Bear Lake with a “lights out” performance against South Fremont to earn a title game berth
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MIDDLETON – Bear Lake came out shooting in Friday’s matchup with South Fremont in a 4A state semifinal, and the Bears didn’t let up.
Add in a solid defensive effort against a Cougar team that averaged nearly 54 points, and the result was an impressive 65-43 win for Bear Lake.
The Bears (22-3) lost only one player off of last season’s 2A title team so coach Ken Wells noted expectations were high.
The Bears entered the tournament riding a 12-game win streak and had little trouble in their state opener, taking down McCall-Donnelly 55-14.
South Fremont had played tough competition in the Mountain Rivers Conference with foes Sugar-Salem and Teton, so they’d already seen some of the state’s top teams.
But it was Bear Lake setting the tone in Friday’s semifinal, pulling away in the second quarter and holding South Fremont to just three points. The Cougars had just 14 points in the first half and never got their offense going against the Bears.
“That’s where we start,” Wells said of the team’s defensive effort.
“Our offense, we weren’t looking to score,” South Fremont coach Brooke Bailey said. “We needed to be attack-minded and we just weren’t doing that. Credit Bear Lake, they shot lights out.”
Lights out indeed.
The Bears hit 4 of 8 3-pointers in the first half and didn’t stop in the second half, finishing the game 8 of 15 for 53%. They hit nearly 50% of their shots overall and were an efficient 21 of 27 from the free-throw line.
“Those 3-pointers add up quick,” Bailey said.
Bear Lake’s biggest lead was 43-18.
Last year’s state title was the first for Bear Lake in 25 years. The Bears will try to add another Saturday against No. 1 and unbeaten Sugar-Salem, which beat the Bears twice during the regular season. Bear Lake’s only other loss was to 3A No. 1 Malad.
As for South Fremont (22-6), the Cougars also have some history on the line.
The win in Thursday’s opener was just the second state victory in the program’s history. A win on Saturday would mean the program’s first trophy.
That’s definitely some motivation after a tough loss.
“That’s what we told the kids after the game that there was nothing to hang your heads about,” Bailey said. “There’s not many teams from our community, girls basketball, that has made it to state so they’re one of the few. To pick up a win yesterday was huge. We’re ready to keep on fighting and bring home some hardware tomorrow. We told them one game does not put a stamp on what kind of team they are.”
Saydee Shaul led the Bears with 19 points and was 3 for 3 on 3-pointers. Halle Wells finished with 11 points and a team-high five rebounds.
Montana State-bound Brianne Bailey led the Cougars with 20 points and Hayden Larson added 12 points.
Bear Lake faces Sugar-Salem for the 4A title at 3:50 p.m. South Fremont plays Timberlake in the third-place game.
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