Iced: Timpview boys basketball rallies to edge Orem in 5A quarterfinals
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- Timpview players celebrate a quarterfinal win against Orem in the 5A boys basketball state tournament at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview’s Aisa Galea’i takes the game-winning free throw with 2.1 seconds to play in a 5A boys state basketball quarterfinal game against Orem at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview’s Dean Ruecket (1) rises up for a dunk against Orem in a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Orem’s Kai Wesley (23) goes in for a layup while being defended by Timpview’s Will Openshaw during a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview’s Mason Ford crouches near the bench during the final seconds of a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game against Orem at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview boys basketball coach Israel Ingle (in white) gathers with his staff during a time out in the 5A state tournament at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Orem’s Chance Dastrup (11) drives around his first cousin, Timpview’s Mason Ford, during a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Orem’s Kai Wesley (23) splits two Timpview defenders on his way to the basket in a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- An official signals a foul against Orem’s Kai Wesley during a 5A boys basketball state quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- The Timpview boys basketball team celebrates a 5A state tournament quarterfinal win against Orem at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Orem boys basketball coach Jace Tevita (in black tie) watches the action during the 5A tournament at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview’s Dean Rueckert (1) drives against Orem’s Asher Young during a 5A boys basketball quarterfinal game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
SALT LAKE CITY — They call him “Ice,” and Timpview sophomore Aisa Galea’i showed in a big moment he can be cool under pressure.
Galea’i made a free throw with 2.1 seconds to play and the Thunderbirds defense held up on Saturday at the Huntsman Center in a 55-54 victory against Orem in the 5A boys basketball state quarterfinals.
“Ice is probably the toughest competitor I’ve ever seen,” Timpview coach Israel Ingle said. “There’s a reason that he’s got PAC 12 and Big 12 offers for football. He’s a state champion in football and always finds a way to win. You think you can tie your shoes faster, he’s gonna find a way to beat you. So that’s what he does.”
Timpview took a four-point lead (51-47) with 2:31 to play when sophomore guard Mason Ford tossed in a long 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, but Orem rallied. Asher Young swished a 3-pointer, then scored on a drive with 9.1 seconds to play to tie the game at 54-all.
Ingle said the final play was designed with options for Galea’i and 6-foot-7 Dean Rueckert, who led the T-Birds with 15 points.
“They picked me up full court,” Galea’i said. “So I just used my speed. I knew I could get there. I just tried to stay calm and finish the game.”
Galea’i was fouled as he drove down the lane and stepped to the foul line. His first one was nothing but net. He missed the second and Orem called time out. A long inbounds pass from Young bounced off the Tigers backboard nearly to midcourt, where Tate Robinson was able to get off a desperation shot that didn’t find the mark.
“It was a dogfight,” Ingle said. “That’s what everybody would expect to see us play anytime, even if it’s in July. We play those guys all the time. They’re like two miles up the street. We know them. It’s like a one-point overtime game every single time. We’re lucky to come out on the right side this time.”
No. 5 Orem outscored No. 4 Timpview 20-10 in the second quarter to take a 31-21 halftime lead. Kai Wesley and Young scored baskets to open the third and the Tigers had all the momentum and a 35-21 lead. The T-Birds turned things around with full court pressure and outscored Orem 21-6 to take a 42-41 lead on a Reuckert 3-pointer heading into the fourth quarter.
“Orem went big in their lineup so we tried to make them play fast,” Ingle said. “That’s what really flipped the game.”
Galea’i added: “We just kept our heads. We really love each other and our bond brought us even more together coming out for the second half. They were beating us so we had to adjust.”
Young, Jax Allen and Chance Dastrup scored 12 points apiece for the Tigers (18-7), which had split with Timpview during the Region 7 schedule and also lost to the T-Birds in last year’s 5A semifinals.
Will Openshaw scored 10 points for Timpview (19-6) with Galea’i, Ford and Corbyn Hansen all contributing eight.
The T-Birds get a familiar foe in Tuesday’s semifinals: No. 1 seed Alta. The two teams met in last year’s 5A final, with the Hawks getting the victory. Alta defeated No. 8 Brighton 70-60 in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens,” Ingle said. “We’re excited. They have a great team and are well coached. They were in our region last year, so we’re kind of familiar with them. But I think it’ll be another kind of a dogfight.”
5A BOYS QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
No. 1 Alta 70, No. 8 Brighton 60
Carter Doleac scored a game-high 26 points and Ace Reiser (15 points, 10 assists) and Jaxon Johnson (13 points, 12 rebounds) both contributed double-doubles as the top-seeded Hawks (23-3) advanced to the semifinals.
Bradley Easton led Brighton (14-11) with 25 points on seven 3-pointers.
No. 2 Olympus 76, No. 10 Skyline 43
The Titans outscored the Eagles 44-19 in the second half to cruise into the semifinals.
Reef Smylie (23 points), Dutch DowDell (23) and Gavin Lowe (22) combined for 68 points and nine 3-pointers for Olympus (22-3).
Landon Shaw scored 16 points to lead Skyline (13-13).
No. 3 Highland 65, No. 6 Bountiful 59
George McConkie, a 6-foot-11 center, totaled 27 points and 17 rebounds to pace the Rams past the Red Hawks. Bountiful led 38-26 at halftime but Highland outscored the Red Hawks 40-21 in the second half for the victory.
BYU football commit Faletau Satuala led Bountiful with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Semifinals at U of U
Tuesday, Feb. 27
No. 4 Timpview (19-6) vs. No. 1 Alta (23-3), 7 p.m.
No. 2 Olympus (22-3) vs. No. 3 Highland (19-6), 8:40 p.m.
5A GIRLS QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
No. 22 Springville 45, No. 3 Timpview 37
Nobody should want to face Springville in the state playoffs.
The young Red Devils (8-17) struggled through the regular season but have now won three games in a row, including Saturday’s upset of Timpview. Springville jumped in front early 10-4 and the T-Birds could never stop that momentum.
Timpview (18-6) beat Springville twice during the regular season (45-43 and 54-38).
Sami DelLamas led the Red Devils with 12 points and Brynn Johnson added 11. Lina Ballin scored 13 for Timpview and Aiaiaga Galea’i tallied 10.
The Red Devils advance to their fifth straight 5A semifinal and will play another Region 7 foe, Wasatch. The Wasps routed Springville in both league matchups (52-30 on Jan. 5 and 64-43 on Jan. 26).
No. 2 Wasatch 55, No. 7 West 50
Peyton Behnke had 16 points and Ashley Garner 12 points and 15 rebounds as the Wasps moved on to the 5A semifinals for the first time. Fina Tuha led the Panthers with 14 points.
No. 1 Bountiful 62, No. 8 Brighton 30
The top-seed Red Hawks (22-3) jumped out to a 19-2 first quarter lead in an easy victory in the quarterfinals. Adelaide Stevenson led Bountiful with 24 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Harvey contributed 18 points and 10 boards and Milika Satuala scored 15.
Olivia Stephens paced Brighton (18-7) with 12 points.
No. 4 Box Elder 59, No. 12 Olympus 55
The Bees held off a late Olympus rally to claim their quarterfinal victory. Kamri Andersen led Box Elder (20-5) with 17 points. Ashlyn Wight and Jaylee Chappell added 11 apiece.
Joss Baker topped Olympus (13-12) with 16.
Semifinals at U of U
Tuesday, Feb. 27
No. 1 Bountiful (22-3) vs. No. 4 Box Elder (20-5), 3 p.m.
No. 22 Springville (8-17) vs. No. 2 Wasatch (20-5), 4:40 p.m.
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