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As Super Tuesday came and went without any clear-cut frontrunners being established in the political realm, the Region 7 basketball picture became even clearer as Provo continued its dominance in defeating Orem 55-48 at Tiger Fieldhouse.
Whereas many voters were forced to choose between their various likes and dislikes, the Bulldogs only had to choose between a variety of options, all of which had to look good to Provo coach Craig Drury -- There was the tough-to-stop inside presence of Brandon Davies, the savvy veteran who makes free throws and plays superior defense in Scott Edwards and the flashy young superstar in the making in Kyle Collinsworth.
Although the Tigers kept the game close until the fourth quarter, the Provo trio proved to be too much for them to overcome.
The Bulldogs entered the final period with a 31-30 lead and quickly extended that advantage. Collinsworth hit a pair of free throws. Adam Law got a quick steal and passed off to Will Isom for a transition bucket that put Provo up 35-31. Moments later, Davies scored a layup down low and Collinsworth made a free throw to give the Bulldogs a 38-31 lead midway through the fourth.
"We just decided to go play," Edwards said. "We were kind of goofing around the first three quarters and we finally started to play hard."
From that point on Collinsworth and Edwards put on a free-throw shooting clinic, especially Edwards who made 8-of-8 from the line in the fourth quarter to quell any brief uprising the feisty Orem team could manage.
"What was he, 40-for-40 or something like that from the line?" Drury said with a laugh. "He almost missed one, that's the closest he came."
The Tigers pulled within five at 41-36 only to watch Edwards go perfect from the line on Provo's possession. Goose Kallunki made a tough layup, but Collinsworth responded with a pair of free throws on the other end. With less than a minute to play, Orem's Jake Green hit a 3-pointer and Kallunki converted a three-point play, however both times the Bulldogs countered with Edwards' steady aim on the other end.
"I want the ball in my hand 'cause I know I can make them," Edwards said. "I've made them in the past in the fourth quarter."
Provo nearly took control of the game early on and led 21-15 at one point after going on an 11-4 run. The Tigers quickly responded with an 11-3 run that spanned parts of the second and third quarters and pulled within one going into the final frame. However, Provo's quick start in the fourth effectively ended the home team's chances.
"You just can't get behind Provo in the fourth quarter, they're just too dang good," said Orem coach Mike Conner. "I thought overall we played really well, I just think Provo's very good."
Edwards led the balanced Provo scoring attack with 15 points, while Collinsworth added 14 and Davies had 12 despite battling foul trouble.
Kallunki had yet another solid game and kept the Tigers in it by scoring 23 points and pulling down nine rebounds.
Ironically, the loss was the second of the day for Orem as Region 7's principals ruled on Tuesday morning that the Tigers had to forfeit an earlier win over Mountain View for inadvertently using an ineligible player.
"Today wasn't a great day for us," Conner said. "But it's like I told the kids, we can't do anything about the past. We've got to get ready for Thursday night."
No. 1 ranked Provo improved to 9-0 in region play, however Coach Drury still sees plenty of room for improvement in his team.
"I'm never going to complain about 9-0," Drury said. "I think we're playing pretty well, but obviously we've got to play better."
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