Second-quarter spurt helps Red Devils get win over Orem

For much of the basketball season, Springville has experienced some success while playing from behind. Turns out the Red Devils are even better at playing with a lead.

Springville went on a 16-4 run in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead, then held off each of Orem's comeback attempts for a big 79-68 Region 7 win on Tuesday night in Springville.

After the Tigers outplayed the Red Devils in the opening minutes, Kurt Averett drilled a 3 at the buzzer to tie the game at 18 apiece. Then in the second quarter, the Mike Salazar show began.

With the score tied at 22-22 two minutes into the second quarter, the senior point guard took over. Salazar got Springville's crucial run started by threading the needle on an assist to Brad Kohler. Moments later, Salazar drilled a 3-pointer from well beyond the arc. On Orem's ensuing possession, Averett blocked a shot, Salazar led the fast break and dished back to Averett, who converted on a reverse layup to give the Red Devils a lightning-quick 7-0 run.

After an Alex Mortensen layup, a pair of scores from Kohler and another long 3 by Salazar, the run had stretched to 16-4 and Springville (7-5, 2-1) possessed a 38-26 lead which it never relinquished. Salazar finished the game with 22 points and eight assists.

"In my opinion, Michael Salazar is one of the top three point guards in the state, if not the top," said Springville coach Chris Kitchen. "He works hard on both ends of the court and I can't say enough good about him."

As impressive as Salazar and the Red Devils were in building their lead, the way they quickly extinguished any spark Orem could generate throughout the rest of the game was even more impressive.

Early in the third quarter, the Tigers pulled within five at 39-34, but Salazar responded with a 3-pointer at the other end. After Orem's Ian Harward made a 10-foot jumper to pull within seven, Dan Foster drilled a 3 on Springville's end. Goose Kallunki made a 3-pointer for the Tigers, only to have Salazar find Kohler inside for two points. Still in the third quarter, Harward converted a three-point play to make it a 50-44 game, only to have Mortensen return the favor on the other end to help the Red Devils take a 53-44 lead.

"Me personally, I don't like when the other team scores, so I try to make sure that we at least match their points (on the next possession)," Salazar said. "We executed our offense almost perfectly in the second half."

Despite the solid play of Springville, Orem (7-6, 1-3) had a chance to make it a game late after another Kallunki 3-pointer made the score 73-68 with 1:41 left to play. The Tigers appeared to get what they needed when Tucker Lamb swiped the ball away from Salazar. However, the ball rolled across the floor, where Averett scooped it up and put in a layup to extend the Red Devil lead to 75-68 and effectively end Orem's chances.

"I thought our team just played a real good ball game on both ends of the court," Kitchen said. "The big thing our team did tonight is they played together."

In addition to Salazar's big night, the Red Devils were also led by senior forward Brad Kohler, who had 21 points and was the recipient of several of Salazar's assists.

"He's the one I feel most comfortable with," Salazar said of Kohler. "With him, it's just one of those point guard-to-forward kind of things."

Averett, Mortensen and Foster also did an outstanding job in their supporting roles, finishing with 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Orem was paced by seniors Daniel Hockersmith and Kallunki, who scored 16 points apiece. Harward added 13 points.

OREM (68)

Hockersmith 16, Lamb 4, Kallunki 16, Harward 13, Robison 6, Jeffs 2, Eggbert 4, Warner 6, Green 2. 26 13-18 68.

SPRINGVILLE (79)

Salazar 22, Mortensen 11, Kohler 21, Foster 10, Day 2, Averett 13. 24 23-32 79.

Orem 18 14 18 18 -- 68

Springville 18 21 21 19 -- 79

3-point goals: Orem 4 (Kallunki 4), Springville 8 (Salazar 4, Mortensen, Averett, Kohler, Foster).