DRAPER -- Before they could play for the state crown, they had to get there first.

And they got there by beating a tough Orem team that had just knocked off Bountiful's rival Woods Cross the week before.

Bountiful scored early on in the Orem match and was able to play a near flawless possession game that helped them produce four more goals. The ability of the Braves to possess, consistently win challenges, and control the tempo of the game helped them hold the Golden Tigers to just one goal the rest of the game.

"We started working on possession day one," said Paul Campbell, assistant coach of Bountiful. "That's our style. That's what these kids are good at. (They) are really talented, they can do it, they can possess. They can create opportunities and then punish."

The final score of 5-1, in last Wednesday's game, illustrates how the Braves can inflict punishment upon an opponent.

That win helped propel them into the state championship game on Friday.

After the Orem game, Braves head coach Lou Plank said that his team had been waiting for the opportunity to play in the championship game for months.

"We have been waiting a year to take East out of this tournament and make things right," Plank said. "These guys have been desperately hungry to get back in this venue to this final matchÖa lot of them felt it was destiny that they would show up here and have another crack at it again."

Assistant coach Cam Winquist said that the win against Orem helped the Braves build confidence and that Bountiful would need that confidence going into the State Championship game with Bonneville.

"They're a tough team," Winquist said of Bonneville. "They beat us and then we tied in region play. We know this is not going to be a cakewalk, it's going to be a tough, tough match."

After the Orem game, Bountiful junior Michael Knight said that Bonneville was a great team and that the Braves would have a midfield battle with the Lakers.

"We're going to have to win those battles," Knight said, "and hopefully (our) forwards can finish it off."

Winqust was right. The championship game with the Lakers was no cakewalk. But Knight was right, too. The Braves won the battles and their forwards were able to finish Bonneville off for the state title.

thatch@davisclipper.com