With two teams ranked in the top five in the state in your region, one could only hope to place third in the region — rightfi No. The Dons won’t just give up like that. Spanish Fork is off to an impressive 5-0 start in region play, and Friday night they got the job done vs. Pleasant Grove. PG is ranked 2nd in an extremely competitive 5-A Basketball class this year.

Spanish Fork got off to an early start. PG however kept up with the fast pace game Spanish Fork was providing. Don’s forward Jason Steenstra along with Dallin Naulu didn’t get to play a lot of the game because of foul trouble. At the end of the first period it was tied, 18-18, however the Dons got off to a quick start in the 2nd period. Spanish Fork outscored the Vikings in the 2nd period 23-14.

The Dons had a nine point advantage as SF went to the locker rooms. The Dons opened the 3rd period with a type of play that said, “We won’t give up.” The Vikings stepped up their play, and came within five at one point. However guard Dallin Naulu, made some big plays to crush the Viking run once again. Naulu, came down, and hit a beautiful jump shot over C.J. Wilcox for 3 points. The very next possession Naulu came down the floor and put up another trey from behind the arc to give the Dons a much needed boost and an 8-point lead. Spanish Fork’s Griff Robles came up big in the first few minutes of the final period, as Robles gave the Dons an inside presence.

Robles was the shot blocker for about a minute. It seemed as though the Vikings couldn’t get a shot off without having it shoved right back in their faces. With two minutes left on the clock, the Vikings looked to make one last run. Right then PG’s Robertson put up an offensive rebound for two. The Vikings had climbed up through their deficit and trailed by 3 with two minutes to go.

Jason Steenstra was subbed in. Steenstra playing with four fouls, got the ball at the high post, gave his defender a pump fake and drove to the hoop. Steenstra cashed the money lay up and was fouled on the play. He then pushed the lead to 6 points with one minute and a half to go. That play changed the whole way the Vikings looked at the game. The game could’ve been a one possession game and was now a two/ possibly three possession game. The Vikings then looked for nothing unless it was from downtown.

The PG sharp shooters couldn’t dial long distance in the SF gym, with the whole gym packed, the student section made it hard for Wilcox to call the play.

Spanish Fork came away with another win, and are now in the same position as BYU. They have beaten two teams in the past two weeks that are ranked higher than them. Coach Mark Bailey told reporters, “Good teams rebound.” Forward Jason Steenstra said this after the game, “I think we are one of the most underrated teams in the state, and we are earning our respect the hard way, getting rebounds, playing hard defense. We get it done the hard way.” Spanish Fork continues their region play at Mtn. View Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M.