Lone Peak wins 2011 5A boys hoops title with win over American Fork Matt Petersen - Herald Correspondent | Posted: Saturday, March 5, 2011 2:32 pm Lone Peak's Jordan Hamilton lifts the 5A state championship trophy amongst a crowd of teammates and fans after defeating American Fork during the boys 5A state championship game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden Saturday, March 5, 2011. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald Holding the championship trophy and watching his teammates cut down the net, Talon Shumway gave a glimpse into the world of a first-time state champ. "It's so much better than what everybody else says," Shumway said. He should know. He had been told many times what it's like, but found out for himself as Lone Peak secured their fifth championship in 11 years after beating region rival American Fork 64-52 at the Dee Events Center of Weber State University. Shumway was perhaps the biggest reason offensively. The sophomore forward started the second quarter scoring six consecutive points, finishing the contest with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with seven rebounds. "Talon was, obviously, huge," Knights head coach Quincy Lewis said. Lewis was equally huge in his own right. It was a defensive decision, made under the weight of a 10-point first-quarter deficit, that completely changed the complexion of the game. With the Cavemen executing their way to an 11-0 run, Lewis had a choice to make: stick to his game plan and hope his players would eventually enforce it, or swallow his pride and change things up. He chose the latter. "My strategy was to man them up," Lewis admitted. "I wasn't right." The Knights switched to a 1-3-1 trapping zone, and the momentum immediately switched over to Lone Peak. The easy baskets that led to American Fork's 21-point first quarter disappeared, and the Cavemen managed just five points in the second. Their turnovers fed the Knights' fast break and a 16-0 run. Lone Peak never looked back. "American Fork was so well prepared against our man [defense]," Lewis said. "They knew exactly where we liked to rotate our helpers. They got open shots and I just didn't feel like we could stay with it for much longer." With good reason. Caveman forward Marcel Davis started the game on fire while directing a crisp offense that could do no wrong in the first quarter. The junior forward finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals in the contest. Lone Peak's zone, however, completely stalled the American Fork offense, which managed 15 points combined in the second and third quarters. After his hot start, Davis finished 6-for-19 from the field. Forward Quincy Bair (20 points) helped keep the Cavemen within reach until the fourth quarter, when two Shumway dunks effectively slammed the door on American Fork's title hopes. Caveman head coach Doug Meacham lamented his team's shot selection after the switch, but gave credit to Lone Peak for the adjustment. "We just shot too many threes in that second quarter," Meacham said. "The first quarter we were getting some easier shots, getting inside the paint." Adjustments were needed on the offensive end as well. Struggling enroute to a 3-for-10 showing from the field and shadowed by American Fork's Austin Waddoups, Nick Emery made his mark the hard way by scoring 13 of his 20 points at the free-throw line. "Waddoups played great defense on me," Emery said. "They were helping on me a little bit. They're a great team, but Talon just took over." Shumway, his brother Colton, and junior Brody Berry were key in a game that saw center Jordan Hamilton saddled with foul trouble. At halftime Berry was already on pace for a triple-double, and finished with 10 points and team-highs in rebounds (9), assists (5) and steals (2). When coach Lewis was asked what Berry can't do, he promptly quipped, "Get his name in the paper." "I told [Brody] at the beginning of the year, ‘Nobody's going to know your name, but get used to it. We know how important you are.'" That importance was made manifest in the first quarter. Under the onslaught of American Fork's run, Berry and Talon Shumway pulled the team together before a free throw. The team captain's words? "We just told them to calm down," Berry said. "Relax. It's just another game." That may have been Berry's in-game counsel, but his post-game euphoria was closer to Shumway's. "It feels so great. It's amazing," Berry said. "Best feeling I've ever felt in my life right now." Coach Meacham and the Cavemen felt differently. "The color on [our] trophy is the wrong color," Meacham said. "No matter how long it's going to sit there and tarnish, it's not going to look gold. I am proud of my guys, though. I'm proud of the fact that we did make the state championship."

Lone Peak wins 2011 5A boys hoops title with win over American Fork

Matt Petersen - Herald Correspondent | Posted: Saturday, March 5, 2011 2:32 pm

Holding the championship trophy and watching his teammates cut down the net, Talon Shumway gave a glimpse into the world of a first-time state champ.

"It's so much better than what everybody else says," Shumway said.

He should know. He had been told many times what it's like, but found out for himself as Lone Peak secured their fifth championship in 11 years after beating region rival American Fork 64-52 at the Dee Events Center of Weber State University.

Shumway was perhaps the biggest reason offensively. The sophomore forward started the second quarter scoring six consecutive points, finishing the contest with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with seven rebounds.

"Talon was, obviously, huge," Knights head coach Quincy Lewis said.

Lewis was equally huge in his own right. It was a defensive decision, made under the weight of a 10-point first-quarter deficit, that completely changed the complexion of the game.

With the Cavemen executing their way to an 11-0 run, Lewis had a choice to make: stick to his game plan and hope his players would eventually enforce it, or swallow his pride and change things up.

He chose the latter.

"My strategy was to man them up," Lewis admitted. "I wasn't right."

The Knights switched to a 1-3-1 trapping zone, and the momentum immediately switched over to Lone Peak. The easy baskets that led to American Fork's 21-point first quarter disappeared, and the Cavemen managed just five points in the second. Their turnovers fed the Knights' fast break and a 16-0 run.

Lone Peak never looked back.

"American Fork was so well prepared against our man [defense]," Lewis said. "They knew exactly where we liked to rotate our helpers. They got open shots and I just didn't feel like we could stay with it for much longer."

With good reason. Caveman forward Marcel Davis started the game on fire while directing a crisp offense that could do no wrong in the first quarter. The junior forward finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals in the contest.

Lone Peak's zone, however, completely stalled the American Fork offense, which managed 15 points combined in the second and third quarters.

After his hot start, Davis finished 6-for-19 from the field. Forward Quincy Bair (20 points) helped keep the Cavemen within reach until the fourth quarter, when two Shumway dunks effectively slammed the door on American Fork's title hopes.

Caveman head coach Doug Meacham lamented his team's shot selection after the switch, but gave credit to Lone Peak for the adjustment.

"We just shot too many threes in that second quarter," Meacham said. "The first quarter we were getting some easier shots, getting inside the paint."

Adjustments were needed on the offensive end as well. Struggling enroute to a 3-for-10 showing from the field and shadowed by American Fork's Austin Waddoups, Nick Emery made his mark the hard way by scoring 13 of his 20 points at the free-throw line.

"Waddoups played great defense on me," Emery said. "They were helping on me a little bit. They're a great team, but Talon just took over."

Shumway, his brother Colton, and junior Brody Berry were key in a game that saw center Jordan Hamilton saddled with foul trouble. At halftime Berry was already on pace for a triple-double, and finished with 10 points and team-highs in rebounds (9), assists (5) and steals (2).

When coach Lewis was asked what Berry can't do, he promptly quipped, "Get his name in the paper."

"I told [Brody] at the beginning of the year, ‘Nobody's going to know your name, but get used to it. We know how important you are.'"

That importance was made manifest in the first quarter. Under the onslaught of American Fork's run, Berry and Talon Shumway pulled the team together before a free throw. The team captain's words?

"We just told them to calm down," Berry said. "Relax. It's just another game."

That may have been Berry's in-game counsel, but his post-game euphoria was closer to Shumway's.

"It feels so great. It's amazing," Berry said. "Best feeling I've ever felt in my life right now."

Coach Meacham and the Cavemen felt differently.

"The color on [our] trophy is the wrong color," Meacham said. "No matter how long it's going to sit there and tarnish, it's not going to look gold. I am proud of my guys, though. I'm proud of the fact that we did make the state championship."