Bengal girls proving resilient in clutch

The recipe for the success of Brighton High’s girls basketball team this season is equal parts defense, 3-point shooting and an uncanny knack for winning the close games.

While the Bengals do not have a single player averaging 10 or more points this season, the team has gone 7-1 in games decided by nine points or less this season. The only defeat in those games came against Davis in the season opener, 40-37. Since then, Brighton has won five games by four points or less.

Brighton started the season 4-4, but proceeded to win five of its next six games. The Bengals defeated Kearns 46-43 and Hillcrest 63-47 to conclude preseason before opening region with a 57-47 loss to defending 5A state champion Alta. Brighton rebounded to defeat Jordan 44-41, Cottonwood 44-35 and Copper Hills 47-43 in region play, showcasing its late-game heroics.

Through 14 games, Maddy Chin was leading the Bengals in scoring with nine points per game. Lindsey Johnson averaged eight points per game, while Ali Hahn and Kelcie Douglas each averaged seven points and Ashley Cruz five. Hahn, Douglas and Cruz had combined to make 44 3-pointers for Brighton, which was averaging 42 points per game and allowing 43.

Chin scored 13 points and Douglas 12 in the win over Kearns. Johnson added seven points, Cruz six and Hahn five for Brighton, which led 23-19 at halftime and 34-32 after three quarters. Cruz made seven 3-pointers for all 21 of her points against Hillcrest. Douglas added 15 points, Johnson nine, Hahn eight and Alyssa Hirschi five. The game was tied 21-all at halftime before the Bengals outscored the Huskies 42-26 in the second half in the final tune-up for region.

Johnson tallied 13 points and Chin had 10 in Brighton’s loss to Alta. Hahn added nine points and Hirschi seven, as Alta led 25-21 at halftime and began pulling away in the third quarter. Johnson poured in 20 points and Chin 12 in the victory over Jordan. The game was tied 18-all at halftime before Brighton outscored Jordan 20-14 in the third quarter to take control.

Chin led a very balanced scoring effort with 10 points against Cottonwood. Douglas added eight points, Hirschi seven, Johnson and McCall Christensen each had six points and Hahn four. Brighton led 29-21 at halftime and the teams matched points in the second half. Douglas had 12 points in the win over Copper Hills. Cruz and Chin each had nine points, Hahn had seven and Johnson six. The Bengals led 24-19 at halftime and held on in the second half to prevail.

Brighton also defeated West Jordan 53-30 and lost to Alta 54-38. The Bengals are now 10-6 overall and 4-2 in region action.

Chin paced Brighton with 14 points against West Jordan, while Douglas added 13, Johnson 12, Cruz seven and Hahn five. Alta jumped out to a 28-15 halftime lead against Brighton in a match-up of region leaders. Johnson scored 11 points, while Chin had nine, Douglas seven and Cruz five.

Brighton was scheduled to play at Jordan on Feb. 2 and host Cottonwood on Feb. 7.