Snow Canyon’s Olivia Hamlin scores against Bear River in a 4A girls state basketball playoff game, Logan, Utah, Feb. 23, 2023 | Photo by The Fan Sports Network, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Snow Canyon sophomore Olivia Hamlin made history in the quarterfinal round of the 4A girls state basketball tournament Thursday.
Hamlin scored a game-high 23 points, including her 1,000th career point, to lead the Warriors to a thrilling 52-47 win over Bear River.
That was the first of four girls’ games Thursday night as the tournament got underway on the campus of Utah State University in Logan.
Defending 4A champion and No. 8 Desert Hills faces undefeated No. 1 Ridgeline in a rematch of last year’s state championship game at 7:30 p.m.
Then the nightcap will have No. 4 Green Canyon playing No. 5 Dixie, scheduled to begin at 9:10 p.m.
St. George News will have recaps of the action shortly after the games are played. Fans can catch the live stream of each state tournament game at The Fan Sports Network.
Updated 4A brackets are linked to the Utah High School Athletic Association website.
Snow Canyon 52, Bear River 47
The No. 6 Bears gave the No. 3 Warriors everything they wanted and more in a tightly played, hard fought contest.
Bear River came ready to play and took a 12-10 lead after the first quarter. Both teams struggled to hit shots in the second quarter and the score was tied 18-18 at halftime.
But Snow Canyon won the third quarter 21-16 and then held on to that 5-point lead through the final quarter.
Hamlin, under the weather after the long road trip from St. George, played through her discomfort. Her free throw at the 3:15 mark of the fourth quarter was her 1,000th career point scored at Snow Canyon.
Hamlin sank one 3-pointer and finished with a game-high 23 for the Warriors. But she didn’t do it alone as Kelly Howard scored 15 points for the winners.
Tied 45-45, Hamlin drove the length of the floor and found Howard left open for a corner 3-pointer. Howard’s effort hit nothing but net and Snow Canyon took the lead for good 48-45 with 1:06 left in the contest.
Natalie Olson (seven points), Joey Jensen (four points) and Kyza Andrews (three points) rounded out the attack for the Warriors.
Bear River was paced by a notable effort from Gracie Riley, who took over the game at times and scored 22 points. Crystal Park scored eight and Aubree Fry netted a 3-pointer and scored seven for the Bears.
Snow Canyon awaits the winner of the game between No. 2 Sky View and No. 7 Mountain Crest. The Warriors will play their semifinal game Friday at 4:10 p.m.
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