In mid-April, I interviewed Jago De Piano, and Orem basketball player and we talked about how much the team's 4A championship meant to him. Here is the article that will appear in the team's yearbook.
Jago De Piano:
On a team loaded with talent, he kept
the Tigers focused on its primary goal
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Jago De Piano’s best memories of the Orem boys basketball season isn’t that of being a player. More importantly, he was a fan.
Prior to the season, he firmly believed in the potential of the Tigers and stuck with his plan to be part of the team. Coach Golden Holt said later that De Piano’s efforts was a constant reminder that the team’s goal was a state championship.
“The season was great,” said De Piano, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound guard. “Coach looked at me as a leader. I’m not as talented as the other players. I was more of a cheerleader on the team. I showed up at practice, played my hardest and tried to make everyone play their hardest.”
De Piano got into 10 games, mostly late when the outcome had been decided. He and the other five seniors started in Orem’s “Senior Night” game against Timpanogos, and he was on the court when the final buzzer sounded ending the Tigers’ 58-50 victory over Olympus in the 4A state championship game.
For De Piano, the experiences he gained during the season was well worth his efforts.
“The season was great,” he said. “I was in it for the long run. I knew we could win a state championship and tried to stay committed. I wanted to do anything to get that ring. (Not playing much) bugged me once in a while, but I did it for the benefit of the team.”
De Piano played soccer at Orem, but it was the basketball experience he’ll remember the most. He appreciated the team chemistry that was created and recognized its importance, even on a team with so much talent.
“It was amazing how are coaches were able to get a group of guys to connect with each other,” he said. “The chemistry was fantastic. With me being a senior, that was the way to go out.”
De Piano said his favorite memory was the feeling he had after Orem won state. One of the best photos taken of any Orem player this season was of De Piano celebrating immediately after the Tigers won the title game.
“I just felt success,” he recalled. “All the hard work paid off … finally. The toll that we had getting different coaches every year. We finally had one that stayed committed to us. It was great to go out with a bang.”
De Piano’s other highlights included the the exuberance he felt in Orem’s gym when the Tigers defeated Lone Peak in the Great Western Shootout, and he appreciated being able to share this season’s experiences with his brother, Tomas, who played on the sophomore team.
After graduation, De Piano plans to enroll at the University of Utah and major in civil engineering, but he said he will continue to follow Orem basketball and cheer on the Tigers.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Lehi basketball: 2011-12 season recap
In early April, I interviewed Lehi (Utah) boys basketball coach Craig Gladwell, who announced his retirement at the end of the season. This is the season recap article that will appear in the Lehi basketball yearbook.
Lehi relishes the message of the Gladwell era
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
In the years to come, Lehi’s 11-10 overall record in the 2011-12 season may not be viewed as a success because the Pioneers didn’t make the 5A state tournament.
But coach Craig Gladwell, and several players, didn’t see it that way.
When the Pioneers dropped their last game of the season at Riverton – where a win would have got them into the tournament – there was sadness and even a few tears.
But it wasn’t so much due to the loss.
It was Gladwell’s last game. He had revealed his decision to his players earlier, and they recognized what it meant. After an amazing 42 seasons affecting thousands of athletes in Idaho and Utah, the 65 year-old coach ended his career and nobody was letting a loss change that.
“I still felt like I went out on top, even if we didn’t make it to the tournament,” said Gladwell. “It was a good group of seniors. We didn’t have much size, but the kids fought hard. We played in a very tough region, and it was a big adjustment.”
The year prior, Lehi was a 4A school and rode the talents of Colton Colledge to the semifinals at the state tournament. Colledge returned and had a great senior season. He averaging 16.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds and made the all-state team, but the parameters were different.
The Pioneers were moved up to 5A – due to their increased enrollment – and placed in the state’s most difficult region. Lone Peak and American Fork tied for first place and had elite teams. In fact, Gladwell and a few other coaches noted that Bingham, Riverton and Lehi probably could have challenged for the region crown in any of the other 5A regions.
“We were 8-3 in the preseason,” Gladwell recalled. “We knew our region would be tough. I felt our aggressive wasn’t as strong as we went through the region. We had to play at our best every game to have a chance.”
Lehi played particularly well at home, compiling a 7-4 record in front of their raucous fans. One night even featured an appearance by the “Bear,” the entertaining mascot of the Utah Jazz. Later, the fans were disappointed at a 53-52 loss to rival Westlake, but the Pioneers came back to give American Fork one of its toughest games of the season before losing 62-58.
Gladwell said the team played one of its best games of the season when it rode the scoring of Colledge, Blake Cleveringa and Ryan Christofferson in a 69-44 victory over Riverton.
The home season ended with another impressive victory – 76-51 against Pleasant Grove.
“We had the most fun that night,” Gladwell noted. “It was a full house and the atmosphere was crazy. It was my last home game and my wife made the announcement (of his impending retirement).
“The kids celebrated like we had won the state championship.”
Big crowds were common at Lehi, and it was that way during many of Gladwell’s 10 years here. At first, the Pioneers were a 3A school and challenged for the state title. Since that time, Lehi has moved several times to different classifications and Gladwell noted that it took time to establish an identity.
With the area’s growth, and another new high school already being planned, that dilemma will be placed in another coach’s hand – Bob Barnes – who had been Gladwell’s assistant.
Lehi will lose five seniors, including Colledge, but its basketball tradition should live on with what Gladwell accomplished.
“Our strength was always our team unity,” he said. “Other teams would often double-team him (Colledge) a lot, but we would try not to rely on him too much.”
Lehi relishes the message of the Gladwell era
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
In the years to come, Lehi’s 11-10 overall record in the 2011-12 season may not be viewed as a success because the Pioneers didn’t make the 5A state tournament.
But coach Craig Gladwell, and several players, didn’t see it that way.
When the Pioneers dropped their last game of the season at Riverton – where a win would have got them into the tournament – there was sadness and even a few tears.
But it wasn’t so much due to the loss.
It was Gladwell’s last game. He had revealed his decision to his players earlier, and they recognized what it meant. After an amazing 42 seasons affecting thousands of athletes in Idaho and Utah, the 65 year-old coach ended his career and nobody was letting a loss change that.
“I still felt like I went out on top, even if we didn’t make it to the tournament,” said Gladwell. “It was a good group of seniors. We didn’t have much size, but the kids fought hard. We played in a very tough region, and it was a big adjustment.”
The year prior, Lehi was a 4A school and rode the talents of Colton Colledge to the semifinals at the state tournament. Colledge returned and had a great senior season. He averaging 16.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds and made the all-state team, but the parameters were different.
The Pioneers were moved up to 5A – due to their increased enrollment – and placed in the state’s most difficult region. Lone Peak and American Fork tied for first place and had elite teams. In fact, Gladwell and a few other coaches noted that Bingham, Riverton and Lehi probably could have challenged for the region crown in any of the other 5A regions.
“We were 8-3 in the preseason,” Gladwell recalled. “We knew our region would be tough. I felt our aggressive wasn’t as strong as we went through the region. We had to play at our best every game to have a chance.”
Lehi played particularly well at home, compiling a 7-4 record in front of their raucous fans. One night even featured an appearance by the “Bear,” the entertaining mascot of the Utah Jazz. Later, the fans were disappointed at a 53-52 loss to rival Westlake, but the Pioneers came back to give American Fork one of its toughest games of the season before losing 62-58.
Gladwell said the team played one of its best games of the season when it rode the scoring of Colledge, Blake Cleveringa and Ryan Christofferson in a 69-44 victory over Riverton.
The home season ended with another impressive victory – 76-51 against Pleasant Grove.
“We had the most fun that night,” Gladwell noted. “It was a full house and the atmosphere was crazy. It was my last home game and my wife made the announcement (of his impending retirement).
“The kids celebrated like we had won the state championship.”
Big crowds were common at Lehi, and it was that way during many of Gladwell’s 10 years here. At first, the Pioneers were a 3A school and challenged for the state title. Since that time, Lehi has moved several times to different classifications and Gladwell noted that it took time to establish an identity.
With the area’s growth, and another new high school already being planned, that dilemma will be placed in another coach’s hand – Bob Barnes – who had been Gladwell’s assistant.
Lehi will lose five seniors, including Colledge, but its basketball tradition should live on with what Gladwell accomplished.
“Our strength was always our team unity,” he said. “Other teams would often double-team him (Colledge) a lot, but we would try not to rely on him too much.”
Pleasant Grove basketball: Season recap
In early April, I interviewed Pleasant Grove (Utah) boys basketball coach Randy McAllister, as well as several of his players, regarding the 2011-12 season. Here is the season recap article that will appear in the team's yearbook.
Tough year doesn’t dampen Vikings’ spirit
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
The Pleasant Grove Vikings had high hopes entering the 2011-12 boys basketball season.
How high? How about 7 feet. That was the height of their center, Alan Hamson, who was easily the tallest high-school player in the state. The Vikings planned to ride his size and increased athletic ability to as much success as possible.
Unfortunately, Pleasant Grove was low on player experience and plagued by being in the state’s most-difficult region. Compared to previous seasons, Hamson had a breakout year, but the Vikings were plagued by turnover issues and never became the threat coach Randy McAllister had hoped.
Pleasant Grove finished with a 4-17 record and wondered what might have been.
“We had a lot of new guys on the varsity, and it took us a while to adapt,” said McAllister. “By the time we got into region, we were a lot better. Our turnovers were down, but our opponents got a lot better, too.”
Lone Peak and American Fork tied for the Region 4 title, and Lone Peak eventually won its second straight 5A title.
“Our schedule was a ‘Murderers Row,’ “ said McAllister, using a baseball term. “I’ll bet any one of five teams in our region could have won … say … Region 2.”
Pleasant Grove was 1-9 in region, beating Bingham 47-43 in front of the home fans, thanks to big games from Hamson, Nathan Sampson and Spencer Pincock. That victory, and the crowd’s reaction, was one of the best memories of the year.
Hamson and junior guard Jake Robley keyed the effort by making several pressure-filled free throws in the fourth quarter.
“After that game, our hopes were up and our fans were excited,” McAllister said.
Turns out that was the last time Pleasant Grove would taste victory. The Vikings dropped their last nine games. However, McAllister noted that the team’s enthusiasm never waned, and that’s what helped make the season a success in his mind.
“The kids always thought that the next game would be the start of a winning streak,” he said.
Truth be told, Pleasant Grove wasn’t expected to fare well this year. The Vikings were picked sixth (last) in the preseason polls. The Vikings had Hamson, a shot-blocking phenom, but little else, the articles read. McAllister said he liked being underestimated and figured it would pay off in certain games.
In the opener, Pleasant Grove took eventual 4A champion Orem to the final buzzer at the Great Zuke Challenge. In the second game, Mike Anderson led a fourth-quarter rally with a pair of three-pointers to force overtime at Payson, but the Lions eventually won. Payson, now a 3A school, finished 18-6 on the year.
The Vikings eventually dropped their first four before Anderson and Spencer Pincock played one of their best games of the season in a 64-59 victory at Jordan. Two nights later, Hamson had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a win over Westlake.
“Those were great wins for us and, certainly, we had a lot of highlights,” said McAllister. “At times, we really played well together and it was great to see the kids win some games.”
The season also included a Christmas break trip to Palm Springs, Calif., which McAllister used as a team-bonding experience. The team enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather and Hamson attracted a lot of attention with some big games.
“Other teams learned quickly they couldn’t drive the lane on him,” said Pincock. “They wanted nothing to do with him.”
Hamson was Pleasant Grove’s top scorer, averaging 10.7 points per game. Not surprisingly, he led the team in rebounds (7.9/game) and had an amazing 123 blocks (5.9/game). He graduated as the school’s leader in that category and his career numbers were the third-highest in Utah history.
Brothers Spencer and Forrest Pincock provided a lot of help on the perimeter and both seemed to have an uncanny ability to know what the other was thinking, often making crisp passes to the other in crucial situations.
Forward Nate Sampson, a dominating player on the football team, also was a big factor.
In the future, the team likely won’t promote its season record, but will appreciate the friendships made and the occasional big play that excited the crowd and gave coach McAllister an idea of what could be.
Tough year doesn’t dampen Vikings’ spirit
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
The Pleasant Grove Vikings had high hopes entering the 2011-12 boys basketball season.
How high? How about 7 feet. That was the height of their center, Alan Hamson, who was easily the tallest high-school player in the state. The Vikings planned to ride his size and increased athletic ability to as much success as possible.
Unfortunately, Pleasant Grove was low on player experience and plagued by being in the state’s most-difficult region. Compared to previous seasons, Hamson had a breakout year, but the Vikings were plagued by turnover issues and never became the threat coach Randy McAllister had hoped.
Pleasant Grove finished with a 4-17 record and wondered what might have been.
“We had a lot of new guys on the varsity, and it took us a while to adapt,” said McAllister. “By the time we got into region, we were a lot better. Our turnovers were down, but our opponents got a lot better, too.”
Lone Peak and American Fork tied for the Region 4 title, and Lone Peak eventually won its second straight 5A title.
“Our schedule was a ‘Murderers Row,’ “ said McAllister, using a baseball term. “I’ll bet any one of five teams in our region could have won … say … Region 2.”
Pleasant Grove was 1-9 in region, beating Bingham 47-43 in front of the home fans, thanks to big games from Hamson, Nathan Sampson and Spencer Pincock. That victory, and the crowd’s reaction, was one of the best memories of the year.
Hamson and junior guard Jake Robley keyed the effort by making several pressure-filled free throws in the fourth quarter.
“After that game, our hopes were up and our fans were excited,” McAllister said.
Turns out that was the last time Pleasant Grove would taste victory. The Vikings dropped their last nine games. However, McAllister noted that the team’s enthusiasm never waned, and that’s what helped make the season a success in his mind.
“The kids always thought that the next game would be the start of a winning streak,” he said.
Truth be told, Pleasant Grove wasn’t expected to fare well this year. The Vikings were picked sixth (last) in the preseason polls. The Vikings had Hamson, a shot-blocking phenom, but little else, the articles read. McAllister said he liked being underestimated and figured it would pay off in certain games.
In the opener, Pleasant Grove took eventual 4A champion Orem to the final buzzer at the Great Zuke Challenge. In the second game, Mike Anderson led a fourth-quarter rally with a pair of three-pointers to force overtime at Payson, but the Lions eventually won. Payson, now a 3A school, finished 18-6 on the year.
The Vikings eventually dropped their first four before Anderson and Spencer Pincock played one of their best games of the season in a 64-59 victory at Jordan. Two nights later, Hamson had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a win over Westlake.
“Those were great wins for us and, certainly, we had a lot of highlights,” said McAllister. “At times, we really played well together and it was great to see the kids win some games.”
The season also included a Christmas break trip to Palm Springs, Calif., which McAllister used as a team-bonding experience. The team enjoyed the sunshine and warmer weather and Hamson attracted a lot of attention with some big games.
“Other teams learned quickly they couldn’t drive the lane on him,” said Pincock. “They wanted nothing to do with him.”
Hamson was Pleasant Grove’s top scorer, averaging 10.7 points per game. Not surprisingly, he led the team in rebounds (7.9/game) and had an amazing 123 blocks (5.9/game). He graduated as the school’s leader in that category and his career numbers were the third-highest in Utah history.
Brothers Spencer and Forrest Pincock provided a lot of help on the perimeter and both seemed to have an uncanny ability to know what the other was thinking, often making crisp passes to the other in crucial situations.
Forward Nate Sampson, a dominating player on the football team, also was a big factor.
In the future, the team likely won’t promote its season record, but will appreciate the friendships made and the occasional big play that excited the crowd and gave coach McAllister an idea of what could be.
Mtn. View football: 2011 season recap
A while back, Mountain View (Idaho) football coach Judd Benedick was interviewed and talked about the 2011 season. This is the article that will appear in the Mavericks' 2011 yearbook.
Mavs’ fine year ends too quickly
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
The most obvious thing that can be said about Mountain View’s 2011 football season is that it ended too early. With a few breaks, things might have been a lot different.
The Mavericks compiled a 7-3 record and were among the top teams in the 5A SIC. Coach Judd Benedick’s squad rebounded nicely from a disappointing 4-5 mark the previous year. Helped by a returning quarterback (sophomore Kai Turner) and a lot less injuries, Mountain View finished tied for second place in league and was the only team to defeat SIC champ Eagle.
“This was our favorite team in five years and, in large part, it had to do with this senior class,” said Benedick. “After last year, we challenged them. They were dedicated and worked hard, and it was not just the weightlifting, but the attitude and approach.”
The Mavericks did it primarily with defense. Led by guys like Austin Brown, Nate Moore, Anthony Lyngar, Lane Chadwick and Dominic Howard, Mountain View tied a school record by limiting opponents to just 16.7 points per game. That kept them in every contest and, in most cases, that was enough.
“We had a fantastic year with one hiccup,” said Benedick. “If we'd have beaten Rocky Mountain, we'd have been a No. 1 seed and it would have made a huge difference."
That 24-17 loss dropped Mountain View to the third spot, and the Mavericks had to bus 400 miles to open the 5A state playoffs at Coeur d’Alene. The Vikings were the defending champion and on their way to a second straight title. Their toughest postseason match, however, was a 27-14 decision over Mountain View.
The outcome didn’t sit well with the Mavericks, who rallied back from the Rocky loss to whip rival Centennial and then pound Eagle, 36-17. They thought that win was the precursor to what might have been the school’s first state title.
“(Against Eagle) our kids performed wonderfully,” said Benedick. “We felt ready to go and the kids executed … and then some. We were really physical and flew around out there.
“No disrespect to Eagle, they’re a fantastic team and could have won it all, but we might have peaked a week too early.”
Even after the long bus ride, the Mavs took a 7-0 lead and seemingly had a 14-0 advantage when Turner ran 81 yards for a touchdown. The play was negated by a questionable holding penalty. Coeur d’Alene took advantage of the momentum swing, and its home field, to eventually win.
“That trip left us with a bad taste,” said Benedick. “The people and the fans up there definitely let us know we were from the south and weren’t very classy. Still, we didn’t make enough plays.”
Overall, however, there were plenty of plays.
Turner, who moved into the starting role as a freshman, made remarkable improvement this year. He threw for almost 1,300 yards. Even more impressive was his 11 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Daniel Lau rushed for 857 yards and Turner added 649.
The offense was able to control the line of scrimmage in most games, and hold on to possession. Going into the Rocky game, Mountain View had won five of six games and most were in convincing fashion.
When it ended so quickly in the playoff’s first round, it felt frustrating. After he had time to reflect, Benedick had this answer:
“What it comes down to in the end is: Do you make them couple of big plays? Do you do the little, tiny things that separate you from being an exceptionally good or great team?
“The team that wins or almost wins the conference, there are really small differences. The kids understand you're not going to dominate every game or run away from people every game. But you have to make some breaks ... that's the difference."
Opponents clearly recognized Mountain View had the league’s best defense. The Mavs put four players on the all-SIC team and Lyngar was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year.
In addition, Mountain View had fewer injury problems, no turnover issues and its special teams fared well. Few people questioned Coeur d’Alene’s status as the state’s top team. After that, it was too close to call.
Mavs’ fine year ends too quickly
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
The most obvious thing that can be said about Mountain View’s 2011 football season is that it ended too early. With a few breaks, things might have been a lot different.
The Mavericks compiled a 7-3 record and were among the top teams in the 5A SIC. Coach Judd Benedick’s squad rebounded nicely from a disappointing 4-5 mark the previous year. Helped by a returning quarterback (sophomore Kai Turner) and a lot less injuries, Mountain View finished tied for second place in league and was the only team to defeat SIC champ Eagle.
“This was our favorite team in five years and, in large part, it had to do with this senior class,” said Benedick. “After last year, we challenged them. They were dedicated and worked hard, and it was not just the weightlifting, but the attitude and approach.”
The Mavericks did it primarily with defense. Led by guys like Austin Brown, Nate Moore, Anthony Lyngar, Lane Chadwick and Dominic Howard, Mountain View tied a school record by limiting opponents to just 16.7 points per game. That kept them in every contest and, in most cases, that was enough.
“We had a fantastic year with one hiccup,” said Benedick. “If we'd have beaten Rocky Mountain, we'd have been a No. 1 seed and it would have made a huge difference."
That 24-17 loss dropped Mountain View to the third spot, and the Mavericks had to bus 400 miles to open the 5A state playoffs at Coeur d’Alene. The Vikings were the defending champion and on their way to a second straight title. Their toughest postseason match, however, was a 27-14 decision over Mountain View.
The outcome didn’t sit well with the Mavericks, who rallied back from the Rocky loss to whip rival Centennial and then pound Eagle, 36-17. They thought that win was the precursor to what might have been the school’s first state title.
“(Against Eagle) our kids performed wonderfully,” said Benedick. “We felt ready to go and the kids executed … and then some. We were really physical and flew around out there.
“No disrespect to Eagle, they’re a fantastic team and could have won it all, but we might have peaked a week too early.”
Even after the long bus ride, the Mavs took a 7-0 lead and seemingly had a 14-0 advantage when Turner ran 81 yards for a touchdown. The play was negated by a questionable holding penalty. Coeur d’Alene took advantage of the momentum swing, and its home field, to eventually win.
“That trip left us with a bad taste,” said Benedick. “The people and the fans up there definitely let us know we were from the south and weren’t very classy. Still, we didn’t make enough plays.”
Overall, however, there were plenty of plays.
Turner, who moved into the starting role as a freshman, made remarkable improvement this year. He threw for almost 1,300 yards. Even more impressive was his 11 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Daniel Lau rushed for 857 yards and Turner added 649.
The offense was able to control the line of scrimmage in most games, and hold on to possession. Going into the Rocky game, Mountain View had won five of six games and most were in convincing fashion.
When it ended so quickly in the playoff’s first round, it felt frustrating. After he had time to reflect, Benedick had this answer:
“What it comes down to in the end is: Do you make them couple of big plays? Do you do the little, tiny things that separate you from being an exceptionally good or great team?
“The team that wins or almost wins the conference, there are really small differences. The kids understand you're not going to dominate every game or run away from people every game. But you have to make some breaks ... that's the difference."
Opponents clearly recognized Mountain View had the league’s best defense. The Mavs put four players on the all-SIC team and Lyngar was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year.
In addition, Mountain View had fewer injury problems, no turnover issues and its special teams fared well. Few people questioned Coeur d’Alene’s status as the state’s top team. After that, it was too close to call.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Orem basketball: Christian Clark profile
On April 15, I interviewed Christian Clark, who played on the Orem (Utah) High School boys basketball team. He was one of the pivotal players on the squad that won the 4A state title. Here is the article that will appear in this year's Orem boys basketball yearbook.
Christian
Clark:
He had speed, size and the respect
of his family for winning a state title
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Christian Clark has a family full of Tigers. His mother, Jill, for instance, is an Orem High graduate and so are a slew of aunts, uncles and cousins.
For years, they had noted that Orem had never won a boys basketball state title.
This year, one of their own came to the rescue.
It meant a lot to Clark to see the school end that 56-year drought. He contributed mightily to the effort and – after the championship game – held the UHSAA trophy tightly. Later, he was among six or seven busloads of players and fans that returned to Orem High School from the Maverik Center. That trip itself was one of his greatest memories.
“We drove through the city streets on the bus, and (the police) turned on their sirens,” he said. “Cars were honking at us. It was great. It must have taken us 15 minutes to get through Orem because it was so slow. We were savoring every moment.”
You can bet the Clark family was, too.
Listed at 6-foot-7, Christian initially stood out for being one of the tallest players on Orem’s team, but he was also among the most athletic. In fact, if not for what happened on the basketball court this year, he might have been remembered more for his soccer ability. Clark played on Orem’s boys soccer team and was also one of its top players.
In basketball, however, he had a different role. He was one of the first players off the bench. He averaged 4.5 points per game and 2.1 rebounds. He used his speed to get steals and was often one of the first players down court on a fast break.
With those tools, and his size, it gave him several opportunities to dunk. Those dunks, especially one against Woods Cross in the 4A state tournament, usually resulted in momentum swings and made him a fan favorite.
“I didn’t make a lot of big plays; I was mostly a team player,” Clark said. “We had a deep team that was really talented. We learned to play together and win, even with a target on our chest.”
Clark saw action in a few varsity games as a sophomore, but earned a lot of playing time during his junior and senior seasons. He said he saw a big difference in Orem basketball as soon as Golden Holt became head coach.
“He was a difference-maker,” Clark said. “We had some good talent, but it was his coaching ability that propelled us to where we needed to be.
“I met him at some meetings and he seemed like a good guy. A lot of coaches try to use scare tactics and are aggressive. He’s not as aggressive as a coach. He’s one of those coaches you’re not scared to play for. He doesn’t use punishments. He used rewards. He has a coaching knack.”
Clark wasn’t certain Orem basketball would be so successful last year, when the Tigers finished with a 7-15 mark. However, he continued to buy into Holt’s plan. He played in many of the team’s 60 summer games and, after a short break, noted that things really began to click in the fall.
“When we got back together, we started to see things differently,” he said. “We knew we could be really good. Even through region, we had some close games, but I never felt like we were going to lose.”
Clark said his favorite highlights of the season included beating rival Mountain View twice. He said games against the Bruins, as well as Orem’s contests in the Great Western Shootout were exciting because of the huge fan support it drew.
“We had such a fun environment to play in,” he said. “I remember going to games as a kid and they were so exciting. It was fun to be part of it.
“There was also a huge increase in school spirit. When we started winning, the other kids got a lot more interested. They didn’t treat me any different, but it was a fun thing for everyone there.”
Another highlight was “Senior Night,” when he and Orem’s four other seniors were placed in the starting lineup. Fittingly, at the end of the season, when the Tigers were holding on to an eight-point lead over Olympus in the 4A championship game, those same seniors were on the court together again.
When the season ended, Clark joined the Orem soccer team. After graduation, he said he wanted to attend BYU and then go on an LDS Church mission.
Christian
Clark:
He had speed, size and the respect
of his family for winning a state title
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Christian Clark has a family full of Tigers. His mother, Jill, for instance, is an Orem High graduate and so are a slew of aunts, uncles and cousins.
For years, they had noted that Orem had never won a boys basketball state title.
This year, one of their own came to the rescue.
It meant a lot to Clark to see the school end that 56-year drought. He contributed mightily to the effort and – after the championship game – held the UHSAA trophy tightly. Later, he was among six or seven busloads of players and fans that returned to Orem High School from the Maverik Center. That trip itself was one of his greatest memories.
“We drove through the city streets on the bus, and (the police) turned on their sirens,” he said. “Cars were honking at us. It was great. It must have taken us 15 minutes to get through Orem because it was so slow. We were savoring every moment.”
You can bet the Clark family was, too.
Listed at 6-foot-7, Christian initially stood out for being one of the tallest players on Orem’s team, but he was also among the most athletic. In fact, if not for what happened on the basketball court this year, he might have been remembered more for his soccer ability. Clark played on Orem’s boys soccer team and was also one of its top players.
In basketball, however, he had a different role. He was one of the first players off the bench. He averaged 4.5 points per game and 2.1 rebounds. He used his speed to get steals and was often one of the first players down court on a fast break.
With those tools, and his size, it gave him several opportunities to dunk. Those dunks, especially one against Woods Cross in the 4A state tournament, usually resulted in momentum swings and made him a fan favorite.
“I didn’t make a lot of big plays; I was mostly a team player,” Clark said. “We had a deep team that was really talented. We learned to play together and win, even with a target on our chest.”
Clark saw action in a few varsity games as a sophomore, but earned a lot of playing time during his junior and senior seasons. He said he saw a big difference in Orem basketball as soon as Golden Holt became head coach.
“He was a difference-maker,” Clark said. “We had some good talent, but it was his coaching ability that propelled us to where we needed to be.
“I met him at some meetings and he seemed like a good guy. A lot of coaches try to use scare tactics and are aggressive. He’s not as aggressive as a coach. He’s one of those coaches you’re not scared to play for. He doesn’t use punishments. He used rewards. He has a coaching knack.”
Clark wasn’t certain Orem basketball would be so successful last year, when the Tigers finished with a 7-15 mark. However, he continued to buy into Holt’s plan. He played in many of the team’s 60 summer games and, after a short break, noted that things really began to click in the fall.
“When we got back together, we started to see things differently,” he said. “We knew we could be really good. Even through region, we had some close games, but I never felt like we were going to lose.”
Clark said his favorite highlights of the season included beating rival Mountain View twice. He said games against the Bruins, as well as Orem’s contests in the Great Western Shootout were exciting because of the huge fan support it drew.
“We had such a fun environment to play in,” he said. “I remember going to games as a kid and they were so exciting. It was fun to be part of it.
“There was also a huge increase in school spirit. When we started winning, the other kids got a lot more interested. They didn’t treat me any different, but it was a fun thing for everyone there.”
Another highlight was “Senior Night,” when he and Orem’s four other seniors were placed in the starting lineup. Fittingly, at the end of the season, when the Tigers were holding on to an eight-point lead over Olympus in the 4A championship game, those same seniors were on the court together again.
When the season ended, Clark joined the Orem soccer team. After graduation, he said he wanted to attend BYU and then go on an LDS Church mission.
Orem basketball: Josh Pollard profile
In early April, I interviewed Orem (Utah) senior Josh Pollard, who played a major role in the Tigers' state championship run this season. Here is the article that will appear in the team's post-season yearbook.
Josh
Pollard:
His breakout senior season helped
bury bad memories of previous year
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Josh Pollard wasn’t happy at how his junior season ended.
He was in coach Golden Holt’s inaugural starting lineup, and had three 20-point games (including a 28-point effort vs. Kearns) before a thumb injury put him on the bench. When he returned three weeks later, he had to play with a cast and wasn’t the same.
“It was tough,” he recalled. “I really didn’t feel like I could do anything other than play defense.”
One year later, that season was just a far away memory.
As a senior, Pollard was one of the team captains. He played every game and was instrumental in each. He averaged 8.9 points per game and was the team’s leader in rebounds and steals.
His high-scoring game was a 21-point effort at home against Provo. As Orem rolled to a 24-1 record and its first boys basketball state championship, Pollard set a school record for most steals in a game (5.5 vs. Salem Hills). He was named Region 8’s Defensive Player of the Year and both Salt Lake newspapers made him second team all-state.
“I got stronger and quicker in the offseason. That’s what helped me; It’s what I needed,” Pollard said. “I was working out with a trainer four days a week … going for weightlifting and speed. By the end of the summer, some of the guys (teammates) starting coming with me. I had added a few inches on my vertical (leap) and it helped our team.”
In the Pollard family, basketball is king and a lot is expected. His dad (Alan) is 6-10 and is well-known locally for leading Mountain View to a state title. He also has two twin brothers (eighth grade) who are 6-5 already.
Combined with his injury-plagued junior year, that was plenty of motivation.
“Basketball is my only sport and it was great how we finished,” he said. “We had a lot of fun along the way and the championship seemed to unite the whole school.”
Orem improved as the season progressed, primarily on defense. Pollard said the team began to accept assistant coach Greg Sheide’s formula and the Tigers limited opponents to an average of 42.0 ppg at state.
Pollard said his best game was the 4A semifinals, when he scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in Orem’s 44-36 win over Bountiful. However, coach Golden Holt felt Pollard might have been at his best in the state final.
It came during a timeout when Olympus had narrowed Orem’s lead to four points with about five minutes left. Pollard was on the bench with four fouls and Holt let him do the talking.
“Josh has been through a lot here at Orem and took the lead as a senior to let these guys know they couldn’t let up,” Holt said. “He’s been a big leader for us all year long and he gave them a bit of a pep talk there and they responded.”
Pollard celebrated with the rest of the team, and he called the title game the highlight of the season … barely.
“Between (beating) Lone Peak and the state championship, I would probably say state … still … because it was for the championship. But Lone Peak had that kind of atmosphere. It’s the most active I’ve ever seen the (Orem) Fieldhouse. There were so many students there. They were jumping up and down and it even cracked the floor.
“I celebrated more after the Lone Peak game than at state,” he added. “At state, we kind of held on and it wasn’t traumatic. It was a cooler game to win, but it wasn’t as emotional. The Lone Peak game was really intense and it was soooo loud.”
It wiped away any bad memories of the previous year, and provided a bond between him and his teammates that won’t end. Pollard said he would like to continue playing basketball after graduation, but first he will go on an LDS Church mission.
“I had a few schools interested in me but they wanted me to come there first,” he said. “I’ll go on a mission and then see what happens.”
Josh
Pollard:
His breakout senior season helped
bury bad memories of previous year
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Josh Pollard wasn’t happy at how his junior season ended.
He was in coach Golden Holt’s inaugural starting lineup, and had three 20-point games (including a 28-point effort vs. Kearns) before a thumb injury put him on the bench. When he returned three weeks later, he had to play with a cast and wasn’t the same.
“It was tough,” he recalled. “I really didn’t feel like I could do anything other than play defense.”
One year later, that season was just a far away memory.
As a senior, Pollard was one of the team captains. He played every game and was instrumental in each. He averaged 8.9 points per game and was the team’s leader in rebounds and steals.
His high-scoring game was a 21-point effort at home against Provo. As Orem rolled to a 24-1 record and its first boys basketball state championship, Pollard set a school record for most steals in a game (5.5 vs. Salem Hills). He was named Region 8’s Defensive Player of the Year and both Salt Lake newspapers made him second team all-state.
“I got stronger and quicker in the offseason. That’s what helped me; It’s what I needed,” Pollard said. “I was working out with a trainer four days a week … going for weightlifting and speed. By the end of the summer, some of the guys (teammates) starting coming with me. I had added a few inches on my vertical (leap) and it helped our team.”
In the Pollard family, basketball is king and a lot is expected. His dad (Alan) is 6-10 and is well-known locally for leading Mountain View to a state title. He also has two twin brothers (eighth grade) who are 6-5 already.
Combined with his injury-plagued junior year, that was plenty of motivation.
“Basketball is my only sport and it was great how we finished,” he said. “We had a lot of fun along the way and the championship seemed to unite the whole school.”
Orem improved as the season progressed, primarily on defense. Pollard said the team began to accept assistant coach Greg Sheide’s formula and the Tigers limited opponents to an average of 42.0 ppg at state.
Pollard said his best game was the 4A semifinals, when he scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in Orem’s 44-36 win over Bountiful. However, coach Golden Holt felt Pollard might have been at his best in the state final.
It came during a timeout when Olympus had narrowed Orem’s lead to four points with about five minutes left. Pollard was on the bench with four fouls and Holt let him do the talking.
“Josh has been through a lot here at Orem and took the lead as a senior to let these guys know they couldn’t let up,” Holt said. “He’s been a big leader for us all year long and he gave them a bit of a pep talk there and they responded.”
Pollard celebrated with the rest of the team, and he called the title game the highlight of the season … barely.
“Between (beating) Lone Peak and the state championship, I would probably say state … still … because it was for the championship. But Lone Peak had that kind of atmosphere. It’s the most active I’ve ever seen the (Orem) Fieldhouse. There were so many students there. They were jumping up and down and it even cracked the floor.
“I celebrated more after the Lone Peak game than at state,” he added. “At state, we kind of held on and it wasn’t traumatic. It was a cooler game to win, but it wasn’t as emotional. The Lone Peak game was really intense and it was soooo loud.”
It wiped away any bad memories of the previous year, and provided a bond between him and his teammates that won’t end. Pollard said he would like to continue playing basketball after graduation, but first he will go on an LDS Church mission.
“I had a few schools interested in me but they wanted me to come there first,” he said. “I’ll go on a mission and then see what happens.”
Orem basketball: David Runyan profile
In early April, I interviewed Orem (Utah) High School senior David Runyan, who was part of the school's first championship basketball team. Here is the article that will appear in the school's basketball yearbook, commemorating the season.
David Runyan:
The real MVP? His ability to change
made him a silent contributor to team
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
All along, David Runyan had big plans for his senior year at Orem High School.
An accomplished athlete, he had a rare leaping ability that he used wherever he could. He also had a strong interest in basketball and looked to contribute.
After Orem’s 7-15 season his junior year, all the talk was about how much better 2011-12 would be and he wondered what role he would play.
“It was kind of hard to believe what coach Holt was saying,” he admitted. “We had a losing record and we lost the play-in game. But we got a few (more) kids this year and we put it all together. By the time the season started, we knew we could do it.”
The success of the team during the summer tournaments was important, but so was two key additions. Zach Hunsaker moved from Woods Cross after a stellar sophomore season there, and Quinn Peters arrived within Orem’s boundaries from Lone Peak. Both players were guards – the same as Runyan – and talented.
“At first, it really bugged me,” Runyan said. “I had worked here for three years and was looking forward to being the starting point guard. But I got to know them and they became my best friends.
“All in all, when it came down to it, we are friends. We played together and it was a team effort. Everyone had their role.”
It also led to a championship season that every player will remember forever.
Runyan got into 19 games and, although he played sparingly, got onto the floor at the Maverik Center in three of the four state tournament contests. He scored nine points but, most importantly, he felt like part of what Orem accomplished.
“The real MVPs on our team were those seniors,” said Holt. “You think they were happy to see all those guys transfer in? They figured out their roles on the team.
“It was their attitudes that helped us accomplish what we did. We couldn’t have done without that.”
Looking back, it ended up a good year for everyone.
“I really liked the guys on the team,” he said. “In years past, we’ve had good guys but we never got together like we did this year. We were all focused on one goal and that was the state championship. Nobody was affected by how much playing time they got.”
There were plenty of highlights. The shining moment, of course, was Orem’s 58-50 victory over Olympus in the 4A state championship final. Runyan played just one minute, but relished every part of it.
“It was amazing,” he recalled. “It’s a feeling you’ll never forget. There was such a rush when that (final) buzzer went off. That was really special.
“I was on the court with the other seniors. That was really cool. Everybody ran out on the court, and it was such a rush.
“The closest thing I’ve ever come to winning this was winning a championship in Little League Baseball and this was a lot better.”
Runyan said, however, that the Tigers’ 57-51 win over Lone Peak at the Great Western Shootout might have felt even better.
“We were the underdogs,” he said. “Nobody thought we would win. It was good for us to go out there and beat the best school in the state. That was a changing point. It made us realize we were that good.”
Runyan felt his best game – personally – came Feb. 21 on “Senior Night,” when the Tigers beat Timpanogos 67-62. Holt started all the seniors in that game and it was there that Runyan recalled his favorite play.
“I got the ball and ran down and scored on a fastbreak,” he said. “I knew it would be my last game at home and it felt really good. Afterward, I got high fives from friends.”
With basketball season over and the memories beginning to fade, Runyan decided to try to create a few more on the Orem track team.
Runyan played football as a freshman and sophomore, but decided to focus on basketball. When he looks back at his decision, he had no regrets.
“I played JV basketball last year and we did really well,” he said, “but nothing compares to this year’s varsity basketball. I’m a smaller guy and I was just more passionate about basketball. It’s a great sport.”
Runyan said his best friends on the team were fellow seniors Cole Payne, Josh Pollard, Christian Clark and Jago De Piano and that he considered Mountain View to be Orem’s biggest rival. He appreciated his parents – Ray and Kim – coming to his games and his six brothers and sisters. Of all the things he will miss, he included coach Greg Sheide’s defensive workouts.
“Coach Sheide would hammer us and hammer us about our defense,” he said. “The thing about Sheide is he yells at you but we all know that he cares about us and is a nice guy and that’s what carried us at state.”
David Runyan:
The real MVP? His ability to change
made him a silent contributor to team
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
All along, David Runyan had big plans for his senior year at Orem High School.
An accomplished athlete, he had a rare leaping ability that he used wherever he could. He also had a strong interest in basketball and looked to contribute.
After Orem’s 7-15 season his junior year, all the talk was about how much better 2011-12 would be and he wondered what role he would play.
“It was kind of hard to believe what coach Holt was saying,” he admitted. “We had a losing record and we lost the play-in game. But we got a few (more) kids this year and we put it all together. By the time the season started, we knew we could do it.”
The success of the team during the summer tournaments was important, but so was two key additions. Zach Hunsaker moved from Woods Cross after a stellar sophomore season there, and Quinn Peters arrived within Orem’s boundaries from Lone Peak. Both players were guards – the same as Runyan – and talented.
“At first, it really bugged me,” Runyan said. “I had worked here for three years and was looking forward to being the starting point guard. But I got to know them and they became my best friends.
“All in all, when it came down to it, we are friends. We played together and it was a team effort. Everyone had their role.”
It also led to a championship season that every player will remember forever.
Runyan got into 19 games and, although he played sparingly, got onto the floor at the Maverik Center in three of the four state tournament contests. He scored nine points but, most importantly, he felt like part of what Orem accomplished.
“The real MVPs on our team were those seniors,” said Holt. “You think they were happy to see all those guys transfer in? They figured out their roles on the team.
“It was their attitudes that helped us accomplish what we did. We couldn’t have done without that.”
Looking back, it ended up a good year for everyone.
“I really liked the guys on the team,” he said. “In years past, we’ve had good guys but we never got together like we did this year. We were all focused on one goal and that was the state championship. Nobody was affected by how much playing time they got.”
There were plenty of highlights. The shining moment, of course, was Orem’s 58-50 victory over Olympus in the 4A state championship final. Runyan played just one minute, but relished every part of it.
“It was amazing,” he recalled. “It’s a feeling you’ll never forget. There was such a rush when that (final) buzzer went off. That was really special.
“I was on the court with the other seniors. That was really cool. Everybody ran out on the court, and it was such a rush.
“The closest thing I’ve ever come to winning this was winning a championship in Little League Baseball and this was a lot better.”
Runyan said, however, that the Tigers’ 57-51 win over Lone Peak at the Great Western Shootout might have felt even better.
“We were the underdogs,” he said. “Nobody thought we would win. It was good for us to go out there and beat the best school in the state. That was a changing point. It made us realize we were that good.”
Runyan felt his best game – personally – came Feb. 21 on “Senior Night,” when the Tigers beat Timpanogos 67-62. Holt started all the seniors in that game and it was there that Runyan recalled his favorite play.
“I got the ball and ran down and scored on a fastbreak,” he said. “I knew it would be my last game at home and it felt really good. Afterward, I got high fives from friends.”
With basketball season over and the memories beginning to fade, Runyan decided to try to create a few more on the Orem track team.
Runyan played football as a freshman and sophomore, but decided to focus on basketball. When he looks back at his decision, he had no regrets.
“I played JV basketball last year and we did really well,” he said, “but nothing compares to this year’s varsity basketball. I’m a smaller guy and I was just more passionate about basketball. It’s a great sport.”
Runyan said his best friends on the team were fellow seniors Cole Payne, Josh Pollard, Christian Clark and Jago De Piano and that he considered Mountain View to be Orem’s biggest rival. He appreciated his parents – Ray and Kim – coming to his games and his six brothers and sisters. Of all the things he will miss, he included coach Greg Sheide’s defensive workouts.
“Coach Sheide would hammer us and hammer us about our defense,” he said. “The thing about Sheide is he yells at you but we all know that he cares about us and is a nice guy and that’s what carried us at state.”
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About Me
- Bruce
- I am the author of Matchup, which provides yearbooks to high school sports teams, commemorating their seasons.
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