When the Hillcrest boys basketball team takes the court for their first round game of the state tournament next week, it will be very important to the seven seniors on the Huskies’ roster.
Not only will it be the team’s first trip to the state tournament since 2007, it will be the first time this senior class has been to the playoffs in any major team sport.
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Week in review
Big number » 4. Number of state wrestling titles earned by Olympus senior Brandon McBride. McBride finished first in the 170 weight class at this year’s tournament last week.
Big player » Tanner Dastrup, Hillcrest boys basketball. Dastrup scored 20 points and pulled down five rebounds to lead his team to a 49-48 victory over Herriman. The win earned Hillcrest its first trip to the state tournament since 2007.
Big game » 4A, 5A girls basketball championship at Salt Lake Community College, Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
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"Making the playoffs is a dream come true," said senior Tanner Dastrup. "Football never made it and we have all kind of bonded over never being in a state game. We all wanted it and didn’t want to let the school down."
By averaging 11 points and five rebounds per game, Dastrup, a 6-foot-4 forward, has done his part to ensure the Huskies would be playing at the Maverik Center on Monday. Despite his individual statistics, Dastrup said his team plays best when everyone moves the ball.
"Our offense really relies on everyone touching the ball , and when we move it around we can play with anyone," said Dastrup. "We trust everyone on the team, when you dish to the corner you know your teammate will hit the shot."
After opening the season winning four of their first five games, the Huskies hit a skid, in which they went 1-7. Coach Sam Richins said the slump was due to players not trusting each other.
"We hit a rough patch of games where the trust between players wasn’t where we needed it to be," said Richins. "Our players are trusting their teammates a lot more now and I think we are playing our best ball of the season right now. A lot of that has to do with Austin Adams."
Adams, a 6-foot-4 forward, is the Huskies leading scorer. Facing a must-win game against region foe Murray, Adams notched 16 points and five points to give his team a two point victory — and just as important — the tie breaker over Murray.
"Our goal from the beginning of the season was to make it to state," said Adams. "Every game we won along the way got us closer so each one was important."
As it is the first state appearance for the current group of Huskies, the team is unsure what to expect when tournament play gets underway, however Dastrup said no one is content just qualifying, they want to win.
"Playing at state is going to be a good experience, and I know if we give 110 percent and do our part, we will be able to win there," said Dastrup.
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