Why the Davis/Lone Peak game was so great

Now that the boys basketball tournament is over, I still think the lasting memory for me will be Friday’s game between Davis and Lone Peak. I’m sure many others feel the same way.
It was truly one of those games that I think qualifies as a “classic.” I’ve seen a few Provo/Timpview rivalry games that were close in intensity and in excitement. Last year’s 4A semifinal game between Timpview and Payson is among the best I’ve ever seen. A few years back when Orem beat American Fork on Tanner Lamb’s three-quarters court heave is another one I’ll never forget. Bingham’s win two years ago over Riverton in the 5A championship game was definitely another dandy.
I’ve only been covering prep sports for the past seven years, and if I had to rank last Friday’s game, it would get my No. 1 spot. I’ve heard many who were there Friday tell me the same.
So exactly why was this game so great? Mainly, because of what was on the line for both teams. Not only did it mean a spot in the championship game, it meant a ton of respect and recognition for both teams.
Davis, entering the game 22-0, was not getting the respect it deserved. All the Darts were hearing is how great Lone Peak is and how the Knights might be the state’s best team ever. Not to mention, all the talk about how weak Region 1 was this year. The Darts, to quiet so many people and to make fans from all over Utah finally take a good look at exactly how good they are, had to play well. The Darts couldn’t flop, or they would have proven all of their doubters right. Davis had to give Lone Peak a battle right to the end or a lot of people would have been calling their incredible season a fluke and a lack of quality competition. Think for a minute the pressure that put on Davis. Then think of how the Darts handled that pressure and still almost knocked off the powerful Knights. They really shut a lot of people up, and they did it the right way – on the court.
Then you have Lone Peak. Labeled as one of the state’s most-talented teams ever, the Knights had everything to lose and not really that much to gain. Almost everyone expected them to blow Davis right off the court. The Knights had to know what their expectations were, and what a huge drop in respect it would be if they somehow managed to let the Darts beat them.
Those two angles clashing had this game billed as great even before the opening tip. Then, add in all the things that happened during the game that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Davis had to overcome losing one starter to fouls and its leading scorer to an injury, and then still try to hold off a team labeled as the best-ever by many. What incredible odds to overcome.
On the other side, Lone Peak easily could have panicked. The Knights struggled to get in sync the entire game, and normally when teams get in those kinds of games they often start doing worse things and making more mistakes. It was obvious that the Knights were trying to fight through this, and they did.
There’s more. No team was ever comfortably in front, which made every possession feel critical. There were missed tips, missed layups, missed free throws and misseds shots from both sides on critical possessions that left fans on both sides with that “what-if” feeling. Lone Peak missed two dunks. Davis banked in two shots from straight way and then banked in the game tying free throw. The Darts had a huge 3-point shot hang on the back of the rim for several seconds before falling off. Davis had the best shot to win in the first overtime.
Also, this is a game that I think everyone can look back at and not even remember one bad call or controversial call. Everyone knew it was eventually going to come down to the final shot. Honestly, the way the game was going, I wouldn’t have been shocked had Chase Flint’s final desperation heave from beyond half court gone in.
If you were at the game, please share your thoughts on why you thought this was such a great game. If you were not there, but were at another great game in Utah prep basketball history, tell us why that game was so great.