Skyridge girls basketball loses to Copper Hills in 6A semifinals but takes pride in resiliency
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- Skyridge head coach Shaylee Nielsen celebrates a big play during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Shae Toole splits the defense during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Cambree Blackham shoots a shot during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Sadie Buttars shoots a shot during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Merceius Mili goes up for a shot during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- A Skyridge sophomore player wears the “Like Mike” t-shirt honoring Falcon manager Michael Pearson during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Pearson died last week.
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- Skyridge senior Cambree Blackham watches the final moments of the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Merceius Mili drives into the lane during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge players applaud a good play during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Cambrie Blackham drives to the basket during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Sadie Buttars goes up for a shot during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Shae Toole goes up for a shot during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Sadie Buttars attacks the basket during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Portia Hug dribbles up the court during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Cambree Blackham drives into the lane during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Merceius Mili drives into the lane during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Shae Toole drives to the basket during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Merceius Mili goes up for the jump ball during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge players prepare to take the floor before the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
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- Skyridge players celebrate a big play during the 6A semifinal game against Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
Skyridge head coach Shaylee Nielsen leapt high in the air, yelling excitedly after senior Sadie Buttars scored a layup while being fouled in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 6A semifinal game against top-seeded Copper Hills at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
While that was just one moment in an exciting contest, metaphorically it could’ve represented the pride Nielsen felt about how her Falcons handled the 2023-24 season.
It was a year of numerous hardships the few teams have ever had to face that forced the Skyridge players and coaches to dig deep and repeatedly bounce back from adversity.
But the Falcons did it and fought all the way to the end, refusing to back down no matter how difficult things got.
No. 12-seed Skyridge gave everything it had as it tried to upset the Grizzlies but ended up just a few points short, falling 52-45 to end the season for the Falcons.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Skyridge head coach Shaylee Nielsen said. “It sucks. You just need one ball to bounce a different way or a one call to go your way. Sometimes you just need a little bit of luck there too. I thought we gave ourselves the best chance we could. We played a really resilient game, which was pretty representative of our season.”
The Falcons never led in the game but never let the Grizzlies pull away, with the biggest lead of the game being just seven points late in the third quarter.
But Skyridge had its chances to move in front, with the most impactful coming in the final 90 seconds.
Falcon senior Sadie Buttars stepped up and drained a clutch 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:20 left to play, cutting the Copper Hills lead to 46-45.
Skyridge then got a stop and got a chance to throw the ball in on the baseline on its ensuing possession. The inbounds play was excellent and a cutting Falcon had a good look at the rim — only to see the ball bounce off the iron and out.
“We had a look right there to go up one,” Nielsen said. “Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go your way. We gave ourselves a chance, but credit to Copper Hills. They went down and had a huge 3-pointer. They are an amazing team that made plays when it needed to.”
The Grizzly trey, drilled by guard Sylie Barker, allowed Copper Hills to regain the momentum it needed and Skyridge couldn’t find a way to narrow the gap.
“It was a great basketball game and we were just happy to be a part of it,” Nielsen said. “Obviously we wish it would’ve turned out different but Copper Hills deserves a lot of credit.”
There were certainly times when Nielsen’s squad could’ve doubted whether reaching the semifinals was possible.
The Falcons had four starters miss multiple weeks with significant injuries, including one who was lost for the season. That meant a promising season turned into a test of endurance for the entire Skyridge program.
“We had two kids coming off ACL injuries who only played 10 or 12 games and another who was out six weeks with a knee injury and just made it back for state,” Nielsen said.
That type of adversity would be challenging enough but things went to a completely different emotional level last week when one of the Falcon team managers, Michael Pearson, died last week. Members of the sophomore team wore “Like Mike” t-shirts at the game to honor his memory.
“It’s been heavy,” Nielsen said. “I could see yesterday that it was weighing on them in practice. They had been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and I could see their emotions had taken a toll on them. I was honestly a little worried because there was a lot being put on these kids. They deserve a lot of credit for how they banded together. They showed up, loved each other and had each other’s backs.”
The physical and emotional challenges Skyridge faced during the past few months make their successes all the more remarkable.
“I don’t even know how to explain all that we’ve been through,” Nielsen said. “The resilience and love for each other they showed to get to this point is incredible. For a group of kids to be that resilient and gritty, to just show up and love each other, it’s really impressive. It’s going to take them a long way in life.”
The Falcons (14-11) were led by their two senior birthday girls: Buttars (11 points and three rebounds) and Shae Toole (10 points and four assists).
Copper Hills was paced by 16 points apiece for Barker and guard Ellie Taylor.
Nielsen said that the Skyridge senior class, which also includes Cambree Blackham, Jada Smith and Payton Newbold, are “amazing kids” who left the program better than it was when they got there.
“I want the younger girls to learn the culture, the grit, the resilience and the love for each other and the game that the seniors showed,” Nielsen said. “They stayed with it and were the best examples. They were great friends, great students and great people.”
Copper Hills (25-1) advanced to play No. 2-seed Lone Peak in the 6A title game, which will take place at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
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