Snow Canyon holds on, beats Dixie to win 4A boys basketball state championship

Written by E. George Goold
February 23, 2022

ST. GEORGE — The boys basketball team from Snow Canyon High School fulfilled a 20-year mission when the Warriors beat Dixie 50-41 Wednesday night to claim the 4A state championship.

Snow Canyon vs. Dixie, 4A boys basketball championship, St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

“I have a lanyard that says ‘Making History,’ and I’ve carried it with me,” Snow Canyon coach Doug Meacham told St. George News. “These kids have bought into it. Yesterday we made some luck and today we made some history.” 

The state title was Snow Canyon’s second in school history after last winning in 2002.

Burns Arena on the campus of Dixie State University was sold out and filled to capacity for the anticipated matchup between crosstown Region 10 rivals.

The squads split their two region games earlier this year, with each team winning on the road. The teams were evenly matched on paper and on the floor and the game was a nailbiter throughout.

The contest began just like expected: defensive, low scoring and hard-fought on every possession.

Snow Canyon vs. Dixie, 4A boys basketball championship, St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

Snow Canyon led 8-5 after the first quarter, and then the teams began to find their way on offense in the second quarter.

Dixie senior Bronson Barben cut the Warriors lead to one with his steal and score to open the frame. Snow Canyon responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Owen Mackay and Walker Morrison.

Then Kyle Lemke got active for Dixie under the hoop, scoring the last eight points in the quarter to cut the Flyers deficit to 16-14 at halftime.

“They played unbelievable,” Dixie coach Tyler Roberts said about the Warriors. “They shot the ball extremely well with hands up in their faces.”

Points were at a premium again in the third quarter.

Kean Webb was all over the court in the frame for Dixie, scoring nine straight points and cutting the Warriors lead to 22-21.

But then Zac Call, a rarely used senior for Snow Canyon, came off the bench and scored the last eight points of the quarter to put the Warriors up for good 32-26 going into the fourth quarter.

Snow Canyon vs. Dixie, 4A boys basketball championship, St. George, Utah, Feb. 23, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

“I just went in to do what coach wanted me to do,” Call said. “I loved it. I was on top of the world. It feels so good for this senior class, we’re all on top of the world.”

Jordan Roberts scored a bucket and Dixie got within 39-33, and Barben’s 3-pointer made it 41-38 for Snow Canyon with 1:49 remaining.

But Snow Canyon then secured the win from the free throw line. In that final stretch, Mackay shot 5-of-6 free throws, Lyman Simmons made two and Will Warner sank two as well.

“I think some of the success we had in the year helped,” Meacham said. “Winning a championship in preseason, winning a region championship, our guys kind of had that feeling of hey, we’re champions.”

Mackay led the Warriors with 17 points in the win. Simmons scored 12, and Hammer and Call each contributed eight points for the winners.

Meanwhile, Lemke finished with 11 points for Dixie and Barben netted 10 in the defeat.

“I’m extremely proud of our guys,” Roberts said. “With all the adversity that we had, for our whole team to come together and get us the chance to play for the state championship, what an opportunity.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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