Skyridge girls basketball plays its game to beat Syracuse in 6A quarterfinals
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- Two Skyridge players surround Maylee Anderson of Syracuse during a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Donya Perkins of Skyridge (14) takes the ball up against Cortnie Barker of Syracuse in a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Skyridge players on the bench celebrate a score during a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Abby Hymas of Skyridge passes the ball during a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Cambree Blackham of Skyridge prepares for introductions before a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Ella Oeser of Skyridge goes up for a shot against Syracuse in a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Abby Hymas of Skyridge (right) drives to the basket against Syracuse in the 5A girls basketball state quarterfinals at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Shae Toole of Skyridge is greeted by her teammates during introductions before a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Abby Hymas of Skyridge (10) signals a play in a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
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- Skyridge coach Shaylee Nielsen watches her team in a 6A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game against Syracuse at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
During Tuesday’s 6A girls basketball quarterfinal game against No. 2-seeded Skyridge at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, fans of No. 10-seeded Syracuse could be heard urging their team to be more aggressive and go faster.
Falcon senior forward Donya Perkins admitted that when she is playing, she tunes out everything from the stands — but admitted that getting opponents sped up is exactly what Skyridge’s pressure defense is designed to do.
It worked well in the game against the Titans as the Syracuse offense never appeared comfortable and Skyridge was able to cruise to the 52-34 win.
“”I think we did really well today,” Perkins said. “I feel like we stepped up as a team and played together. Coming into a new arena, sometimes it is kind of hard to get going. I think everyone just passed the ball and played really well together.”
Falcon head coach Shaylee Nielsen said she was proud of how her girls executed the game plan, particularly on defense.
“I’m really proud of them,” Nielsen said. “We put a lot of effort into our scouting report this week and just wanted to be really prepared. We talked a lot about controlling the controllables. When you get here, you’re a little anxious and jittery. Sometimes it’s hard to make shots or you might turn it over but it’s important to control your effort, control your defense and control your talking. That’s what I’m most proud of. They finally got comfortable and knocked some shots down.”
Neither team would say it played its best in the first quarter but a late push by the Titans cut the early Skyridge lead to a single point, 9-8, after the opening frame.
That was when the Falcons seized control at both ends of the court, scoring 13 straight points and limiting Syracuse to a single 3-pointer the rest of the way until halftime.
“Our press did a good job,” Nielsen said. “We were really trying to contain their No. 3 (Titan guard Avery Sanders). She does such a good job. She’s so fast. We really focused on trying to get the ball out of her hands and making somebody else make plays. We were able to get stops which I think helped us relax on the offensive end.”
Perkins said the key to that dominating performance was just doing what this Skyridge team knows how to do.
“Our coaches told us to just come back and play our game, to do what we do the best,” Perkins said. “It was focusing on our defense to get back in the game and just let the rest come on offense.”
The Falcons were never really threatened the rest of the way as they led by as many as 24 points before closing out the 18-point win.
It was another balanced effort on the stat sheet for Skyridge. Junior Shae Toole led the team with 13 points, while junior Cambree Blackham and sophomore Merceius Mili chipped in 10 points apiece and Perkins tacked on eight points.
“Every game it’s been someone new who steps up,” Nielsen said. “Last game, Abby hit five 3s and then tonight it was Shea’s turn again. They all just find a way to contribute and then it’s just a bonus with which one actually is the one who hits some shots. They play for each other and it makes it really nice for me as a coach.”
Getting that victory was a milestone moment for the Falcons, since they had lost in the quarterfinals in the last two seasons.
“It feels so good,” Perkins said with a grin. “To finally get over losing (in the quarterfinals) and make it to the semis, it’s honestly the best feeling in the world. I’m so excited to keep going.”
Skyridge will play No. 3-seed Davis (who edged No. 6 Herriman in their quarterfinal) in the next round and Nielsen said the Falcons know it will be a challenge.
“We watched him there for a little bit and they’ve got some good players,” Nielsen said. “I know they’re well coached. They’ve had a great season and so we’re excited to go compete with them.”
That semifinal contest is slated to take place at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Thursday at 4:40 p.m.
Syracuse (34)
Anderson 6, Sanders 22, King 2, Barker 2, Hacker 2. Totals 9 10-13 34.
Skyridge (52)
Toole 13, Blackham 10, Hymas 6, Perkins 8, Oeser 2, Larson 2, Buttars 1, Mili 10. Totals 20 5-8 52.
Syracuse 8 3 6 17 — 34
Skyridge 9 15 9 19 — 52
3-pointers: Syracuse 6 (Sanders 5, Anderson); Skyridge 7 (Toole 3, Mili 2, Blackham, Hymas).
