Orem boys basketball continues impressive run by hammering Springville
-
- Orem junior Chance Dastrup gets fouled as he goes up for a layup during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Jax Allen scores a layup during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Chance Dastrup dribbles up the court during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem head coach Jace Tavita directs his team during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Springville junior Andrew Miller shoots a shot during the Region 7 game at Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Springville sophomore Jamyn Sondrup shoots a shot during the Region 7 game at Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Springville head coach Justin Snell talks to freshman Gavin Walker during the Region 7 game at Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Jax Allen dribbles up the court during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Trey Hiatt shoots a shot during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Chance Dastrup dribbles to the basket during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Orem junior Jax Allen scores a layup during the Region 7 game against Springville in Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Springville sophomore Mason Hansen shoots a shot during the Region 7 game at Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
-
- Springville junior Andrew Miller shoots a shot during the Region 7 game at Orem on Friday, Jan. 19, 2023.
Late in the first quarter of Friday’s Region 7 game against visiting Springville, the Orem boys basketball team looked like it might be in for a dogfight.
After the Tigers had a nice start, the Red Devils got aggressive and drew some fouls to get to the line. At one point, Springville trimmed the Orem lead to one at 10-9 and had two free throws to go in front.
But both shots were off target and that was when the Tigers took their game to another level.
Orem locked down on defense and started scoring in bunches on its way to a 30-5 run to close the half and seize complete control.
Springville couldn’t find a way to bounce back from after the Tigers surged so far in front and Orem cruised to the 69-44 win.
“The key was getting stops and getting out and running,” Tiger head coach Jace Tavita said. “Those were huge keys for us in this game. That’s where we’re at our best. It’s a lot of fun to see them go out and perform. They work so hard in practice, focusing on the game plan. When you see the lights go on and they perform, it’s great as a coach.”
Although Orem sophomore Kai Wesley got in foul trouble and had to spend a lot of time on the bench, the Tigers got a huge game from junior forward Trey Hiatt.
At one point, Hiatt scored 12 consecutive points for Orem while also playing tough interior defense on Red Devil 6-foot-10 sophomore center Jamyn Sondrup and 6-foot-6 senior Ethan Chapman.
As the home team got rolling, Tiger junior guard Jax Allen started to find some rhythm driving to the basket. He made a couple of nice plays at the rim and threw down the exclamation point with a big dunk midway through the second quarter.
“I think one of the strengths of our team is that we have four or five guys almost averaging double figures,” Tavita said. “It can be someone different every night. Tonight, Trey and Jax definitely came out and were putting the ball in the hoop, which was great.”
Allen ended up leading the way for Orem with 23 points, while Hiatt added 16 points and junior Chance Dastrup chipped in 10.
Springville was paced by 13 points from junior Andrew Miller.
The Tigers have now won all six Region 7 games by double digits after losing four in a row in a tournament in Las Vegas in mid-December. Tavita said those losses taught his team a lot about where it needed to improve.
“It may sound crazy but I think Vegas was good for us,” Tavita said. “We went there 4-1 having beaten some really good teams and then got punched in the mouth. I’m happy with the way we have responded in these last six games, which have all been against good teams. We just keep preaching that they need to keep getting better, keep grinding.”
Orem (10-5) next hosts Cedar Valley on Jan. 23, while Springville (7-8) welcomes Salem Hills to town the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
