Utah's best 1A player, Valley's Caroline Heaton, overcame illness to score 31 points and lead the Buffaloes to a 64-41 victory over Panguitch Saturday for their second-straight 1A state title.
Heaton, who came down with something early in the tournament, had games of 14, 18 and 15 points in the first three games of the tournament before Saturday's 31-point outburst."Last night I started getting it (the illness) again," Heaton said. "I've been going to bed early every night trying to get over it."
Panguitch perhaps wishes she wouldn't have.
Behind 12 first-quarter points from Catherine Howard, Panguitch led briefly at 5-0 before Beverly Glover, who had 19 points, and Heaton mounted a charge that put the Buffaloes back in the game.
Despite 2-of-5 shooting early, Heaton connected on back-to-back shots to give Valley a 8-7 lead, but Howard answered Valley's baskets to keep the game close at 14-13 Valley at the end of the first quarter.
Then Heaton and Glover got hot.
Feeding off the play of point-guard Misty Griffiths, the twosome had eight and seven points each in the second quarter as the Buffaloes outscored the Bobcats 19-9 in the second quarter to take the 35-22 halftime lead.
"My person had 14 points in the first half," Heaton said of Howard. "I didn't feel we played to our potential in the first half . . . We were nervous, and finally we started playing like we have all year."
The Buffaloes continued the offensive output, and Heaton held Howard to just two points in the second half to post the 23-point victory.
Howard finished with 16 points and Camille Christensen had 10 points for the Bobcats, while Bridget Spencer finished with 11 points for the Buffaloes.
In what may have been coach Ferril Heaton's last game, Valley won its sixth title in 10 years, finishing the year at 23-1.
DUGWAY 58, MANILA 47: Heidi Bruce and Kim Kaighn scored 18 point each as Dugway held off Manila. Lindsey Guest poured in a game-high 24 points for Manila.
PIUTE 49, RICH 45: Brianna Torgersen's 21 points and Cally Allen's 20 points lifted the T-Birds past the Rebels. Cami Pope led Rich with 24 points.
Consolation championship
ESCALANTE 43, MONUMENT VALLEY 38: Brittany Sandefer and Kandy Kelly led a balanced atttack with 13 and 10 points apiece to lead the Moquis to the consolation title. Olivia Holiday led Monument Valley with 12 points.
3A BOYS TOURNEY
DIXIE 77, NORTH SANPETE 64: Coty Bundy and Brent Guersoli combined for 40 points as the Flyers won despite a 18-point effort from Jason Christiansen.
PINE VIEW 64, CEDAR CITY 52: With Ryan Eves scoring 20 and Chris Brockman adding 18, the Panthers upended the Redmen and earned a date with Uintah.
BEAR RIVER 66, WASATCH 59: Chris Huber tossed in 20 points and Kevin Asay chipped in 19 for the Bears.
RICHFIELD 51, SNOW CANYON 49: The Wildcats got 13 of Nick Luekenga's 19 points in the fourth quarter to come from behind and beat the Warriors. Tad Rollins hit the game-winner with four seconds to play.
GRANITE 72, UNION 63: Josh Bates led the Farmers past the Cougars as he scored 25 points while Granite's Kenyon Rogers had 15.
LEHI 58, BEN LOMOND 56: Braden Cooper scored 20 points, but a pair of free throws with three seconds left proved to be the difference as the Pioneers pulled out a close win.
UINTAH 68, OGDEN 55: The Utes beat up the Tigers as Cory Kebert poured in 26 points and Jeremy Pierce tossed in 20.