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Springville sophomore Mason Hansen goes up for a shot during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville players watch from the bench as the final seconds tick off the clock during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville sophomore Jamyn Sondrup goes up for a shot during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville freshman Swift Hall dribbles up the court during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville senior Dylan Corfield shoots a 3-pointer during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville senior Luke Nadauld goes up for a layup during the 5A second round game against Skyline in Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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When one high school basketball team gets a lot more long-range shots to go in than its opponent, it usually wins.

No. 7-seed Springville found itself on the wrong side of that equation in Wednesday night’s 5A second round game in Springville against No. 10 Skyline as the Red Devils lost to the Eagles, 62-54.

Skyline, which also shot effectively in Tuesday’s first-round overtime home win over Woods Cross, drained 11 3-pointers (compared to just seven made shots from inside the arc). Springville only knocked down two.

“It’s back-to-back games for them shooting ball really well from the 3-point line,” Red Devil head coach Justin Snell said. “We just didn’t adjust quick enough to it and cover better.”

The Eagles got going early, making three treys in the opening quarter as they opened up a 16-5 lead with a layup to start the second period.

“I don’t know if it was the pressure with game or wanting to win but we just started out of character,” Snell said. “Normally we’re a pretty good first-quarter team where we get after it and bring some energy but it took us a while to get going. When you get to state, you don’t have time to waste. You’ve got to go for a full game or you’re going to put yourself in a situation where you might not have enough time.”

But although Skyline was hot from beyond the arc, Springville countered by pounding the ball inside to sophomore center Jamyn Sondrup.

He finished with 23 points for the game and was a big reason why the Red Devils erased the early deficit and went in front, 38-37, heading to the fourth quarter.

But when the outcome was in doubt, it was the Eagles who made the key plays.

Skyline junior center Karson Kaufusi was particularly key.

With the visiting Eagles clinging to a 46-44 lead with under four minutes left, he made a foul shot and then two consecutive 3-pointers to propel Skyline into a much more comfortable position.

Springville, on the other hand, wasn’t able to keep up.

“We just missed some good looks,” Snell said. “From an offensive standpoint. I was I was pretty happy with how we did from the second through the fourth quarter. We had really good shot selection but some of them just didn’t go in and that was unfortunate.”

That allowed Skyline to seize control and secure the win at the foul line.

The loss brings Springville’s season to a close but Snell said there were a lot of positives for his team.

“We’ve got four seniors and my four seniors did a good job,” Snell said. “They all had different roles and those roles changed as the season went along with us trying to figure out what it was our best way to play. They impressed the young guys and our young guys did a good job of stepping into leadership roles and performing.

“It was definitely progress. I hate to send my seniors out like this because just I love them and they deserved to play a couple more games, but sometimes it just doesn’t work that way.”

The Red Devils do have an excellent core of young talent that Snell hopes will come back stronger next season.

“We need to make a commitment to make sure we’re going to play some good defense,” Snell said. “Every team we play is going to try to play a five-out style to take away our advantage and we need to do a better job of making sure we can play that and not make it a liability. Sometimes it’s a liability right now and we’ve got to get better at that. But I look forward to seeing the team again next year.”

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