Spanish Fork Coach Mark Bailey has put an impressive basketball program together in a “football/baseball town” as some would say. The Dons head coach’s suffered through a 4-win first season, however, Coach Bailey has turned it around. Spanish Fork is now a contending team in Region 4, as they don’t share the 1st place position with anyone. Spanish Fork improved to 3-0 in region with a win vs. Mtn. View. The Dons jumped out to an early lead after getting the tip, Garrett Johnson easily scored on a lay from the left side. The Dons fought hard all the way through the first quarter.

Although Jasper for the Bruins was nailing some key shots, some great defense by Johnson kept the Bruins other leading scorer away from good looks. Johnson’s defense frustrated Russel. The Johnson/Russel feud every possession reminded some of the rivalry between Kobe Bryant and Raja Bell. Which shows the type of competitor Johnson is, never gives up, never gets tired. He will always keep fighting, and because of the fighter in Johnson the Dons were able to come away with a much needed -W-.

SF couldn’t seem to pull away, maintaining only a five point lead or so throughout the second quarter, until Dallin Naulu dribbled through defenders down the floor then pulled up and hit a 3-point basket. The next Bruins possession was stolen by Zac Clayton; he passed the ball to Naulu who dribbled down the sideline, only to find Clayton in the corner. Clayton nailed the 3-pointer and the Dons lead was stretched to 12 with 1:00 left in the 2nd quarter. The

Dons went into the locker rooms at half time with all the momentum and confidence they needed to finish the game off. The 3rd quarter brought a momentum change, and the Bruins looked to Jasper to make some big plays. The Dons continued defensively to get some stops and make some buckets on the offensive end. At the end of the 3rd quarter, with five seconds to go, Jason Steenstra committed a foul, incidentally giving the Bruins two free throws. He then complained to the officials who rewarded Steenstra with a technical foul and a trip to the bench. The four free throws given to the Bruins from the charity stripe cut the Don lead to 39-33 while heading into the 4th quarter.

However, the momentum went back to Spanish Fork when Matt Gardner hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5:00 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Gardner’s shot was well contested, he shot it of 6″3′ Russel; however Gardner’s shot saw nothing but net. At this critical moment in the game the home crowd got so loud, the Bruin offense couldn’t call out their plays. The Don’s defense stepped up to a new level for a moment in the fourth quarter and made the defensive plays that have won so many games for the Dons this year. Spanish Fork continued their dominance with a win vs. Timpanogos High School Friday night. The Dons have improved to 4-0 in the Region and look to continue their dominance vs. Pleasant Grove Friday at Spanish Fork.

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