Moore’s 25 too much for Box Elder, Sky View wins 63-50

<span><strong>SMITHFIELD—</strong> After a heartbreaking one-point loss at Logan, Sky View bounced back and took care of business as they hosted Box Elder. Sky View pulled away during the last few minutes of what had been a close game to finish the Bees 63-50.</span>

<span>Sky View Senior Jalen Moore led the charge for the Bobcats (12-3, 2-1), scoring 25 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Sky View’s Ty Neilsen and Matt Dewey added 17 and 12 points, respectively. Box Elder was led by Tyler Bate and Shad Watson who each scored 12 for the Bees.</span>

<span>“It makes it a little bit easier to forget about that one,” Sky View head coach Kirk Hillyard said of the loss to Logan. “We can go forward from there.”</span>

<span>Sky View got on the board first and didn’t give up the lead the entire game. Early in the second quarter the Bobcats held a 20-10 lead but Box Elder fought back. The Bees cut the deficit to four trailing Sky View 25-21 at halftime.</span>

<span>“We struggled a bit offensively in the first half, but in the second half we got going and we did the things that we can do,” Hillyard said. “We moved the ball a little bit better and were able to get some good opportunities going to the basket.”</span>

<span>Box Elder hung around for most of the second half before the Bobcats started to put things away in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. The backbreaker for the Bees came when Moore completed a 3-point-play with 2:19 to play to put Sky View ahead 57-45. Moore celebrated the win in the final seconds with a highlight reel reverse dunk off a fast break.</span>

<span>Moore and Neilsen have played well for Sky View nearly every game this season, but the Bobcats have several other players producing as well.</span>

<span>“The third guy is Matt Dewey. He had 12 points tonight and rebounded the ball really well,” Hillyard said. “Cardon Porter also came in and did a great job. Cardon got on the floor and got some loose balls at some critical points in the game.”</span>

<span>Hillyard also gave credit to every player in his program, regardless of whether they were found on the varsity roster.</span>

<span>“That’s hats off to the kids. They executed what we practiced,” Hillyard said. “They all deserve credit because it takes guys in practice to run their offense, and it takes our guys trying to stop it so it goes to all 24 guys on that squad.”</span>

<span>Sky View stays at home Friday in their matchup against valley-rival Mountain Crest. </span>

<span>“We’re playing Friday for first place in the region again. That’s where we want to be,” Hillyard said. “As I’ve said before, you want to protect your home floor and steal a couple on the road. We got on the road and lost a heartbreaker the other night that I felt like we played well enough to win. But we protected our home court tonight so we’ve got to do the same thing on Friday.”</span>

<span>The Mustangs are 9-4 overall and 3-0 in Region 5. Mountain Crest is also on a six-game winning streak.</span>

<span>“It’s a great match-up. We know the kids,” Hillyard said. “They’re a good team but we’re a pretty good team as well. I think our kids will step up to the challenge on Friday.”</span>

<em><strong>@heywood_kyle</strong></em>

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