East holds off furious Highland rally to advance to 5A girls basketball championship game


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TAYLORSVILLE — To say that East’s girl's basketball team expected a tight game against rival Highland in the Class 5A state semifinals Friday afternoon would be an understatement.

How seemingly easy the Leopards put together a dominant first half? That’s what surprised them.

It didn’t last long.

Rae Falatea scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Leopards, as they held on for dear life to snatch a 44-38 win over the Rams and advance to Saturday’s state championship.

“In the first half, I think we got a little big-headed. We thought we had it,” said Falatea, who also had four rebounds and two steals. “In the second half, Highland really gave us a run for our money. It was kind of an eye-opening moment, to really step up our game, respect them as a team and know that we needed to give it our all and not mess around.”

Rita Satini added eight points and three assists for East, and Liana Kaitu’u stuffed the stat sheet with five points, five rebounds and three steals for the Leopards. Lani Taliauli supplied five points and three rebounds for the Leopards.

East (22-2) will play for their first state championship in girls basketball history at 11 a.m. MST Saturday against Timpview, which topped defending champions Skyline 56-49 in the first semifinal.

Through three-hour practices and early-morning training sessions, East — a school known more for football and boys soccer than its winter sports — will get a chance to write its name in the Utah High School Activities Association record book under girls basketball.

Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

“This was the goal, but if someone told me that we would be here, it would be a little hard to believe,” Falatea said. “Last year, it was a big deal that we made it into state. Our two leaders Liana and Lani motivated us, made us step up our game, and they definitely led us here.”

East came out on fire, fueled by the largest crowd of the tournament in a state semifinal against a heated rival. The Leopards ran out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, then settled for an 11-2 advantage at the quarter break.

Rita Satini ran East’s lead out to 13 points in transition, and Falatea banked in a 3-pointer to give the Leopards a 22-6 advantage with 2:41 left in the half.

Falatea had 10 points, including a 3-point play just before the end of the half, to give the Leopards a 27-11 lead over their heated rivals at the break.

“We saw a mismatch with Desarae inside and she’s comfortable playing inside,” East coach Olosaa Solovi said. “That was something we spotted and knew we just needed to get it inside to Desarae. When she’s hot, we want her to keep shooting.

“With Desarae, her ability to play in the post is big for us.”

If Highland was supposed to be done, someone forgot to tell the Rams.

Lana Olevao scored nine points in the third quarter, and Sini Fifita’s 3-pointer at the horn pulled the Rams within 35-27 going into the final period.

“That was exactly what we told the girls they would try to do,” Solovi said. “We took a lot of quick shots, and they came down and made some shots.

“We knew they were going to make a run, but I’m just grateful to get out of this one.”

Highland cut the deficit down to five points. But Rae Falatea wouldn’t go away.

The junior guard stroked a stepback jumper with 4:58 remaining that kept the Leopards in front 38-31, but the Rams opened the fourth quarter on an 8-3 spurt to pull within two, 38-36 with three minutes left.

Highland had all the momentum, fueled by a passionate corner of parents and family members in a corner of SLCC’s Bruin Arena.

Olevao finished with a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds for the Rams (13-12), and Fifita supplied eight points.

But East had Falatea, who iced the game alongside Blanche Pritchard from the free-throw line.

“In the first half, it was our side that was loud and getting in their heads,” Falatea said. “In the second half, it was just definitely their team.

“But our two leaders Liana and Lani told us to keep our composure and keep our heads in the game — just play East girls basketball.”

The run to the title game has galvanized an East not known for its girl's basketball program.

But in Solovi’s second season as head coach, the community has taken note of the 2017-18 season.

“Both communities (with Highland) come from diverse neighborhoods,” Solovi said. “Basketball at East has not been there.

“But I took a lot from what I learn from (football coach Brandon Matich) and the football staff. But my staff has been huge, with the ability to keep me settled in — and the crowd is like that for every East-Highland game.

“Even in these situations, you’ve got to have fun and be willing to take the good with the bad.”

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