Tonight’s Region 9 boys basketball games — Friday, Jan. 31

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Pine View (15-2, 7-1) at Dixie (10-7, 3-5), 7 p.m., at the Hangar
Broadcast: Triplecast! Video streaming on STGNews.com; ESPNRadio 106.1 FM; CEC-TV 22 (Baja Cable)

PANTHERS
Coach: Darrell Larsen
Record: 15-2 overall, 7-1 in region
Streak: 8 wins
Last five: 5-0
PPG: 66.5
PAPG: 54.8
Probable starters: Chaz Peterson (10.7), Jack Bangerter (8.2), Kody Wilstead (14.4), Collin Dowdell (10.8), Jed Newby (5.6)
Other key contributors: Ryan Koller (9.4), Garrett Bowker (2.4), Kendrick Spencer (1.5)

FLYERS
Coach: Ryan Cuff
Record: 10-7 overall, 3-5 in region
Streak: 1 win
Last five: 2-3
PPG: 54.5
PAPG: 51.6
Probable starters: RJ Wilgar (8.4 ppg), Tyler Bennett (6.3), Harrison Labrum (5.1), Jake Hawes (14.1), Jake Christiansen (4.1)
Other key contributors: Izaic Blazzard (2.8) Nate Crockett (2.2), Jayden Roberts (1.7), Sam Guymon (10.0 — out with ankle injury)

Game Outlook: Dixie dominated Hurricane on Wednesday and got a great performance from point guard RJ Wilgar, who just missed his career-high with 16 points. It was the first time Dixie had topped 60 points in almost a month. They’ll have to do it again to have a shot at beating the Panthers, who beat the Flyers 61-44 on Jan. 8. Dixie must shoot the ball well and must start fast to win tonight. For Pine View, a letdown wouldn’t be surprising after the emotional and exhausting overtime win against Snow Canyon Wednesday night. The Flyers are a hustle team, so being tired and lazy plays right into their hands. Larsen and PV assistant coach Ryan Eves have their work cut out for them.

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Hurricane (5-13, 1-7) at Desert Hills (9-8, 4-4), 7 p.m. at the Thunderdome
Broadcast: none

TIGERS
Coach: Todd Langston
Record: 5-13 overall, 1-7 in region
Streak: 7 losses
Last Five: 0-5
PPG: 47.9
PAPG: 54.3
Probable starters: Kaden Langston (8.1 ppg), Jayce Housley (6.4), Cody LeBaron (12.3), Jordan Ence (2.6), Erik Mitchell (4.1)
Other key contributors: James Bennion (4.4), Austen Beatty (5.3), Austin Butler (1.2)

THUNDER
Coach: Wade Turley
Record: 9-8 overall, 4-4 in region
Streak: 1 loss
Last five: 2-3
PPG: 52.4
PAPG: 49.6
Probable starters: Taylor Houston (7.8 ppg), Quincy Matthews (13.2), Brycen Williams (4.8), Trey Tanner (6.5), Jordan Hokanson (7.1)
Other key contributors: Landen Broadhead (3.9), Sam Messinger (3.5), Austin Adams (4.4)

Game outlook: For the Tigers, folks region-wide praise their hustle and effort. The Tigers would surely trade some of that praise for a region win or two. The Tigers are 0-19 the last two seasons in a the ultra-tough Region 9 since winning the 2012 state 3A championship. The Thunderdome used to be the toughest place in the region to play, but DH has shown some vulnerability there this year. Still, it’s a tall order for the seventh-place Tigers. For the Thunder, they dominated Cedar most of the night Wednesday, only to give up the lead late and then fall in double-overtime. It was exhausting and disappointing, but DH can’t afford to drop this one with Dixie nipping at its heels for that last playoff spot. In the previous meeting, DH beat the Tigers by 19.

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Canyon View (5-12, 2-5) at Snow Canyon (10-6, 5-2), 7 p.m. at the Jungle
Broadcast: Power 94.9 FM

FALCONS
Coach: Rob Potter
Record: 5-12 overall, 2-5 in region
Streak: 1 loss
Last Five: 2-3
PPG: 51.0
PAPG: 57.9
Probable starters: Keaton Kringlen (8.6 ppg), Koy Huxford (10.3), Sterling Barnes (6.2), Derek Dunnell (3.8), Ty Nielson (4.7)
Other key contributors: Travis Bettridge (4.1), Ryan Jensen (4.8), Ty Hollerman (2.0), Brycn Bybee (2.4)

WARRIORS
Coach: James Brown
Record: 10-6 overall, 5-2 in region
Streak: 1 loss
Last Five: 3-2
PPG: 58.4
PAPG: 56.9
Probable starters: Hayden Anderson (7.0 ppg), Nate Gottfredson (15.6), Tanner Sampson (9.3), Chase Jenkins (4.6), Jacob Frei (8.8)
Other key contributors: Brock Staheli (3.3), Warner Rigby (4.1), Kade Potter (2.1)

Game Outlook: The Falcons know it’s now or never if they entertain any thoughts of the postseason. The next three games will make or break it for them with SC, PV and D-Hills on tap. Canyon View doesn’t really have a big guy and there are no real stars on the team, but they can shoot and when they get hot, watch out. Snow Canyon should be able to dominate the inside like they did up in Cedar City in the previous meeting (a 50-25 SC win). Teams seem to shoot well in the Jungle, so maybe the 3-pointer keeps the Falcons in the game, but we suspect Gottfredson, and perhaps Anderson, will have another big night against the undersized CV posts. SC should be plenty motivated after a close loss and with Cedar just a half game behind in region.

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