These days, it seems that every championship basketball team has one thing in common: "The Big Three."In the pros, Boston has Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and the L.A. Lakers have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher.
When it comes to Utah boys high school basketball, American Fork's big three of Ben Beddes, Marcel Davis and Quincy Bair are starting to become as good as it gets.
The trio shone on Tuesday night, as the Cavemen improved their record to a perfect 5-0 by holding on for a 60-57 victory over the visiting Timpview T'Birds.
"They're so talented," Beddes said of Bair and Davis."I don't think anybody will stop them."
Timpview had trouble stopping Beddes as well. Beddes, who came into the game under the weather, managed to drop a game-high 19 points and grab nine rebounds in the winning effort.
Bair contributed 17 points for American Fork, while Davis also picked up 17 points to go along with his six rebounds and six steals.
"I thought Marcel was a big force tonight," American Fork head coach Doug Meacham said. "We're waiting for the light to click on in Quincy's head, how good he can be. He wants to become a good player and that is so fun to coach kids that have the kind of drive."
The three players combined for 53 of the Cavemen's 60 points.
American Fork held just a 58-57 lead after Timpview's Josh Warner connected on a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left in the contest. Davis was fouled and picked up points No. 16 and 17 with two free throws to put American Fork up three.
Warner raced down the court in the final seconds and pulled up for an open 3-pointer to try and tie the game, but was unable to connect.
"We just knew we were going to win," Beddes said. "Our confidence has changed in the last year. We got together and knew we were going to win."
The Cavemen entered the final quarter of play with a 45-36 lead, but back-to-back buckets from Christian Covey brought the T'Birds to within five points. After a Beddes jumper, Timpview's Ky Raymond knocked down his second shot from beyond the arc to pull the T'Birds to within four, 47-43.
Raymond finished with a team-high 14 points on the night.
The final two minutes of the game saw the Cavemen knock down 8-of-10 free throws en route to the victory.
"Free throws win games," Beddes said."When we get to the line and hit our free throws, we'll be a pretty hard team to beat."
The two teams combined for 39 free throw attempts on the night.
Early on, it was all T'Birds, as six Timpview players found the scoreboard in the first quarter to give the T'Birds a 17-11 lead.
But a Beddes layup capped an 8-0 American Fork run to start the second quarter and gave the Cavemen their first lead of the game at 19-17. After a Timpview bucket tied the game moments later, it was Davis who connected on a layup just past the midway mark in the second quarter to put the Cavemen up for good.
Meacham's team has started out strong and with each win, the confidence continues to grow.
"Last year when we played these guys, we had over 20 turnovers," Meacham said."We're a different team. We've grown up a year."
American Fork will return to action Dec. 26 at the Desert Heat Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. Timpview fell to 3-2 on the season and will participate in the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic in Las Vegas on Thursday.
TIMPVIEW (57)
Covey 8, Robison 10, Mitton 2, Warner 9, Raymond 14, Nash 5, Sagers 9. Totals 20 11-13 57.
AMERICAN FORK (60)
Beddes 19, Blackhurst 5, Davis 17, Ensign 2, Bair 17. Totals 21 17-26 60.
Timpview 17 11 8 21 -- 57
American Fork 11 20 14 15 -- 60
3-point goals: American Fork 1 (Davis); Timpview 6 (Robison 2, Raymond 2, Nash, Sagers).
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