| Tigers use 13-4 run to pull out win vs. Warriors | | 12:00 AM, Feb. 11, 2012 | By Paul Delos Santos
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ST. GEORGE - Hurricane knew it needed to separate itself from Snow Canyon if it got the chance to do so.
The Tigers got their opportunity early in the second quarter, using a 13-4 run to build a double-digit lead. It proved to be enough as Hurricane ended all of the Warriors' playoff hopes with a 61-49 victory Friday at Snow Canyon.
"For a team with its back against the wall, (the run) was vital," Hurricane coach Brian Vaifanua said. "You have to come in and distance yourself anytime you can. From that point forward, we were able to maintain the gap and bring it home."
Hurricane moved into a tie with Cedar for second place in Region 9 at 8-3. The Warriors, on the other hand, will not make the playoffs for the first time in James Brown's 11-year tenure.
"It's disappointing feeling," Brown said. "This one hurts a little bit more because you know it's in your backyard (at Burns Arena). "Ten out of 11 years is pretty good too."
Four Hurricane players scored in double figures, led by Boston Gubler's 13 points. Weston Yardley added 12 with Colton Marshall added 11 and Taylor Parker added 10.
Marshall had a complete game, dishing out six assists and yanking down six rebounds.
He also played a big part in the game-changing run in the first half. He hit a rare 3 in the waning seconds of the first quarter. Then he followed it up with a steal and a breakaway dunk, which got the Tigers' rolling in the second quarter.
"It felt so good to get a win after that loss to Desert Hills," said Marshall, who added that he earned $20 from his dad for the dunk. "Shutting down Snow Canyon is tough to do here."
Defensively, the Tigers were limited to five points in the second quarter.
The Warriors came out of the locker room hot, draining a few shots cutting into the Tigers' 10-point lead.
Then Yardley did his part to separate away from the Warriors. He scored eight points in the quarter, including a clutch trey at the buzzer, upping the Tigers' lead to 15.
"We shoot all those shots in practice and put in all the time," Yardley said. "When you're in the game, it should feel natural."
The Warriors fought valiantly in the final frame. Brayden Linde scored six of his 11 points in the quarter, before he fouled out of the game.
After picking up the fifth foul, Linde constantly yelled to his teammates to continue battling.
They did, but their effort wasn't enough as the Tigers had built a big enough lead in the first three quarters.
Chandler Gines scored 11 points for the Warriors as well and Gabe Jensen added 10.
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