The Utah 1-A boys’ basketball season concluded last Saturday with the crowning of Diamond Ranch Academy as the newest champion after its victory over Rich High in the finals. Diamond Ranch won the game 62-57.
Region 19 teams that made the tournament all lost on Wednesday. Monticello, Whitehorse and Pinnacle went winless Wednesday and then Whitehorse and Pinnacle lost Thursday and went home. Monticello, after having lost that Wednesday game in overtime to Piute 31-29, won games on Thursday and Friday and then lost another close one on Saturday to Bryce Valley by the score of 42-40.
The Green River Pirates finished region 19 action tied with Monument Valley for fourth in region action and those two teams met in Monticello on the previous Saturday with the Pirates winning the game 51-34. With the win Green River gained the fourth seed for the state tournament out of the region.
Green River then had a play-in game on Tuesday in Richfield against the number five seed from region 18, West Desert. The winner got to play on Wednesday and the loser went home. West Desert won the game by the score of 56-48.
West Desert won the first quarter 11-8, the second quarter 16-15 and the third quarter 16-9 to lead after three periods 43-32. The Pirates did win the final quarter 16-13 but that was not enough to claim the win.
Nickolas Shaffer scored 17 points for the Pirates to lead the team in scoring and Trey Vetere also scored in double figures with 12 points. Jacob Cox scored 7 points, Jovani Flores scored 6 points, Joe Serafin scored 4 points and Nate Cox scored 2 points.
West Desert knocks out Green River Pirates
"Jacob Cox."