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Timpview senior James Rust carries the second-place trophy after the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview senior James Rust drives into the lane during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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Timpview players and coaches pose for a photo with the second-place trophy after the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview junior Colton Smith goes up for a shot during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview players cheer a good play during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview senior Eli St. Clair battles for the ball during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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Timpview head coach Izzy Ingle applauds a play by his team during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview senior James Rust (left) and junior Colton Smith accept the second-place trophy after the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpview senior Taki Uluilakepa passes the ball during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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Timpview senior James Rust shoots a shot during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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Timpview junior Quezon Villa drives to the basket during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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Timpview senior Taki Uluilakepa goes up for a shot during the 5A championship game against Alta at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Timpview head boys basketball coach Izzy Ingle knows Alta pretty well, having faced the Hawks twice in Region 8 and then again in Saturday’s 5A state championship game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

He knows Alta is an excellent team — but he also knows his Thunderbirds are a great squad as well.

“I think if we played them 10 times, we probably win five and they probably win five,” Ingle said. “This was going to be a battle.”

Both teams had moments of brilliance when the stakes were at their highest but it was the Hawks who surged in front with a 24-5 run stretching from late in the second quarter to midway through the third.

This wasn’t a Timpview team that was going fold, however, even when it was down 46-32 in the second half. The Thunderbirds proved it, roaring back with a 14-4 run of their own to cut the deficit to just four points.

But the hole ended up being just a little too deep and Alta was able to regain control and make key free throws late to get the 64-53 win.

“That’s the tough thing about tournaments,” Ingle said. “It’s one game. They hit some big shots tonight and tonight was their night, unfortunately for us. We had a hard time. We got in the paint and got some shots up that we wanted, but they just didn’t go in.”

Timpview started the game strong and led by as many as eight points midway through the first quarter.

But Alta was able to get some key turnovers and turn them into easy buckets, outscoring Timpview 13-0 in fast break points.

That allowed the Hawks to catch up and eventually pull in front, although the Thunderbirds battled every step of the way.

“The thing about our team is that our guys don’t give up no matter what,” Ingle said. “We got down but battled back. We were right there in the game. Our guys have a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and are amazing competitors. We just weren’t able to get over the hump. But they fought to the end and I’m just really proud of them.”

Timpview had three players in double figures as freshman Dean Rueckert scored 12, senior James Rust put in 11 and senior Taki Uluilakepa added 10.

Alta was paced by a game-high 24 points from Carter Doleac, while Jaxon Johnson tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

Although the final outcome wasn’t what they hoped for, Ingle said his team did a great job working through adversity during the 2022-23 season and finding ways to come out stronger.

“It was a great year,” Ingle said. “It’s tough when it ends like this but looking at the big picture shows that it was a great season. We had a lot of ups and downs. With injuries, I think we only had like seven games with our whole team. But I loved how someone always stepped up when someone else was down. They came together and made it to the championship game. We’re not happy, but we’re proud of our guys for overcoming a lot of challenges.”

Timpview will certainly miss its four seniors but Ingle hopes the talented underclassmen learned key lessons from the outgoing leaders.

“We have the best seniors,” Ingle said. “They were phenomenal, both amazing players and amazing people. They have really laid the foundation of what our program is going to be. My heart breaks that we didn’t get the championship for them, but we tell our guys that life is about planting a shade tree you may not get to sit under. The seniors planted that tree and the freshmen will sit under it — but they are going to work while they are there. They got a taste of it but they are going to know they don’t want this to happen again.”

Box score

Timpview (53)

Uluilakepa 10, Rueckert 12, Villa 4, St. Clair 7, Rust 11, Galea’i 9. Totals 17 15-18 53.

Alta (64)

Johnson 15, Hinck 6, Doleac 24, A. Reiser 9, Goodfellow 6, D. Reiser 4. Totals 25 11-17 64.

Timpview 21 6 9 17 — 53

Alta 17 11 20 16 — 64

3-pointers: Timpview 4 (Rueckert 2, St. Clair, Rust); Alta 3 (Johnson, Hinck, Doleac).

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