Balanced scoring paces Morgan Lady Trojans in pair of wins

For the Morgan Lady Trojans, the keyword this past week was balance. 

A 16-2 first quarter ignited by eight points from Abby Titus and some Kaydence Wardell toughness down low got Morgan out to a fast start. 

That presence in the paint led to 16 more points in the second quarter for Morgan Thursday Feb. 8 versus Ben Lomond. 

And then Morgan [10-12, 8-2 Region 13] downshifted its high-octane offense into neutral as it cruised to an easy 53-38 victory to wrap up its Region 13 season with eight wins. 

Three of Morgan’s five seniors scored 11 points each on Senior Night as Abby Titus in the paint, Kaydence Wardell everywhere and Leah Birkeland from three-point land did their damage in each of the four quarters of that game. 

Alexis Burt added six points, Ashlyn Noss had five points and Audrey Fisher, Eva Birkeland, and Keira Brewer had two apiece for the Lady Trojans.

Two days earlier on Tuesday, Feb. 6, Morgan hosted South Summit. The Lady Trojans didn’t have the same scoring outburst that they’d have two days later versus Ben Lomond—but they still scored 14 points in the first quarter in a 65-56 win. 

Morgan led 27-21 at the half against the visitors from South Summit, and then kicked it into high gear, scoring 38 points in the second half including 15 points from Eva Birkeland, 12 from Abby Titus, and 10 from Keira Brewer. 

Ashley Burt scored eight points, while Ashlyn Noss and Audrey Fisher each had five. Kaydence Wardell scored four points and Kamry Wardell and Leah Birkeland three apiece for Morgan. 

The Lady Trojans will now travel as the No. 11 seed to No. 6 Juab in the 3A second round, Feb. 16. 

Should Morgan win that game, the defending 3A champions would then face the winner of No. 3 Carbon and the winner of No. 14 Union-No. 19 Juan Diego on the neutral floor of the Sevier Valley Center in the 3A quarterfinals, Feb. 22.  λ