The place to be: Orem boys basketball makes big comeback to get exciting win at Timpview
- Orem senior Chamberlain Burgess goes up for a layup during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Chance Dastrup directs his team during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Ryker Mikkelsen drives to the basket during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Chamberlain Burgess dunks the ball before the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Chamberlain Burgess ties up Timpview junior Jackson Palmer during the Region 7 game in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Trey Hiatt blocks a shot during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem players celebrate after hitting a 3-pointer during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview junior Lincoln Holcombe celebrates after a made 3-pointer during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem senior Chamberlain Burgess goes up for a shot during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Orem head coach Jace Tavita directs his team during the Region 7 game against Timpview in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview junior Aisa Galeai goes up for a shot during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview head coach Izzy Ingle directs his team during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview fans react after a made 3-pointer during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview junior Jackson Palmer drives to the basket during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview junior Aisa Galeai goes up for a layup during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
- Timpview junior Dean Rueckert goes up for a shot during the Region 7 game against Orem in Provo on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
There is nothing like an old-school high school basketball showdown.
That’s what everyone who packed into the Thunderdome in Provo got Friday night as two of the top boys basketball teams in the state — Orem and Timpview — squared off for the first time this season.
With impressive athletes on both sides of the ball, this was a battle of wills that saw both the Tigers and the Thunderbirds put together dominant moments with fans going crazy after each dramatic moment.
Talk about a classic atmosphere.
“Both of our programs have had a lot of success these last couple years, especially this year,” Orem head coach Jace Tavita said. “Then obviously being so close to each other, it’s just a fun time. It’s fun for the kids. It’s fun for the community and the schools. Overall, it’s just a great experience.”
In the end, though, it was Tavita’s Tigers who made a big rally in the second half to emerge victorious, beating Timpview 63-55.
“I told our boys that they just had to keep fighting,” Tavita said. “They had to believe and stick together to get back into the game.”
Orem senior Chance Dastrup said Tavita told the team at halftime to stick to the game plan.
“Our energy was high but we didn’t come out hot,” Dastrup said. “We had to stick to what we know we can do. We had to defend and never give up. What’s different about this year’s team is that we’ve got a lot of heart.”
The Thunderbirds threw the first punch as junior Aisa Galeai scored the first seven points of the game and the home teams surged to a 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
For the next nine minutes of basketball, Timpview’s lead fluctuated between six and 15 points with the Tigers not playing their best but making enough plays to stay close.
It didn’t help Orem that Dastrup picked up his third foul midway through the second quarter, which changed up the dynamic for the visitors.
“He’s the quarterback out there for us, controlling the pace and getting everyone involved,” Tavita said. “He’s a crucial piece. We were doing some offense/defense substituting so we could get some points at the end of the half.”
Dastrup said it was frustrating to be in that situation, but he knew he had to play smart.
“I was frustrated but my coach just said support your teammates,” Dastrup said. “When you’re out, stick with it. We’ll get you back in there, but you’ve just got to play smart. Don’t be reaching if they back you down. Just play with your body instead with your hands. I stuck with that and didn’t pick up another one.”
There was still the matter of the big deficit the Tigers had to overcome.
The Thunderbirds got a 3-pointer from Galaei and a layup by junior Will Openshaw at the start of the third quarter to extend their lead to 39-24 and appeared to be in the driver’s seat.
But Orem showed just how quickly it can flip the script.
Dastrup, senior Ryker Mikkelsen and junior Simeon Suguturaga spearheaded the offensive charge, while the entire team — led by senior Chamberlain Burgess patrolling the paint — came up big on defense as Orem came roaring back.
The Tigers did particularly well at stopping the T’Bird isolation plays, something that’s difficult for most teams to do.
“It was just a testament to the discipline of our guys,” Tavita said. “We’re always telling them that they’ve just got to compete. Stay down, make them make tough shots over the top of you, and then we have to go box out and get the rebound. Credit goes to our boys for not overthinking it and just being disciplined.”
The rest of the third quarter basically belonged to the visitors as they outscored Timpview 17-4 to make it a two-point game heading to the final frame.
“The key was stacking defensive stops,” Dastrup said. “It wasn’t getting a stop and then letting them score. It was having stops and scores stack up.”
Orem took its first lead to start the fourth quarter on an and-1 by Mikkelsen.
The Thunderbirds were able to keep it close for a couple of minutes, but the Tiger momentum was simply too much at that point and Timpview couldn’t stop it.
The Tigers used a 9-2 to turn a 46-46 tie into a 7-point lead and although Timpview kept fighting to the end, it was never able to close the gap enough before the final whistle blew.
Orem moves into the top spot in Region 8 but everyone knows the Thunderbirds will be fired up for the rematch at Orem on Feb. 7.
“This gives us a lot of confidence,” Tavita said. “Timpview is a great team and they are going to come to our place in a couple of weeks. It will be another battle. But winning this one shows we can beat anyone in 5A.”
Orem (13-3) now heads home to take on Maple Mountain on Jan. 21, while Timpview (12-4) will get another test when it hosts Springville on the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.