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Orem freshman Anthony Felisi drives to the basket during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview senior James Rust drives to the basket during the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview junior Quezon Villa watches his shot during the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem sophomore Chance Dastrup dishes the ball off during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview freshman Dean Reuckert shoots a shot during the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem junior Lance Reynolds III shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview freshman Aisa Galea'i drives to the basket during the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem freshman Anthony Felisi drives to the basket during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview starters prepare to take the floor before the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem freshman Kai Wesley drives to the basket during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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TImpview head coach Izzy Ingle directs his team during the Region 8 game against Orem in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem head coach Jace Tavita directs his team during the Region 8 game against Timpview in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Orem senior guard Daniel Okonah has had a solid season for the Tigers, averaging 7.2 points per game. But he has also had to deal with sharing his minutes with a lot of younger players, resulting in fewer opportunities.

“He’s got a great attitude, just wanting to help the team however he can,” Orem head coach Jace Tavita said. “When his number was called tonight, he was ready. He was just being aggressive and playing ball. He’s a talented kid, so I’m just I’m really happy for him for tonight.”

But no matter what happens the rest of his senior year, Okonah will always be able to remember a special Valentine’s Day performance on the road against rival Timpview.

With the Tigers leading by two and under a minute to play, the Thunderbirds ramped up the defensive intensity as Orem ran the shot clock down.

With time running out, the ball got in the hands of Okonah and he made the most of the moment, calmly draining a huge 3-pointer.

“It was amazing,” Okonah said. “I’ve practiced those moments time and time again. To see it come to fruition in a big moment like that, it was just amazing.”

That gave the visiting Tigers the separation they needed to secure the 68-60 win over Timpview.

“You have to stay in the moment, just think about the next play,” Okonah said. “The noise was all around. I’ve been in a few of these, so I was able to calm my nerves. I was able to just be in the game.”

Tavita said that seeing Okonah make the big play was something special for him.

“I told my assistants that I got emotional,” Tavita said. “This is just a kid who was a senior in a big game like this, to have that moment he just had was awesome. You see him put in the time, shooting every day, working out. You love to see the hard work pay off.”

Okonah talked about being on a team that has freshmen, sophomore and juniors play a lot. He said his role is pretty straightforward.

“I just try to help out wherever I can,” Okonah said. “I try to lead my team and help us win. The main focus is getting a shot to win the game.”

Orem needed leadership and determination throughout a back-and-forth battle against the Thunderbirds, one in which neither team led by more than six points until the end.

How close was it?

The game was tied after the first quarter, Orem was up by a point at halftime and Timpview led by a point after three quarters.

Both teams had players come up with big plays but it was the Tigers who closed it out.

The Thunderbirds appeared to have momentum after freshman Dean Reuckart got fouled while dunking the ball, but a technical foul on the celebration negated some of the benefits. After the foul shots for each side, the score was tied at 60.

Orem had the ball and freshman Anthony Felisi drove the baseline for a reverse layup as the shot clock buzzer went off, putting the Tigers in front.

Timpview had some chances to stay close but couldn’t get either free throws or shots from the field to drop the rest of the way.

“We called a timeout and just challenged them to get three stops and three scores,” Tavita said. “We told them to finish this off with three stops andthree scores, that if we did that we’re going to win this game. And they responded, so it was great, especially our team being so young. It’s good to see them rally in a game like this, a rivalry game on their Senior Night. So it’s good one for us.”

Both Okonah and Tavita believe that making the plays down the stretch to beat a good opponent will help Orem be prepared for the tough contests that are coming up in the 5A state tournament.

Orem (12-9) closes out the regular season by hosting Mountain View on Friday, while Timpview (14-8) plays at Jordan the same evening. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

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