Bulldogs back: Provo takes its first state championship in 18 years with a big win over Hurricane
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- Provo High celebrates its victory over Hurricane at the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High principal Kami Alvarez presents the school’s boys basketball program with the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship trophy following a win over Hurricane on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Gehrig Orchard, right, and a student celebrate the team’s victory over Hurricane the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Makai Allen brings the ball down the floor against Hurricane’s Quinn Gubler the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Gehrig Orchard drives around Hurricane’s Brigham Kemp the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Gehrig Orchard, defended by Hurricane’ Asher Blair, looks for an open pass at the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Lucas Castagnetto puts up a 3-point try against Hurricane at the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Callen Tollestrup, left, and Hurricane’s Clyde Berrett, right, get things started at the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- Provo High’s Lucas Castagnetto goes through the starting lineups before tipoff of the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
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- The Provo High boys basketball team lines up for the national anthem before the UHSAA 4A boys basketball state championship on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University in Ogden.
It’s been several years since Provo basketball proved one of the most dominant programs in the state, but if Saturday’s resounding 62-42 win over Hurricane is any indication, those days very well may be back.
Well, at least during the days that topped off a remarkable 2025-26 season which saw the Bulldogs battle through and rise to be the last team standing as the 4A state champions with the win over the Tigers.
“(It means) everything. That’s what I keep telling everyone,” said Provo coach Chris Collinsworth. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that bought in and believed in me, my staff, and in Provo High. So for us to actually come through with these guys means everything.”
Saturday wasn’t the first time Collinsworth hoisted a championship for Provo as it were. As a player, he was central to the Bulldog’s remarkable championship stretch, which saw them win three state championships in the five years stretching from 2004 to 2008, the last time Provo took home the gold trophy.
Three years ago the Provo administration hired Collinsworth as the boys basketball head coach in hopes of recapturing and indeed adding to the program’s storied history, which is headlined now by 18 state championships following the win over Hurricane.
“Those guys in there are winners,” Collinsworth said of his players in the locker room following his team’s 50-46 semifinal win over Dixie. “We knew this group was special…When I was asked to take over this thing I’d never coached before. I was an assistant for just one year before becoming head coach…I didn’t realize how I’d love being coach here, and the ultimate goal has always been to get back (to winning championships)…It’s something that we talk about a lot.”
Talking is one thing, and doing it is quite another.
As for how Provo did it on Saturday, and indeed throughout the season, was with a solid contribution from everyone on the floor.
Leading off in the win over the Tigers was guard Lucas Castagnetto, who scored the Bulldog’s first six points of the game by way of hitting two three pointers. Altogether the senior scored 15 points on a blistering 5-8 effort from behind the arc.
“I just came in super confident,” Castagnetto said. “Coaches told me let it rip because I’ve been shooting pretty good recently. I feel like everything was going in, so I just kept letting it fly.”
Provo’s big men were also central throughout, with forwards Griffin DeMartini and Callen Tollestrup scoring 11 and 12 points, respectively while dominating the post on both ends of the court.
And then there was Provo guard Makai Allen, who finished with a team-high 17 points, along with a team-high nine assists and seven rebounds. More than capable of scoring upwards of 30 points per game, Saturday’s game exemplified the strides the Snow College commit has made in becoming a true point guard who lifts the play of those on the court with him.
“Teams started keying on Makai, and credit to Makai for being willing to move the ball and make the extra pass,” Collinsworth said. “And that’s how you win championships, right? You do it with five guys.”
Allen had many standout moments, but perhaps his superb all-around effort was punctuated by a thundering dunk midway through the fourth quarter. Indeed the senior began to take the game over down the stretch and hit consecutive 3-pointers toward the end of the third quarter to extend his team’s lead to 45-29.
“It felt great,” Allen said of his dunk specifically. “Coach told us, ‘Take as much time as we can, 35 seconds.’ I had the lane, and he said, ‘Get a layup,’ so I saw it and I took it.”
“I honestly can’t overstate just how important Makai is to Provo High Basketball,” Collinsworth added. “He could have left every year. Other schools wanted him, and he chose to stay with Provo with me and I literally love that guy and his family. He means everything and his growth as a point guard was on display tonight.”
One player relatively new to Provo is Tollestrup, who transferred over from Timpview just prior to the season and is certainly glad he did.
“It’s honestly the best feeling in the world. There’s no better feeling,” he said. “It just shows that hard work pays off and we put in a lot of work this season. We’ve had some trials, we overcame them and it all paid off big today.”
Perhaps no bigger challenge was issued to Provo than what a quarterfinal matchup with Sky View presented. Down 21 points in the second half, the Bulldogs managed to regather and take a remarkable double-overtime win to advance to the final four held at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
Saturday’s game didn’t present near the deficit to overcome relatively to the quarterfinal win over Sky View, or any deficit, for that matter. From the get go the Bulldogs were locked in and led throughout, before extending the lead significantly throughout the second half. Overall the team shot 49% from the field compared to just 33% by the Tigers while managing more than several open looks from 3-point range and from right under the basket due to precise back cuts and a lot of focus being lent to both Allen and Castagnetto on the perimeter.
All in all Provo was impressive throughout on both ends of the court, leading to a raucous celebration thereafter which included many hugs and tears being shed by the players and their families due to the historic accomplishment.
“It’s just amazing. It’s a childhood dream,” Castagnetto concluded. “I’ve been dreaming about this ever since I was young. I’ve been watching my older brothers play, and they never got it, but we got it. It’s just amazing.”
3A Boys State Championship
1 Morgan 64, 3 American Heritage 51
Bracken Saunders topped Morgan (24-3) with 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Jake Hansen contributed 23 points for the Trojans.
Jackson Black led a balanced American Heritage attack with 12 points. Josue Kajinga had 11, James Matson 10 and Kade Anderson nine on three 3-pointers.
The Patriots finished the season with a 19-7 record.
