2A boys' basketball: South Summit knocks off Kanab

Orem • There is the tendency to take a play off every now and then when you don't get any water breaks, no chance to catch your breath and play all 32 minutes.

Be smart, pace yourself.

Beau Rydalch doesn't believe in that theory.

The 6-foot-5 junior forward scored 20 points and did a little bit of everything to help South Summit hold off a pesky Kanab team 46-43 in Saturday's opening round game of the state Class 2A boys' basketball tournament.

"I believe in playing 100 percent on every play is what is going to get us a win," Rydalch said. "One play could get us a state championship or mean we're going home."

South Summit watched its 22-12 lead at the half disappear, and the Region 14 co-champions were in danger of falling victim to a big upset when they trailed 35-32 with four minutes left in the game.

But sometimes just one or two key plays can win a game. Brad Richins tied the game with a 3-pointer, and after South Summit missed a pair of free throws, Rydalch came down with the offensive rebound of the game. He kicked it out to Richins, who canned another 3-pointer. The Wildcats never looked back.

"People have a real misconception about Beau, because he's a Rydalch, that he's a scorer, and he is a scorer," South Summit coach Dusty Hatch said. "But he does so many other things to make our team better — the free-throw shooting, the rebounding, the defense. That's what makes him so valuable to our team."

Rydalch made 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute of the game to help South Summit hang on to its lead and advance to Thursday's quarterfinal against Gunnison Valley at Southern Utah University.

The Cowboys (9-12) were led by Brandon Jenson and Mark Bates, who scored 11 points apiece. —

South Summit 46,Kanab 43

R Beau Rydalch makes 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final minute to secure the playoff win.