Matt Harris
Staff writer
1-26-2017
MT. PLEASANT—The Tigers clearly didn’t want anyone to think their offense was struggling last Friday.
After struggling to score against one of the best teams in the nation last week, the Wasatch Academy boys basketball team made up for it by thumping visiting Impact Academy, Ga., 100-52, one of very few 100-point games seen in Utah this season.
“I was very happy with our effort on both sides of the ball, and we did a great job of sharing the ball on offense,” head coach Curtis Condie said. “Defensively we held IMG to their lowest output. I was very happy with that.”
The Tigers blew the gate off the hinges to start the game by posting a 30-point first quarter en route to a 51-23 lead at halftime and never let up, outscoring the opposition in every quarter and sinking 13 three-pointers as a team.
Junior Emmanuel Akot led all scorers with 22 points, while seniors Jeff Baradziej and Zion Young each added 17. Junior Damion Squire also scored 16 to keep up in the downpour.
With a win against Pleasant Grove High School, Wasatch Academy moved back to No. 1 in Deseret News rankings.
Upcoming, the Tigers have their toughest test yet. They will be traveling to face Chino Hills, Calif. on their home court. Chino Hills is MaxPreps’ No. 1 team in the nation and will be the fourth nationally-ranked team that Wasatch has faced this season. The prior three have resulted in one win, and two losses as Wasatch beat then-unbeaten Lone Peak earlier this season but has dropped contests against Findlay Prep, Nev., and IMG Academies, Fla.
Wasatch will play against Chino Hills this Saturday.
“As we look to play fifth-ranked Chino Hills and their 57 game winning streak,” Condie said, “it should be a fun game, and we look forward to the competition. They have great talent.”
