Olympus Makes Its Case as a 5A Contender (AGAIN!) in Statement Win at Highland
By Utah Sports Ink | Mountain & Main
Highland High School — Tuesday night, December 16
While Timpview continues to set the early standard in Utah High School boys basketball, Tuesday night offered a reminder that the road to February state playoffs won’t be a straight line. In one of the more intense environments of the young season, Olympus went on the road and delivered a 77–72 statement win over Highland, powered by the poise, shot-making, and competitive edge of senior point guard Gavin Lowe.
From the opening tip, the game had the feel of a late-season matchup in early December region play. A large, vocal crowd packed Highland High School, and the energy never dipped as both teams traded momentum, leads, and runs for four quarters.
Fast Start, Fast Pace
Olympus struck first, pushing tempo and attacking early behind Lowe, who scored 11 of Olympus’ 14 first-quarter points. The Titans raced out to a 10–1 lead before Highland settled in, answering with a run of its own to close the gap to 14–13 after one.
The first half became a chess match of spurts. Olympus controlled pace in transition, while Highland found success by spacing the floor and knocking down perimeter shots. Midway through the second quarter, Highland surged ahead 26–17, fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc.
Despite the swings, Olympus entered halftime clinging to a 29–28 advantage, a margin that felt razor thin given how quickly momentum shifted.
Defensive Pressure and Rising Intensity
The physical tone escalated late in the third quarter as Highland senior guard Isaiah Drisdom (#11) took on the challenge of slowing Lowe. Drisdom’s ball pressure and help-side double teams disrupted Olympus’ rhythm, and the results showed.
With seconds remaining in the third, Drisdom forced a turnover that led directly to a Highland layup. The play gave Highland a 46–45 lead heading into the fourth — and sparked a brief chest-to-chest exchange between the two competitors that underscored just how much was at stake.
Immediate Answer from a Leader
Gavin Lowe signed with UCI last month.
No doubt Lowe and his teammates at Olympus will be up to the challenge of competing for another run at the 5A state title in February.
Elite guards respond, and Lowe did exactly that.
On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Lowe stripped the ball off the dribble, converted the layup through contact, and completed the three-point play to swing momentum right back to Olympus. Moments later, he buried two consecutive three-pointers, igniting a personal nine-point burst in the opening minutes of the quarter.
It was a defining stretch — not just for the game, but for Olympus’ season.
As Highland pushed back late, Lowe shifted from scorer to facilitator. With under two minutes remaining, he delivered a perfectly timed assist to junior forward Oliver Clarke for a momentum-swinging dunk that stretched the lead back to nine and silenced the crowd.
Olympus closed out the game to secure the 77–72 road win.
Why This One Matters
Beyond the final score, the performance offered a glimpse of Olympus’ ceiling. With legitimate size in the frontcourt — including 6'9", 6'7" and 6’7” starters — and a point guard who controls tempo, makes rapid decisions in transition, and elevates teammates, the Titans look built for another deep state playoff run in February.
And in a 5A landscape dominated early by Timpview, Olympus is starting to look like a team capable of stepping into that conversation.
There will be other challengers. There will be tougher tests. But on a loud Tuesday night in December, Olympus showed it has the leadership, toughness, and shot-making to belong in the discussion.
Utah Sports Ink will be watching closely.