Game of the Year (Round 1)

It’s time for the best match-up of the high school winter sports season ‘ Lone Peak vs. Pleasant Grove in boys basketball.

The Knights and Vikings face off tonight in the first of two Region 4 meetings. I saw the first match-up between the two teams last season ‘ while standing near one of the baselines because there was nowhere to sit ‘ at Pleasant Grove last season.

What a game. What an atmosphere. Actually, the game wasn’t especially well-played considering all the talent involved. But it was intense, and fans for both teams were in a frenzy throughout the game’s 32 minutes. Fans were shoulder-to-shoulder in the bleachers. Hundreds of them were turned away.

That’s the kind of turnout I’m expecting tonight.

For me, it doesn’t get any better in high school winter sports than Lone Peak-Pleasant Grove. This is the showcase contest for boys basketball, much like the Bingham-Alta regular season game was for football.

The Knights and Vikings are 2-0 in Region 4. Pleasant Grove is 12-1 overall, while Lone Peak is 11-2. Lone Peak is ranked No. 2 and PG is No. 3 in 5A.

‘You could probably classify it as a big game,’ said Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis.

It’s hard to imagine there being a more star-studded high school basketball game in Utah, although Lone Peak-Brighton does come close. The Knights have three seniors who will play Division I basketball next year and a junior in Tyler Haws that you already know is headed to college stardom.

The Vikings, led by 5A’s leading scorer C.J. Wilcox, LeSean Wilcox and Craig Tucker, are probably the most athletic team in the state.

Lewis said the team that plays with more poise will probably win the game. It will be a heated environment, so it will be tough for the players to keep their composure.

So which team will prevail? When you compare scores, you have to give the nod to Lone Peak. The Knights beat Spanish Fork by 20 on Wednesday, while the Vikings struggled to beat Timpanogos.

I’m interested to read some predictions from fans. I’ll go first. Lone Peak should be favored, but I think the Vikings find a way to win tonight: Pleasant Grove 67, Lone Peak 65.