Girls' basketball: Copper Hills gets rare win vs. Bingham

South Jordan • Flinging up quick 10-footers may not be the highest percentage shot, but they certainly served Copper Hills well Thursday night.

That approach by the Grizzlies' girls' basketball team served two purposes against Bingham in their Region 3 game: First, it meant the shot got off before Miners post Holly Sorenson could get to it. Second, the quicker the Grizz got the shot off, the less chance Copper Hills would turn the ball over itself.

Despite 18 turnovers in the first half, Copper Hills grabbed control in the second to beat the host Miners 53-45.

"I'm just so thrilled for our girls. It's just one region win, and we're going to treat it that way, but it's been a long time since Copper Hills has beat Bingham," Grizzlies coach Ben Morely said. "Especially on their home floor."

Morely could only describe the forays into the lane, and ensuing shots, from senior guard Sarah Midgely as "unorthodox." But it was Midgely who helped stave off Bingham (8-4, 1-1) after Copper Hills (8-5, 1-1) grabbed the lead.

With her team holding a five-point lead at the start of the fourth period, Midgely flicked in a shot to make the score 37-30 — and then did it again a minute later to keep the spread at seven.

Sorenson, though, was the catalyst as the Miners rallied back with a 7-2 run as senior swatted her sixth and seventh shots of the game. Sorenson finished with six points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks.

But Midgely drove into the paint to get another score and then a running one-hander by teammate Sydney May kicked off five straight points for the Grizz to put the lead back at seven with a minute to play.

Midgely and Shirsten Wissinger had 11 points each while May finished with 10 for Copper Hills. Freshman Jade Sine had 15 points to lead Bingham.

"We had to get to the free throw line and no more turnovers," said Midgely of the Grizzlies' halftime conversation.

After those 18 first-half turnovers, Copper Hills only committed seven the rest of the way.

"Our goal was 16 total for the game, so we knew we couldn't have any more," Midgely said. "I just knew my shots had to go in and I needed to take charge. If I drive in, I look to dish. And if they don't guard me, I take it all the way." —

Storylines

R Six minutes into the game, Copper Hills has twice as many turnovers as shot attempts but still leads 8-2.

• Bingham goes over half of the third period without a point in an 8-0 run for the Grizzlies.

• 5-foot-8 junior Sydney May is Copper Hills' leading rebounder with 10 on the night.