Cooper Lewis scores career-high 47 to lead Lehi boys basketball past American Fork
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- Lehi senior Cooper Lewis drives to the basket during the Region 3 game against American Fork in Lehi on Friday, Jan 12, 2023.
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- American Fork senior Blake Rawson gets fouled as he goes to the basket during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023.
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- American Fork senior Jared Shepherd goes up for a layup during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023.
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- Lehi senior Grayson Brousseau shoots a jump shot during the Region 3 game against American Fork in Lehi on Friday, Jan 12, 2023.
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- American Fork senior Jared Shepherd shoots a shot during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023.
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- American Fork players warmup in front of the Lehi student section before the Region 3 game at Lehi on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023.
It was one of those nights most shooters can only dream of.
For Lehi senior Cooper Lewis and the Pioneers, however, it was what was needed for their team to knock off a really good American Fork team.
Friday’s Region 3 battle at Lehi saw both the Pioneers and the Cavemen have moments where they appeared to be in control.
In the end, however, Lewis’s hot-shooting resulted in a career-high 47 points as Lehi beat American Fork, 71-61.
“It’s fun to get the win,” Lewis said. “It’s fun to win together with my teammates. We’re going to see those guys again. We had to come in with a chip on our shoulder. They got a little bit loose on us in the third, but really tightened up our defense and came together in the fourth. They are a really good team, so we’ll have to be ready for that.”
Pioneer head coach Quincy Lewis said his son sees a variety of defenses to try and slow him down, so they have to be prepared and make the smart plays. On Friday, that meant Cooper Lewis got a lot of shots.
“People know him and it’s tough,” Quincy Lewis said. “Sometimes they are going to run a triangle or box-and-one or run a double team at him. He’s got to be ready for everything. We had others score a lot in recent games, so American Fork played straight up and he got hot. He knows the magnitude of a game like this.”
The Cavemen made a big push to go up by eight points in the third quarter, only to see Lehi rally and lead 44-42 heading into the fourth quarter.
That was when Cooper Lewis really took over, scoring 14 straight points for the Pioneers to extend the lead.
American Fork senior forward Blake Rawson kept his team close as he went to work on the blocks, notching 11 points in a row for the Cavemen.
Lehi’s lead was 63-57 late in the final period, just close enough for American Fork to be dangerous, but Lewis drained four free throws and senior Gabe Cowan scored a layup to keep the Pioneers in comfortably in front to the end.
“We knew it was going to be a battle and give them tons of credit,” American Fork head coach Ryan Cuff said. “It was exciting. We know some of the things we need to work on and where we want to be. But give Lehi credit. They played well and Cooper Lewis played extremely well.”
Lehi (12-2) next plays at Westlake on Jan. 16 while American Fork (7-7) heads home to host Pleasant Grove on the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
