They’ll jokingly say it’s their penchant for ranch dressing on everything, or some other kind of voodoo that’s helped the North Summit high school seniors win four state titles in four years in basketball and football. But anybody who has watched the Braves play knows that it is the selflessness, teamwork and never-say die attitude that allowed them to take home another state trophy at the 2A State High School Boys Basketball Championships on Saturday at Southern Utah University with a win over South Sevier, 48-41.
“They’ve got leadership and guts and all those things that go with it,” said North Summit head coach Jerre Holmes. “It’s just fun to be a part of it.”
The victory complements their 2007 state basketball championship and football championships the last two seasons for athletes who have played together for most of their lives. This was second time this year that the Braves didn’t come in as the favorite, but somehow fought their way to a state title.
“I kind of like being the underdog,” said Caden Richins, who contributed nine points.
In both football and basketball, the Braves suffered some early season losses, but quickly turned their seasons around.
“It wasn’t luck,” said Holmes, who also coached the football team. “These guys were determined to get a trophy.”
A little revenge didn’t hurt either.
Last year, the Braves lost to Manti in the first round of the basketball state playoffs, keeping them from repeating as state championships. Then they lost to Manti at the beginning of the regular season this year. After that, the boys vowed to avenge the loss. When North Summit knocked off Manti in the first round of the playoffs, it was almost as sweet as the state championship.
In the semifinal, Rowland Hall gave North Summit plenty to handle in the first half, leading by 11 after the first quarter and still led by seven points at halftime. The Braves turned on the offense to eventually beat Rowland Hall by seven, but they learned their lesson, and made sure not to make the same mistakes against South Sevier.
In the championship game, Colby Richins, Caden’s twin brother, took the task of scoring seriously, collecting 12 of North Summit’s 20 points in the first two quarters. South Sevier ran a half-court trap to try to stop the Braves’ scoring, which backfired. The Braves broke the trap and the rest was easy for Colby, who finished the night with 22 points.
“I had that kind of day because of the press breaker,” Colby said. “The guys drove through their defense and South Sevier had to collapse on them and I was at the basket.”
Holmes added that his team never worries about who scores, as long as someone does.
“They just give it to whoever has the best chance,” he said.
Defense was also an important key for the team. The Braves were able to limit South Sevier’s outside shooting star, Dillon Bishoff to just 10 points and made six-foot eight-inch McKay Blackburn almost a non-factor, double-teaming him and holding him to six points. The Braves crashed the boards and were able to keep the ball out of Blackburn’s hands numerous times.
halftime the Braves were up 20-16 and had an 11-point lead after the third. But South Sevier wasn’t giving up easily, going on a 13-2 run in the fourth, and scoring a couple of three-pointers at the end of the game. But the North Summit defense was able to silence them once and for all in the final minute.
“We just never expected to lose,” Colby said. “I couldn’t think about how it would feel to lose.”
The last time North Summit cut down a basketball net, the senior class was just sophomores and none of them got more than a few minutes in the championship game. But they said it was in those playoff games that they were able to learn what it takes to win.
“We’ve been on both sides of the state championship,” Bryer Trusell said. “Last time we took state we learned what a difference all of the players made.”
The team put a lot of their success on Holmes, who is also the football coach. They agree that without him, there would be no state titles.
“He’s why we are here,” Caden said.
His son agreed.
“He teaches more than basketball and other sports and he knows what to say and knows how to get better.”
North Summit also brought plenty of support along with them. Despite the fact that Cedar City is a fairly long drive from Coalville, almost the entire student body and parents made the trip down there.
“It’s just a road trip for them,” Caden said. “Our student body didn’t stop cheering the whole game.”