can’t have those lapses” Michael Olowokandi had JO sive creativity “The first game is sort of a points and 1 1 rebounds while feel-oplaying solid defense against game” Sprewell said “You’re just kind of seeing O’Neal — but even the best what’s happening out there defense only slows the Diesel and we didn’t make our who got plenty of good shots ' ' and set up others for his teamadjustments quick enough" The Lakers earned their mates by drawing a doubler i fifth straight victory and it team i followed much the same “I’m also one of those play- script to-ba- ck seven-gam- 78-6- one-hand- ed won’t be stopped” O’Neal deadpanned The series’ biggest matchup was a draw because Sprewell and Bryant couldn’t stop each other for even a moment Bryant scored 14 points in the second half one-on-o- V ne -- i ' while Sprewell had 18 — both swingmen embarrassing any defender put in front of them Notes: Malone wore black Dada sneakers with shiny yel low vertical stripes and die “POW-MIA- ” logo honoring war heroes j j ? I Brandon Wbod and Eric Anderson each had a goal as Sky View opened its ' season with a 1 victory over Granite on the road os that probably ut IS March 82004 The Lakers’ Devean George back is congratulated by teamn basket to seal a 97-8- 8 win Kobe Bryant after making a I Sky View’s incredible 2004 campaign came to an end in thrilling th fashion Friday afternoon in Draper Hera is a look at the Bobcats’ state championship run culminating with their 2--0 shutout over the SpringvtHe Red Deviis month-by-mon- ' - 2-- April 2 2004 May 18 & 20 2004 Sky View falls to rival Logan for v the first time since 2000 The r Grizzlies jumped out to a 3--0 lead The Cats advanced to the Final Four with win at Bountiful TVvo days later Sky a View rallied from deficits of 2-- 0 and 1 to defeat Highlandln a shootout in the semis' 1- -0 ' holding on for a 3-- 2 3-- win: Y 'V- V'v' ' ' a Brian Hebdon found the back of the net twice to help lead the Bobcats to a 34) win over Timpview in opener their-hom- May 21 2004 : e 62004 April : f J - ) Sky View begins the Region 4 season by tying defending-stat- e champion RoyM ' il ' v - - enthusiasm” ' As as it was for the first 40 minutes the score- board remained undisturbed' ' Continued from B1 “Even though we didn’t have anything to show for it at They deserve this” When the outcome became halftime we felt like if we official the players chaiged onto kept plugging away that we’re the field and celebrated without going to break this team restraint looking to soak in down” Geddes said ' every bitof that blissful feeling It would occur in the 60th In no time they took hold of the minute as Brian Hebdon championship plaque and hoist-ripped a shot past Cropper ed it in the air In a few minutes The play was set up by sopho-mor-e they were huddled near the Vic Carlson who stole a north side of the end jumping V pass deep in the Springville rhythmically while chiuuing zone and raced past “We’re number one” defenders He then took a two It was a victory — a season shot that deflected to savor off a Rdd Devils player right “I love this bunch of kids to Hebdon We’re a family” said Sky Alone in front the senior View’s Eric Anderson who settled the ball before nailing scored the team’s second goal ' it to the left side of the net ' “This is awesome” “It was great hustle by Vic” After a brief pause he took a Hebdon said “I just looked up step back looked in the air and from that moment on I shoutand with eyes closed he knew I needed that ball (The ' “Awesome” v'Vi - - f t ' 3-- " Sky View wraps up its season with ' a 0 win over Springville In the 4A fide game Brian Hebdon and Eric Anderson each had second-hal- f goals far the Cats who finished the season by winning eight of their last 10 games to end with a 2-- f H After its disheartening loss to v- Logan Sky View bounced j 'back four days later to topple ' Mountain Crest 1 It was the ' Bobcats’ first region victory March 30 2004 - x s' 13-5- -2 record - 'a' : Ik - v- n" - v ' ’ VjV one-sid- ed " : - ' (10-8-- - left-foot- ed dFollowing Thursday’s semifi- nal Gcddcs expressed some concern about whether his players would have enough left in the tank for the championship game Though he employs a rotation consisting of 19 players there was uncertainty whether the kids could hold up after an emotionally draining 100 minutes of action the day before ' That idea was quickly dismissed as the Bobcats (13-5-controlled tempo from the outset Sky View goalkeeper Logan Hull didn’t have to make a save in the first half 2) whereas Springville net minder Casey Cropper was kept busy by frequent overtures from the Bobcat offense “Today we knew we had to step it up or we weren't going to win” SV’s Blake Daines said “We came out with -- MB 1) BBMOBBi goalie) had the near post cut off so I had to look for the far post” The Bobcats put the game away 11 minutes later on a beautiful goal involving Kendon Knowles and Anderson Captain of a midfield that played perhaps its finest game Knowles beat a defend- er on the right side and started to curl toward the net Just before reaching the end line he sent the ball toward the ' face of the net at the box Anderson who had 13 other goals this season used his right foot to deflect in No 16 setting off a wild celebration that essentially signaled the end for Springville “It relieved pressure for sure to put it away right there” Kendon Knowles said “I just put the ball in there and JWi Continued from B1 and I wasn't nervous” They certainly played like it as all three were major factors in the contest with Vic Carlson setting up what proved to be the champi- goal and ' Knowles anchoring a stout ' Bobcat backline When asked what that said about his maturity to be able to handle the pressure as a sophomore an unassuming Knowles said “I don’t know We have the talent we just need everyone to play together and play as a team and wedid that (Friday)” Yes Sky View did4 and it started with the defensive effort of the midfield and central defense Led by Knowles and senior Drake ' Fonua the Bobcats never allowed the Red Devil offense to get into a rhythm Just how much did the Springville attack struggle? It only attempted a paltry two shots on goal — one of which ' El LuceraHerald Journal was on a free kick from Sky View's Brian Hebdon (1 4) and Springville's Nate Teuscher chase yards away after the ball during the second half of the state championship game “Courtney has just been so — every game (hie gets) better midfield and players like and better” Geddes said “We Eric finished it” Added Geddes: “There was Kendon Knowles and James didn’t know if he was mature Grieder Sky View never a little feeding frenzy for a enough to take that role on while When we're able to this year but every game he’s showed signs of cracking This was in contrast to the move a ball like that they proved that he belongs there” While Geddes has come to semifinal in which it allowed had to look at it and say ‘we’re toast’”' three goals to Highland in the expect big games from in Knowles who is a starter the were finished first half large They e “I trust my defense 1 10 pergoalie wasn’t the part because the Bobcat Bobcats senior defense was unyielding Hull Brandon cent” only Bobcat sophomore to play Wood said “We knew we had who posted his second shutout a big role in Friday’s game This was especially evident to step it up in this game and of the postseason faced just when Vic Carlson used some three shots on goal From the they all came to play” deft dribbing to beat two And they all left the field back line led by sweeper defenders to his left to set up a the Knowles to champions Kourtney : onship-winning in 35-pl- us : ! one-tim- El LucaroriHareld Jouma-Sk- y View midfielder Vic Carlson brings the ball downfield againsl Springville Friday afternoon shot from just out-side the penalty box Carlson's' shot was deflected to Brian Hebdon who buried the ensu- ing shot from just outside the left-foot- ed box Jared Carlson who was a stabilizing presence in the midfield nearly set up a goal of his own in the 66th minute on a pass to Burris This added depth was a wel- come sight to midfielder and rd Kendon Knowles and the other nine Bobcat seniors Having a wealth of substitutes not only helped Sky View have the energy to win three games in four days but made the difference against the Red Devils Knowles said “The depth was crucial” he said “I think at the end we outran them and I think they looked a little tired” Said Kourtney KnOwles:”We have a ton of good skilled players and just feel safe with anyone on the team in the game” in i j i j j |