Score tied 11 times, Cavemen pull out 41-37 victory in fourth quarter, advance to semifinals
American Fork players celebrate a play in the last seconds of the 5A quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
American Fork players react at the buzzer to their win over Syracuse in the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Taylor Rawson (34) of American Fork drives to the basket during the 5A quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Kyle Line (22) of American Fork shoots during the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Ryan Andrus (23) of American Fork and Logan Chapman (33) of Syracuse fight for a loose ball during the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Ryan Andrus (23) of American Fork goes up for a shot during the 5A quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Christian Wells (5) of American Fork dribbles the ball around Daniel Pehrson (15) of Syracuse during the fourth quarter of the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Taylor Rawson (34) of American Fork shoots during the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Ryan Andrus (23) of American Fork goes up for a shot around Kade Janes (5) of Syracuse during the first quarter of the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Dan Nyman (4), left, and Brody Childs (35), right, of American Fork, celebrate their victory over Syracuse in the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Doug Meacham, the American Fork Coach, reacts to a call during the fourth quarter of the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Taylor Rawson (34) of American Fork drives up the court against Daulton Whatcott (50) of Syracuse during the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Dan Nyman (4) of American Fork looks for an opening around Michael Phelps (21) of Syracuse during the second half of the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Taylor Rawson (34) of American Fork goes up for a shot around Syracuse players including Diante Mitchell (10) during the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Taylor Rawson (34) of American Fork shoots during the 5A quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Brendan Bailey (10) of American Fork tries to drive through Syracuse players on his way to the basket during the first half of the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Christian Wells (5) of American Fork looks for an opening around Michael Phelps (21) of Syracuse during the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Christian Wells (5) of American Fork passes the ball around Logan Chapman (33) of Syracuse players during the 5A quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Brendan Bailey (10) of American Fork shoots during the 5A quarterfinal game between Syracuse and American Fork at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. American Fork won the game. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
With the 5A state quarterfinal basketball game on the line Wednesday, American Fork junior center Ryan Andrus slammed his team into the lead, then Cavemen teammate Dan Nyman closed the door on Syracuse.
The big plays by the two American Fork players finished off a hard-fought battle with the Titans an allowed the Cavemen to emerge with the 41-37 win.
With the score tied at 37, the Caveman called a timeout and set up a play. With the American Fork guards being hounded by the Syracuse defenders near midcourt, the Cavemen inbounds pass went to junior forward Tyler Rawson in the left corner, who lobbed the ball inside to Andrus.
“We were able to clear the backside, so I knew no matter whether my defender was fronting me or playing behind, I’d have a good shot,” Andrus said.
It was probably the easiest shot Andrus had all game. The junior poured in 22 points but none were bigger than that two-hand slam dunk that put American Fork in front.
But Syracuse had plenty of time and patiently attacked the Caveman defense, looking to tie. The Titans even missed a layup but were able to throw the ball off an American Fork player to retain possession.
One miscommunication, however, resulted in a Syracuse pass bouncing out of bounds and gave the Cavemen the ball back.
American Fork was able to get the ball into the front court and it eventually it came to Nyman, who was fouled.
With just a two-point lead, the senior stepped to the line to shoot a crucial one-and-one.
“I was a little nervous but everyone dreams of that moment,” he explained. “I was thinking of all the shots I’d taken in the gym with my dad. I’d shot state-championship-winning free throws every day all summer long.”
Andrus said there wasn’t anyone he would’ve rather had at the line in that situation.
“I have all the confidence in the world in him,” Andrus said. “In practice, coach asked who wanted to hit the free throws and he was the one we wanted to go to.”
With all the pressure on his shoulders, the senior calmly stepped up and drained them both to give the Cavemen the four-point lead.
“He’s the type of guy who sneaks into the gym,” said American Fork head coach Doug Meacham. “He’d have his dad come down to feed him the ball. It’s great to have the guy who put in that type of work have it pay off.”
The Titans were unable to narrow the gap and the Cavemen advanced to the 5A semifinals. That’s a satisfying accomplishment for an American Fork squad that got upset in the quarterfinals in 2012.
“That loss motivated us,” Andrus said. “I don’t think teams saw American Fork as a target to reach the semifinals but this was huge for us.”
Nyman said that he hopes his Cavemen have two more games.
“This is great for our team but we don’t want to be done,” he said. “We want to keep going. We are going to do our best to prepare and then hopefully be there at the end.”
American Fork will play Alta on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Dee Events Center in Ogden with a trip to the 5A state championship game on the line.
Daily Herald sports editor Jared Lloyd can be reached at 801-344-2555 or jlloyd@heraldextra.com. He can also be followed on Twitter at @JaredrLloyd.
Syracuse (37)
Pehrson 7, Whatcott 8, Mitchell 10, Janes 2, Phelps 1, Herfel 4, O’Camb 2, Zaugg 3. Totals 14 7-15 37.
American Fork (41)
Bailey 3, Rawson 8, Andrus 22, Wells 2, Nyman 4, Childs 2. Totals 14 10-15 41.
Syracuse 11 9 10 7 — 37
American Fork 11 8 11 11 — 41
3-point goals: Syracuse 2 (Whatcott 2); American Fork 3 (Andrus 2, Bailey).