UTAH 4A HOOPS TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: DESERT HILLS THUNDER

RECORD:

13-8

REGION 9 RECORD:

6-4

Wins- Cedar, Hurricane, Pine View, Cedar, Hurricane, Crimson Cliffs

Losses- Pine View, Crimson Cliffs, Dixie, Snow Canyon

UTAH 4A CLASSIFICATION RANKS: (Stats sourced from MaxPreps and the Deseret News)

OFFENSIVE PPG: 60.3

Ranked 13^th overall in 4A.

DEFENSIVE PPG: 58.4

Ranked 13^th overall in 4A.

THREE POINTERS:  178/484 (37 Percent)

HEAD COACH:

Chris Allred

With two games remaining in the season, Coach Allred has this team on a 4-game win streak for the 2^nd time this season.

TOP SCORER:

Eli Allred, 6’1, Senior, forward.

19.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.9 APG

Eli is electric as they come, a threat to score from anywhere at any given time.

Allred has attempted 125 triples, nearly six a game, and has still shot 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Most of Allred’s shots are heavily contested being a focal point of the opposing defense, proving him to be effective in the most difficult of situations.

The three ball is effective but not required by Eli who has shown elite marksman ship from mid-range off the dribble or slashing to the high post.

As you could imagine, his ability to shoot draws out defenses where he can do some of his best work by getting to rim as a solid finisher.

Even if he fails to finish chances are high that Eli is headed to the free throw line with 88 points from the stripe on 111 attempts.

SYNOPSIS:

The Thunder on the year sit 13^th defensively in terms of points allowed, but during their current 4 game win streak they’ve only given up an average of 54.5 PPG, which is good for a near top 5 defense over that span.

Interestingly enough, the Thunder’s other 4 game win streak saw them only give up 49 points per game.

Defensive capability is high for this team, and could be a major X factor come tournament time.

Desert Hills will hope to take this revamped defensive intensity into the postseason behind the scoring prowess of Eli Allred, Jackson Holman and Ben Chase who have made 129 threes combined this season.

Desert Hills will finish the season with home bouts against Dixie and Snow Canyon, with the potential opportunity to hit the postseason on a season high of momentum if things go according to plan fir the Thunder.