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Pleasant Grove junior Chloe Rutter blocks a shot during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Skyridge senior Teagan Gray shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 4 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Pleasant Grove junior Brooklyn Fely looks to pass the ball during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Skyridge sophomore Cambree Blackham goes up for a layup during the Region 4 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Pleasant Grove junior Mia Reeves (center) tries to drive to the basket during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Skyridge senior Teagan Gray dribbles the ball during the Region 4 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Pleasant Grove junior Mia Reeves shoots the ball during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Skyridge girls basketball team prepares to take the floor during the Region 4 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Pleasant Grove girls basketball team prepares to take the floor during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Pleasant Grove girls basketball team started the 2021-22 season with a 10-3 record but things haven’t gone so well since the Vikings started Region 4 action.

They had lost three straight games as they prepared to go on the road and face the relentless pressure of Skyridge.

But the Pleasant Grove squad that took the floor came with a renewed air of confidence and determination.

The Vikings withstood the Falcon onslaught, then pulled away in the second half to earn the impressive 58-48 win over Skyridge.

“It felt so good,” Pleasant Grove junior guard Lucy Miller said. “In our last practice, it felt like we finally got back in our groove. We were moving the ball and being unselfish.”

Viking head coach Janine Reeves said seeing things click in the couple of days was a huge step for her girls.

“During the summer we played really well but then during the season things got kind of sticky,” Reeves said. “But then we changed our offense a little bit and we prepared for the Skyridge press, and something switched. They came out and played like I know they can play.”

The Falcons hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to take a 30-29 lead, but then Pleasant Grove seized control.

The Vikings went on a 14-3 run to build a 10-point advantage, then never let Skyridge get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Reeves said she felt like she got some huge contributions from her guards.

“Lucy (Miller) played well at both ends, and Mia Reeves had a breakout game,” Janine Reeves said. “When we had some foul trouble, Sarah Newman came in and made some big plays. She hit a 3-pointer and took a charge that helped us put the game away. We went eight players deep tonight and all eight contributed.”

The guards also had the responsibility of limiting the turnovers, which is never an easy task. With forward Chloe Rutter helping, Pleasant Grove dissected the press and made the key plays down the stretch.

“It made me feel so good to see us play like that,” Miller said. “When we had that big lead, it was like, we did it. We can finish it out and get the win.”

Janine Reeves explained that having a well-conditioned team helped her Vikings from getting frantic late in the contest.

“Having confidence was the main thing,” Janine Reeves said. “You can have all the talent and ability but if you don’t have confidence, you don’t have anything. We didn’t get tired and were able to make the plays.”

As happy as Miller and her Viking teammates were with getting the win, they know it was still just one game.

“We need to remember how it felt, especially compared to how it felt when we lost those games,” Miller said. “We are capable of winning. We need to be unselfish and play as a team. If we do that, I think we can continue getting wins.”

Janine Reeves knows it won’t be easy, as once again Region 4 is a gauntlet with a lot of excellent teams.

“We play Corner Canyon next and they are a good team,” Janine Reeves said. “It’s not an great matchup for us, but we are going to keep doing what we are doing. We are going to play hard on defense. Hopefully they press us because we played well against the press today.”

Pleasant Grove (11-6, 1-3) next goes on the road to face the Chargers in Draper on Friday, while the Falcons (9-6, 2-2) are slated to play at American Fork on the same evening.

Both games are scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.

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