The Grand County High School boys basketball team kicked off 2018 with a home victory over Region 15 foe San Juan 75-50 on Wednesday, Jan. 3, before a pair of region defeats on the road 70-62 to Manti on Friday, Jan. 5, and 58-48 to North Sanpete on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Against the Broncos, 10 different Red Devils scored in their first action in front of the home crowd in over a month. Senior Brayden Schultz had 17 points and three steals, while senior Alec Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds and junior Tyson Horton had 10 points and three steals. Senior Masen Ward and junior Nolan Ramirez also joined the pilfer party with three steals apiece to go along with eight points from Ward and seven from Ramirez.
The Red Devils traveled two days later to Manti where a large free-throw disparity and a poor third quarter were Grand’s undoing. After leading 33-28 at halftime, the Red Devils were outscored 20-6 in the third quarter by the Templars. For the game, Manti doubled Grand’s scoring from the line, converting 26-of-33 attempts while Grand made good on 13-of-15. Grand boys basketball coach Scott Horton said the Templars also upended Grand on the boards, grabbing about 25 offensive rebounds.
“We didn’t box anyone out,” he said. “(Manti) got a lot of second chance shots.”
Junior Cameron Hoppensteadt led the Red Devils with 15 points, while Williams had 13, Schultz had 12 and Ward had 11.
Free-throw disparity and lack of production in the middle of the game reared their heads again on Saturday afternoon as North Sanpete outscored the Red Devils 34-24 over the second and third quarters. North Sanpete outshot Grand from the line, converting 20-of-24 to Grand’s 10-of-18,
The Red Devils returned to the Devils’ Den for a non-region game versus Monticello on Tuesday, Jan. 9, defeating the Buckaroos 83-62. They are scheduled to resume region play with home games versus Richfield on Friday, Jan. 12; South Sevier on Saturday, Jan. 13; and Emery on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
“We dug ourselves a hole; we should be 3-0 in region, but we’re 1-2,” Scott Horton said. “Now we have to fight our way back out. We could have set ourselves up, but now we’ve got to do it the hard way. Come Friday night, we better be ready to play.”
Both weeknight games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s game versus the Rams is set to start at 4 p.m.
Junior Cameron Hoppensteadt led the Red Devils with 15 points
“We dug ourselves a hole; we should be 3-0 in region, but we’re 1-2. Now we have to fight our way back out. We could have set ourselves up, but now we’ve got to do it the hard way. Come Friday night, we better be ready to play.”
When: Versus Richfield: Friday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.
Versus South Sevier: Saturday, Jan. 13, at 4 p.m.
Versus Emery: Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m.
Where: Grand County High School gymnasium, 608 S. 400 East
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