BOUNTIFUL — Nearly every basketball game has a turning point. That moment where things shift to one team’s favor.

For the Bountiful Braves, such a moment came with just under four minutes to play in the home state playoff game against Orem Tuesday night.

With the Braves nursing a 41-38 lead, Mitch Allred tipped in a missed shot to push the Bountiful lead to 44-38. Moments later Morgan Ellis stole the ball and then nailed a three-pointer from the corner to push the BHS lead to 44-38.

Bountiful held on in spite of struggling down the stretch at the foul line to send Orem home 49-44.

“That sequence was huge for us,” said Bountiful coach Mike Maxwell. “Morgan stole the ball and then hit that shot right after we had the tip in by Mitch. Huge.”

Bountiful now advances to play Thursday afternoon at Weber State University.

Bountiful came out tight and took time getting into a rhythm although opening up a 14-7 first quarter lead. That lead was at 28-23 at halftime.

Orem came out of the locker room and took its first lead at 34-33 with 1:25 left in the period.

“I think we got anxious and our youth showed,” Maxwell said. “The guys want to win so badly that they don’t always play great.”

Trailing 37-36 as time ran down in the quarter, Dillon Salazar's shot shifted the lead back to the Braves.

The final stanza was a see saw battle until the frenzied span gave Bountiful the lead for good.

Ellis finished with 13 points to go with his four steals while Nick Williams remained a steady gunslinger for the Braves as he chipped in 13 of his own to go with four assists.

McKay LaSalle was good for nine points and Dan Prawitt had eight while remaining a force in the paint.

Bountiful will play Mountain Crest at 4 p.m. today at Weber State in the quarterfinals.

The Braves are familiar with the Mustangs as both schools played in Region 5 until this year.

sschulte@davisclipper.com