For much of Friday night's home game against visiting Copper Hills, Lehi head boys basketball coach Craig Gladwell could've been wondering if his team was playing some sort of game of Red Light, Green Light.

The Pioneers played stop-and-go basketball for much of the contest but got it going from the foul line when it counted, making 11-of-14 fouls shots down the stretch to hold off a furious Grizzlies rally and get the win, 56-52.

"It was frustrating because we had some good runs," Gladwell said. "Three times we had them almost down and out but then we got sloppy and let them back into it. They're a physical team and that threw us off a little. They hung in there."

All signs signaled go from the start for the home team as they played very well at both ends of the court.

Defensively, they held Copper Hills to just four points in the first quarter and only two more halfway through the second, meaning the Grizzlies had six points after nearly 12 minutes of play.

The offense started clicking as well as a breakaway layup by Lehi sophomore Zach Stanley pushed the early Pioneer advantage to 22-6.

But then the team appeared to run into a big stop sign. The Pioneers failed to score for the last four minutes of the half and the visitors put in nine straight to put the game back within reach.

The second half proved to be more of the same as Lehi started with seven in a row, only to have Copper Hills coming roaring back.

"We had a decent start but they are a resilient team," Gladwell said. "They used their physical play and quickness well and I got frustrated with some of our defensive breakdowns."

The lead shrank to as low as two points midway through the fourth quarter but although the Pioneers weren't making very many shots, they got the job done late at the foul line.

"We shot well from the free throw line and that helped us hang in there and finish it off," the Lehi coach said.

It was a pair of clutch shots by guard Corey Smith -- who had 11 points for the game -- that extended the lead after Grizzlies had got the advantage down to two points.

He wasn't alone in making the shots as junior center William Walker also did his part, making 9-of-11 on his way to a game-high 27 points.

"He's learning and getting better," Gladwell said. "He forced a few shots but he also slipped the ball to his teammates a couple of times. If he can do that, it will be harder for opponents to double and triple team him, something I think we might see when we get to region."

Copper Hills was led by a pair of quick guards that gave the home team fits. Steve Cordova had 20 points including four treys, while counterpart Tyler Faalogo put in 14.

The Pioneers still have three more games before they start league play in Region 4 and Gladwell said he's ready to get them going again now that the break is over.

"You've got to get your conditioning and your teamwork back," he explained. "You need games like these to get your rhythm back."

Lehi (6-2) will get another chance to do that when it facesDixie at home at 4 p.m. today.

• Jared Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@heraldextra.com.

COPPER HILLS (52)

Faalogo 14, Cordova 20, Stelter 7, Allen 3, Spencer 2, Larsen 2, Shedden 2. Totals 17 8-14 52.

LEHI (56)

Walker 27, Smith 11, Scott 8. Obioma 4, Faleao 4, Stanley 2. Totals 15 25-30 56.

Copper Hills 4 11 16 21 -- 52

Lehi 14 8 13 21 -- 56

3-point goals: Copper Hills 8 (Cordova 4, Stelter 2, Faalogo, Allen); Lehi 1 (Faleao).