Canyon View claims 3A state title in tough battle against Emery

OREM — For the first time since 2006, the Canyon View Falcons are state champions.

In a game filled with momentum swings, defensive battles, and clutch shooting, No. 2 Canyon View outlasted No. 5 Emery 47-41 in the 3A girls' basketball state championship on Saturday at Utah Valley University.

Emery, fresh off an upset of top-seeded Grantsville in the semifinals, came out with high energy, setting the tone early. Kali Jensen ignited the Spartans with a baseline 3-pointer on its opening possession, sending the Emery crowd into an outburst.

The team's 2-2-1 press caused frustration for Canyon View, forcing early turnovers and limiting the Falcons' offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, Emery's half-court defense, anchored by a strong 2-3 zone, made it difficult for Canyon View to penetrate the paint.

Canyon View's first breakthrough came from Maya Nichols, who ended an early 6-point Spartans run with a pull-up jumper. Despite the effort, the Falcons struggled to generate offense, trailing 12-5 at the end of the first quarter.

As the second quarter began, Canyon View's defense intensified. The Falcons forced key turnovers, leading to transition buckets, and chipped away at the lead.

Maylee Spencer made crucial plays late in the second quarter to keep Canyon View within striking distance, but Emery's ability to break the press and find high-percentage shots allowed them to maintain a 21-15 lead at halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, both teams brought renewed intensity. Canyon View's Bethanee Vargas made an early defensive steal and converted an easy bucket, but Emery's Kabree Gordon immediately responded with a 3-pointer.

With Vargas orchestrating the offense and Nichols attacking the rim, the Falcons finally found their rhythm. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Macey Sorensen tied the game at 34-34 heading into the fourth quarter, sending the Canyon View crowd into a roar.

"I wanted to bring the momentum to my team and try to get the ball rolling, and I think that it worked," Sorensen said.

In the final quarter, Spencer became the hero for Canyon View, draining two critical baseline 3-pointers that kept the Falcons ahead.

Emery continued to battle, with Gordon hitting a 3-pointer of her own, and Aleeyah Cowley making her presence felt in the paint. With two minutes left, Canyon View clung to a 4-point lead, working the clock while searching for a high-percentage look.

Then came the dagger.

With just seconds remaining, Kambree Potter, freshly subbed in, knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to extend the Falcons' lead to 7, effectively sealing the game.

"We worked for this for a long time," Spencer said. "We're a gritty team, and we are totally capable of whatever we want to do, so we did just that."

Emery's Megan Stilson managed a quick layup to cut the lead to five with 14 seconds left, but with the Spartans forced to foul, Vargas iced the game at the free-throw line. A final defensive stand by Canyon View, punctuated by a game-sealing block from Emery Miles, secured the historic 47-41 victory.

"This is a team that understands what it means to work hard and get after it," head coach Jaycee Barnhurst. "I think that's the difference in games like this. It wasn't pretty on either side … but teams that work hard, that get on the floor, that play for each other, they figure out how to get it done, and that's what we've seen all year."

For Canyon View, the win wasn't just about a championship — it was about proving they belong among the best in Utah high school basketball. And on Saturday night, they did just that.

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