Intermountain Christian came in with a game plan and stuck with it. They played a very tight zone defense, clogging up the middle and taking away the Dugway low-post game, forcing the Mustangs to beat them with long jumpers.

The plan worked as Dugway struggled to get the ball down low and could not find many open shots on the perimeter as the Mustangs lost to Intermountain Christian 41-18.

Breanna Nichols led the Mustangs with seven points while Shelsea Wall added five of her own. Rebecca Horak propelled Intermountain Christian to victory with her game-high 11 points.

With the visiting Lions continually closing down the Dugway passing lanes, the Mustangs threw the ball away more than they wanted. Intermountain Christian started the game on a 12-2 run, with four points each from Rebecca and Jen Horak. Nichols and Kylee Morse managed to hit a jumper each in the opening quarter.

Trailing by 10 after the first quarter, Dugway manufactured a little run of their own. With two points each from Morse, Nichols and Wall, the Mustangs pulled within seven points of Intermountain Christian at 17-10. Unfortunately Dugway couldn’t get any closer in the first half, trailing 21-10 at half-time.

It didn’t get any better in the second half for the Mustangs. The fourth quarter did have some promising moments for Dugway.

The Mustangs built a 5-2 run with three points from Nichols and two from Wall but could not muster another run.

In the second half, Dugway actually found the passing lanes in the key a little easier but getting a shot off was a challenge all night in the loss.

With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 1-1 on the season and will travel to West Ridge Academy on Tuesday for a game at 6 p.m.

Jake Gordon: jgordon@tooeletranscript.com