Down but never out: Seniors shoulder Ogden girls in season finale loss to Grantsville
Seniors reflect on career, season of trust
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- Ogden senior Macy Vine (21) and junior Salote Tonga (10) close in on Grantsville’s Alexis Egbert (5) during Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden senior Mindy Frost (20) walks off the floor during the first half of Senior Night against Grantsville on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden senior Macy Vine (21) defends a pass by Grantsville’s Baylee Lowder, left, during Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden junior Megan Beus, center, throws a pass between Grantsville’s Emmy Butler (15) and Avery Allred (11) during Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden sophomore Lily Gonzalez (1) locks in on Grantsville senior Baylee Lowder (1) during Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Ogden.
OGDEN — Three seniors poured their hearts into Ogden girls basketball leading up to Thursday’s far-from-ideal home finale with Grantsville. The visitors claimed a 34-point lead at half en route to a 60-23 road win, putting the finish on their status as region champions.
Any one of them — Renee Brockbrader, Macy Vine or Mindy Frost — would’ve rewritten the Tigers’ season (8-15, 2-8 Region 13) given the chance heading into Senior Night, but Ogden’s outgoing seniors put forth a level of maturity Ogden coaches Andy Blodgett and Tiffany Edmundson-Nolan hold in high regard.
Blodgett knew it’d be a difficult sendoff for three girls, who provided his program with more than he could’ve asked for over the past four years.
“It’s something you don’t look forward to,” Blodgett said. “You’ve just gotta focus on the mental fight to perform as much as they can as well as they can.”
All three seniors made their way into the game, including Brockbrader months removed from a year-long knee injury. Brockbrader, finishing with four points, helped leading scorers Salote Tonga (six points) and Megan Beus (five points) carry out the game plan Thursday night.
“That should’ve been career-ending,” Edmundson-Nolan said. “For her to work herself and back and even step on the floor is a miracle in itself. We’re really proud of that and them for playing basketball for four years. It’s hard, so even though it wasn’t a victory tonight, we can celebrate their accomplishments in their years here.”
“We do our best to follow (Blodgett) and (Edmundson-Nolan),” Brockbrader added. “That’s what makes us a good team is the respect enough to follow each other.”
Grantsville put an end to Ogden’s regular season with a hard-nosed press and won almost every battle in transition. Avery Allred (18 points) and Coastal Carolina commit Baylee Lowder (15 points) commanded the floor.
The turnover margin and offensive execution have been growing pains throughout the season, but Frost knew the state of things when she showed up for the first practice and wasn’t going to be deterred in helping a rebuilding program lay its foundation.
“I think we all saw how important this season was to us even though it didn’t go the way we’d have wanted it to,” Frost said. “The team means a lot to us. The wins and losses come and go but our friendships will be forever.”
Despite a two-win finish to the region schedule, Ogden battled through tough conditions with an everchanging starting lineup and a plethora of young talent carving out spots across the floor.
All three seniors pointed to one game as the most encouraging sign.
A Jan. 9 road trip to South Summit included a frightening mid-game scene when teammate Capri Colvin exited the game with a season-ending injury; the stoppage prompted a 36-point comeback but the Tigers fell short 64-57 on the road.
Vine learned just how tight her team’s bond was that night.
“We’re all so close and that’s what holds us through tough losses like this,” Vine said.
The season won’t end with Thursday’s defeat, however, as the Tigers eagerly await their seeding in the 3A state tournament when the bracket goes live Saturday morning. Ogden finished the season dropping six of their last seven games in a competitive region.
BOX SCORE
Grantsville 24 22 11 3 – 60
Ogden 9 3 7 4 – 23
GHS (60): Allred 18, Lowder 15, Williams 7, Thornton 6, Butler 6, White 3, Egbert 2, Castagno 2, Rogers 1.
OHS (23): Tonga 6, Beus 5, Brockbrader 4, Gonzalez 2, Nadolski 2, Vine 2, Draper 2.
BEAR RIVER 52, LOGAN 15
GARLAND — Bear River held Logan (4-15) to one field goal in the second half for a home win.
Aubree Fry hit three triples and scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the first half for Bear River (5-17, 2-9 Region 11). Nine other Bears scored, led by Madison Littlefield and Sami Theurer with six points apiece.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net.
