ST. GEORGE — Sometime around 10 p.m. Friday, the Region 9 boys basketball standings could look quite a bit different than they currently do. For that to happen, though, there will have to be several upsets.
But if region-leading Dixie has anything to do with it, those upsets won’t happen.
The Flyers’ two tests this week come at the hands of third-place Pine View on Wednesday and second-place Snow Canyon on Friday. These top 2 Region 9 teams are also Southern Utah’s top representatives in the current 4A RPI.
Along with Pine View at Dixie on Wednesday, these are The Fan’s Games of the Week.
Catch the action on The Fan
If there’s a pivotal matchup, rest assured we’ll bring you not only live coverage but the best after-game reports available. This week, Kaden Foremaster and Paul Ratliff will be behind the mics Wednesday night for Pine View at Dixie.
(R to L): The Fan Sports Network’s Mark Musgrave, Kaden Foremaster and Devin Dixon conduct Region 9 boys basketball media day interviews, St. George, Utah, Nov. 28, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
And on Friday, Devin Dixon and Ben Lindquist will have the call for Crimson Cliffs at Desert Hills while Kaden Foremaster and Connor Collins handle Dixie at Snow Canyon.
Check out the St. George News website and app for up-to-date scores, stats and standings as our team of E. George Goold, Jeff Richards and Aaron Crane fan out to cover the Region 9 hardwood.
And weekdays on The Fan, catch Dixon from 7-9 a.m. on The Drive and Foremaster and Mark Musgrave from 4-6 p.m. as they present From The Bleachers.
Who’s got game?
Pine View at Dixie
The Panthers seemed like a lock to get a top 8 seed but recently have come up short vs. Desert Hills and last Friday against Snow Canyon. So they have dropped to No. 11 in the latest RPI. Coach Pat Amico knows that if Pine View can pull off the upset win in this game, they would certainly get a huge RPI bump, which the Panthers need if they want a bye followed by a home game.
The Flyers, meanwhile, are undefeated and have won all eight Region 9 games by an average of 24.75 points. The Panthers lost by 11 in the first meeting at the Pit. Nash Schroeder continues to lead the Panthers and is second in 4A in scoring. Jordan Roberts continues to lead the state with 11.8 assists per game and Kyle Lemke is fourth in 4A scoring at 20.9 points per game.
Cedar’s Taylor Davis makes a baseline shot over Chase Curtis of Desert Hills during Region 9 boys basketball action, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards. St. George News / Cedar City News
Crimson Cliffs at Desert Hills
In the first meeting between these two teams, it was a Region 9 instant classic with the Mustangs winning 64-63. Mackay Lindquist had 17 points to pace Crimson, and the Thunder got 35 from Eli Allred in the heartbreaking loss. But the rematch is at the Thunder Dome, and the regular season is winding down.
Lately, Desert Hills has gone to a smaller lineup with Hunter Clark now starting and Jordan Egbert getting a huge increase in minutes. The Mustangs have a major size advantage with Season Felts, so we may see a little more of Chase Curtis or Jack Openshaw in this matchup.
Dixie at Snow Canyon
Snow Canyon is undefeated at home this year, while Dixie is hoping to be undefeated on the season in Region 9 play, something that over the years rarely happens. In fact, the Flyers were the last team to run the table in Region 9, and that was during the 2017-18 season. But in that six-year span, the Flyers have 74-10 overall in region play.
Dixie won the first meeting by 16 points, and Coach Roberts got 61 points between the Roberts-Lemke-Weidauer trio. But Coach Ball and the Warriors have been red hot, led by Owen Mackay who had 27 points in the loss.
This one will be fun. If you plan to go, arrive at the Jungle early, otherwise tune in on the Fan on Friday Night.
— Compiled by Devin Dixon
Dixie’s Kyle Lemke attempts a shot against Snow Canyon’s Owen Mackay in a Region 9 boys basketball game, Jan. 17, 2024 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News
Scorebook stat leaders
Current 4A RPI rankings put Dixie at No. 2 behind Layton Christian, with three Region 9 teams following: Snow Canyon (8th), Pine View (11th) and Crimson Cliffs (14th).
Five of the top six scorers in the 4A classification are from Region 9 as follows:
Owen Mackay, Snow Canyon, 24.5
Nash Schroeder, Pine View, 23. 4
Jordan Child, Logan, 21.5
Kyle Lemke, Dixie, 21.0
Sean Felts, Crimson Cliffs, 20.8
Eli Allred, Desert Hills, 18.8
Region 9 boys basketball schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Pine View at Dixie, 7 p.m.
Crimson Cliffs at Desert Hills, 7 p.m.
Snow Canyon at Cedar, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 9
Hurricane at Crimson Cliffs, 7 p.m.
Cedar at Pine View, 7 p.m.
Dixie at Snow Canyon, 7 p.m.
Region 9 boys basketball standings (overall, region):
Dixie (17-3, 8-0)
Snow Canyon (12-6, 6-2)
Pine View (12-7, 4-4)
Desert Hills (12-8, 5-4)
Crimson Cliffs (10-9, 5-4)
Cedar (4-16, 2-7)
Hurricane (5-15, 0-9)
Click here to view last Friday’s recap.
Beyond Region 9
Emery, Manti, Richfield and Canyon View are the top four teams in 3A Region 12. Canyon View travels to Delta on Wednesday and hosts Carbon on Friday with a chance to move up in the standings.
And after the Kanab Cowboys knocked off the Enterprise Wolves 59-47 last Friday, Kanab, South Sevier and Enterprise are all 8-2 in 2A Region 18.
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