Sharing the ball propels Timpanogos boys basketball past Cedar Valley
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- Cooper Harris of Timpanogos (3) drives against a Cedar Valley defender in a high school boys basketball game on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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- Jaxen McCuistion (0) of Timpanogos is defended by a Cedar Valley player in a boys high school basketball game on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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- The TImpanogos boys basketball team walks out onto the floor in a high school game against Cedar Valley on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024
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- Grant Dickson of TImpanogos takes a free throw in a high school boys basketball game against Cedar Valley on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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- Timpanogos coach Golden Ingle watches the action during a high school boys basketball game with Cedar Valley on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley’s Adrian Borruel Fierro (14) defends a 3-point attempt from Jack Johnson of Timpanogos in a boys high school basketball game on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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- Jack Johnson of Timpanogos (4) crashes into a Cedar Valley defender in a boys high school basketball game on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Timpanogos went on a 21-7 run in the second quarter against Cedar Valley, assisting on all nine field goals.
That’s sharing the ball, and that’s an important trait for successful a basketball team.
The big second quarter pushed the Timberwolves out to a 13-point halftime lead, and they led by as many as 20 before settling for a 69-56 victory on Friday.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said second year Timpanogos coach Golden Ingle. “They played together and they played for each other, and I think it showed tonight. They’ve been going hard at each other all week, so it’s nice to get out and play somebody else.”
Jaxson McCuistion led Timpanogos with 26 points. Jack Johnson and sophomore Cooper Harris added 14 and 13 points, respectively. The offense was triggered by point guard Gavin Messmer, who dished out 11 assists.
“I was very excited to get out there and get a dub,” McCuistion said. “It was a fun game. I liked our chemistry and our passing was on point.”
Baskets from Dylan Lucas and James Milligan got Cedar Valley out to a 14-9 lead midway through the first quarter. A fast break bucket by Johnson brought Timpanogos to within one, 19-18, after one.
Ryan Halsem’s rebound basket gave Cedar Valley a 21-18 lead to open the second, but the rest of the quarter was all T-Wolves. Messmer kick-started an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer and a Harris drive and score pushed the Timpanogos lead to 29-21 with 4:34 to play in the second. A 10-2 burst, highlight by a 3-point play from Messmer, had the home team up 39-26 at halftime.
“They shared the ball,” Ingle said. “I think that shows a lot about the team. Everybody on the starting five can hit shots. They put in a lot of time and it’s almost like the the buckets brigade. They’re just sharing buckets. They’ve got to pass it to the next one, but anybody can get the bucket.”
The T-Wolves turned up the pace to start the third quarter with a 7-0 run, including a 3-point play from Johnson, to lead 46-26. It was 56-40 entering the fourth quarter and though Cedar Valley managed to cut the deficit to ten at 63-53 with 2:33 to play, that was as close at it would get.
‘We always have a word of the day every day in practice, and the word of the day was ‘enthusiasm,'” Ingle said. “Sometimes I have to take my own medicine and take the enthusiasm. I think that hyper focused myself and, and hopefully helped the team.”
Carson Stocking had 17 points for Cedar Valley (1-1), which opened the season with a 70-37 victory against West Jordan on Tuesday. The Aviators are off until Dec. 5 for a road game at Mountain View.
Timpanogos (1-0) continues a challenging preseason schedule by hosting Maple Mountain next Tuesday.
