American Fork girls basketball rolls in win over Pleasant Grove
The Pleasant Grove girls basketball team had frustrated American Fork into a sloppy third quarter. The Vikings used offensive rebounds and active hands in the passing lanes to stall the Cavemen’s previously fluid offense and cut their double-digit lead to nine entering the fourth quarter.
Cassidy Fraughton responded by fighting fire with fire.
The senior guard started the final period with a jumper in the key. She followed with a blocked shot on the other end, a defensive rebound and another block before American Fork’s offense returned.
The Cavemen made sure the Vikings couldn’t do likewise, holding them to just two points in the fourth to seal a 54-33 region win.
The victory came two days before American Fork’s big showdown with undefeated Bingham. Cavemen head coach Corey Clayton, however, said the team was too preoccupied with Pleasant Grove to dwell on that.
“We haven’t even thought about Thursday yet, because in our region you can’t look past any team. We’re excited for the opportunity [to play Bingham]. We’re just gonna go and do what we do, Bingham’s gonna do what they do, and it should be a really good game.”
It could be a good game for the Cavemen if they get a repeat of Tuesday night’s balance on offense. Four players scored in double figures, led by Fraughton’s 13 points. Amy Bergeson finished with 12, Jaylee Shepherd had 11 and Bryanna Adams added 10.
The Cavemen reaped the benefits of the team’s pass-friendly offense in a variety of ways in the first half. Bergeson benefitted from off-ball cuts down the key, receiving quick feeds for easy layups. Shepherd hit three 3-pointers on wide-open looks resulting from American Fork’s ball movement.
Adams made her presence felt from the mid-range area, stopping for pull-up jumpers in transition or on second chance attempts.
“Cassidy obviously kind of facilitates,” Clayton said. “The nice thing about her is she can get herself shots, but you have to give her attention and so she opens up shots [for others]. When Jaylee starts shooting it from out there, she can light it up. She made a bunch of big shots.”
The Vikings, however, refused to let the game get away from them despite trailing 14-2 in the early stages. McKenna Miles led Pleasant Grove with 13 points, including two 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Miles’ second triple came on a second-chance opportunity to close the half. A Maile Richrdson block sent the ball toward Miles in the corner, where she quickly picked it up and fired as the second-quarter clock wound down, cutting the Caveman lead to 12.
American Fork struggled to execute as easily in the third quarter. After opening up a 14-point lead, the Vikings began edging their way back in on defense and at the free throw line. Miles made a free throw, then the Cavemen turned it over on an offensive foul. Two Viking offensive rebounds led to a baseline jumper by Alyssa Crabb.
Lilly Evans finished the scoring in the quarter, muscling up a shot in traffic plus the foul.
After Fraughton turned up the aggression on defense in the fourth, the Cavemen adhered to head coach Corey Clayton, who could be heard from the sideline telling his team to not rush the offense.
The advice worked. On that same possession, American Fork got an open jumper. Fraughton found Bergeson on the next offensive possesion, threading a bounce pass through traffic for an easy layup.
“We missed a couple shots in that third quarter that weren’t really good shots,” Clayton said. “I still want to have that attack mentality.”
PLEASANT GROVE (33)
Crabb 2, Wilde 6, Albrecht 2, Evans 6, Miles 13, Sharp 2, Faux 1, Matheson 1. Totals: 11 9-18 33.
AMERICAN FORK (54)
Adams 10, Fraughton 13, Boughton 2, Shepherd 11, Eliason 2, E. Bergeson 2, A. Bergeson 12,. Totals: 22 5-6 54
Pleasant Grove 11 10 10 2 — 33
American Fork 23 10 7 14 — 54
3-point goals: A. Fork 5 (Fraughton2 , Shepherd 3), P. Grove 2 (Miles 2).
American Fork girls basketball rolls in win over Pleasant Grove
AMERICAN FORK — The Pleasant Grove girls basketball team had frustrated American Fork into a sloppy third quarter. The Vikings used offensive rebounds and active hands in the passing lanes to stall the Cavemen’s previously fluid offense and cut their double-digit lead to nine entering the fourth quarter.
Cassidy Fraughton responded by fighting fire with fire.
The senior guard started the final period with a jumper in the key. She followed with a blocked shot on the other end, a defensive rebound and another block before American Fork’s offense returned.
The Cavemen made sure the Vikings couldn’t do likewise, holding them to just two points in the fourth to seal a 54-33 region win.
The victory came two days before American Fork’s big showdown with undefeated Bingham. Cavemen head coach Corey Clayton, however, said the team was too preoccupied with Pleasant Grove to dwell on that.
“We haven’t even thought about Thursday yet, because in our region you can’t look past any team. We’re excited for the opportunity [to play Bingham]. We’re just gonna go and do what we do, Bingham’s gonna do what they do, and it should be a really good game.”
It could be a good game for the Cavemen if they get a repeat of Tuesday night’s balance on offense. Four players scored in double figures, led by Fraughton’s 13 points. Amy Bergeson finished with 12, Jaylee Shepherd had 11 and Bryanna Adams added 10.
The Cavemen reaped the benefits of the team’s pass-friendly offense in a variety of ways in the first half. Bergeson benefitted from off-ball cuts down the key, receiving quick feeds for easy layups. Shepherd hit three 3-pointers on wide-open looks resulting from American Fork’s ball movement.
Adams made her presence felt from the mid-range area, stopping for pull-up jumpers in transition or on second chance attempts.
“Cassidy obviously kind of facilitates,” Clayton said. “The nice thing about her is she can get herself shots, but you have to give her attention and so she opens up shots [for others]. When Jaylee starts shooting it from out there, she can light it up. She made a bunch of big shots.”
The Vikings, however, refused to let the game get away from them despite trailing 14-2 in the early stages. McKenna Miles led Pleasant Grove with 13 points, including two 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Miles’ second triple came on a second-chance opportunity to close the half. A Maile Richrdson block sent the ball toward Miles in the corner, where she quickly picked it up and fired as the second-quarter clock wound down, cutting the Caveman lead to 12.
American Fork struggled to execute as easily in the third quarter. After opening up a 14-point lead, the Vikings began edging their way back in on defense and at the free throw line. Miles made a free throw, then the Cavemen turned it over on an offensive foul. Two Viking offensive rebounds led to a baseline jumper by Alyssa Crabb.
Lilly Evans finished the scoring in the quarter, muscling up a shot in traffic plus the foul.
After Fraughton turned up the aggression on defense in the fourth, the Cavemen adhered to head coach Corey Clayton, who could be heard from the sideline telling his team to not rush the offense.
The advice worked. On that same possession, American Fork got an open jumper. Fraughton found Bergeson on the next offensive possesion, threading a bounce pass through traffic for an easy layup.
“We missed a couple shots in that third quarter that weren’t really good shots,” Clayton said. “I still want to have that attack mentality.”
PLEASANT GROVE (33)
Crabb 2, Wilde 6, Albrecht 2, Evans 6, Miles 13, Sharp 2, Faux 1, Matheson 1. Totals: 11 9-18 33.
AMERICAN FORK (54)
Adams 10, Fraughton 13, Boughton 2, Shepherd 11, Eliason 2, E. Bergeson 2, A. Bergeson 12,. Totals: 22 5-6 54
Pleasant Grove 11 10 10 2 — 33
American Fork 23 10 7 14 — 54
3-point goals: A. Fork 5 (Fraughton2 , Shepherd 3), P. Grove 2 (Miles 2).