Prep girls' basketball: Skyline beats Sky View in 4A playoff opener

The Sky View girls' basketball team's shots weren't falling. They clanked off the rim, or the backboard, or sometimes didn't touch anything at all. Skyline's confidence mounted as the Bobcats' frustration visibly grew.

The swagger was back.

That much was evident as the No. 3 seed Eagles used a run late in the first half to steal momentum and beat the second-seeded Bobcats, 56-47, in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament Monday.

"When we started to get momentum, it seemed like they couldn't make anything," said Eagles' star post Sydnee Taylor. "We kept beating down on them."

The Eagles beat down on most of their opponents throughout the early part of the season. But a rash of injuries cost them a shot at the Region 7 title and dropped them to a No. 3 seed in the state tournament.

Then the Eagles drew a first-round matchup against talented Sky View, which lost just once in Region 5. But Skyline used an earlier matchup with the Bobcats — a 63-55 season-opening win — to gain the upper hand.

What the Eagles had learned in the first matchup began paying dividends late in the first half Monday, when a quick burst carved out a halftime lead. The second half belonged to the Eagles and their lock-down defense.

"We just stepped up on defense," Taylor said. "At first we didn't come out that well on defense, but then we did step it up and they started to miss shots. We closed out really well on their shooters."

The Eagles now advance to the second round of the tournament, something they failed to do last year as a No. 1 seed. That they'd done it after a stretch filled with adversity made Eagles coach Lynette Schroeder smile. In a dimly lit hallway outside the Eagles' locker room, she explained why — the struggle had made them a tougher team to beat.

"I'm proud of how they rebounded back," Schroeder said. "And the injuries, as we start to look back now, were kind of a blessing-in-disguise because it's allowed our bench to get minutes it normally wouldn't so now they feel more comfortable on the floor."

Bountiful 62, Spanish Fork 37 • Kennedy Redding had a game-high 13 points for the Braves.

 Timpanogos 72, Roy 65 • Top-seeded Timpanogos used a 28-point third quarter to stave off an upset attempt from the Royals.

 Bonneville 56, Murray 35 • Bonneville, Region 5's No. 1 seed, controlled the game from the beginning. The Lakers held the Spartans to just 10 combined points in the second and third quarters.

 Springville 66, Highland 60 (OT) • Springville pulled away in the final minute of overtime to beat the Rams. Savannah Park led the Red Devils with 18 points in the win. —

Skyline 56,Sky View 47

R Skyline holds Sky View to just 7 third-quarter points to take control.

• The Eagles advance to the second round of the Class 4A tournament, reversing a late-season skid.

• Lindsey Jensen and Jessica Smith score in double figures in the loss for the Bobcats. —

Monday's scores

Class 4A girls' basketball

• Bountiful 62, Spanish Fork 37

• Timpanogos 72, Roy 65

• Bonneville 56, Murray 35

• Springville 66, Highland 60, OT

• Skyline 56, Sky View 47

• Timpview 59, Woods Cross 35

• Wasatch 59, Judge Memorial 56, OT

• Mountain View vs. Mountain Crest, late

—

Girls' tournament schedules

Class 2A

Quarters at Sevier Valley Center, Thursday

• South Sevier vs. South Summit, 4:10 p.m.

• Summit vs. North Sevier, 5:50 p.m.

• Gunnison vs. Grand, 7:30 p.m.

• Emery vs. Enterprise, 9:10 p.m.

Class 3A

Quarters at SUU, Thursday

• Juab vs. Desert Hills, 4:10 p.m.

• Cedar vs. Carbon, 5:50 p.m.

• Hurricane vs. North Sanpete, 7:30 p.m.

• Morgan vs. Stansbury, 9:10 p.m.

Class 4A

Quarters at SLCC, Wednesday

• Bountiful vs. Timpanogos, 7:30 p.m.

• Bonneville vs. Springville 5:50 p.m.

• Skyline vs. Timpview, 4:10 p.m.

• Wasatch vs. Mountain View/Mountain Crest winner, 2:30 p.m.

Class 5A

First round at SLCC, Tuesday

• Alta vs. Taylorsville, 9:30 a.m.

• Riverton vs. Viewmont, 11:10 a.m.

• Layton vs. American Fork, 12:50 p.m.

• Cottonwood vs. Copper Hills, 2:30 p.m.

• Fremont vs. Lehi 4:10 p.m.

• Granger vs. Bingham, 5:50 p.m.

• Brighton vs. Hunter 7:30 p.m.

• Lone Peak vs. Davis, 9:10 p.m.