MountainStar Healthcare Star Athletes of Week 29

This week’s star athletes are Springville’s Zach Visentin and Bingham’s Sierra Lichtie

Boys basketball

Zach Visentin, Springville (Sr.)

Was the catalyst to Springville’s state championship run at the University of Utah last week.

He averaged 18.3 points and 9.6 rebounds in the three games at the U., including a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the Devils’ 66-53 championship win over Timpview.

In Springville’s improbable 71-69 rally over Woods Cross in the semifinals, Visentin scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-9 center was realistically the difference-maker all season for the Red Devills as he finished averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 assists.

“Zach has worked extremely to be where he’s at. When we got him he wasn’t the best player, he didn’t work hard, he didn’t run the floor and to his credit he put his head and just worked and worked and worked,” said Springville coach Justin Snell.

Girls basketball

Sierra Lichtie, Bingham (So.)

Had a huge week and was named Deseret News 6A tournament MVP in leading the Miners to the state title last week.

Lichtie scored in double figures in all four playoff games, including 17 points and nine rebounds in a 47-38 semifinal win over Copper Hills and then 18 points on 4 of 4 shooting from 3-point range in the 59-51 championship game win over Fremont.

“I think it started with her defense,” said Bingham coach Charron Mason about Lichtie’s championship performance. “We asked her if she would step up and guard Timea (Gardiner), and she did, and she did such a good job on her because Timea is such a good basketball player, and I feel like Sierra really took that ownership, and said ‘I’m going to try as hard as I can to make some stops’ and it flowed to the rest of the team.”

Lichtie came on strong in the second half of the season for Miners and finished averaging 7.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3cq5tuA