After reaching the 1A championship game each of the past four years, Tabiona finally ended its season with a state championship on Saturday, the program’s first since 2007.
Joy Gines scored a Tigers-high 13 points, including eight on nine free throws. Isabella Gines scored 11 points and Maecie Hagman had eight points and 11 rebounds as the Tigers defeated Ridge 45-41.
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“The girls were very resilient tonight even though we fell down a few times,” Tabiona coach Jake Fabriozio said. “I told the girls not to give up and the ball was going to bounce to us eventually.”
The Tabiona Tigers celebrate after winning the trophy after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers head coach Jake Fabrizio yells after receiving a call during the 1A girls basketball state championship game against the Rich Rebels on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Tabiona Tigers’ Joy Gines (3) takes a call during the 1A girls basketball state championship game against the Rich Rebels on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Tabiona Tigers’ Isabella Gines (10) tries to control the ball against the Rich Rebels during the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers fans cheer during the 1A girls basketball state championship game against the Rich Rebels at Lifetime Events Center in Taylorsville on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Tabiona Tigers’ Maecie Hagman (44) defends the Rich Rebels’ Braylyn Pugmire (22) during the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players celebrate after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players celebrate after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players celebrate after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players celebrate after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A Tabiona Tigers player holds up a photo of teammate Miley Rhoades, who died in a 2023 UTV accident, near the end of the 1A girls basketball state championship game against the Rich Rebels on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players hug for a few seconds before defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers players celebrate after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Tabiona Tigers celebrate after winning the trophy after defeating the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Tabiona Tigers celebrate their trophy, right, with teammate Miley Rhoades, left, who died in a 2023 UTV accident, during their win over the Rich Rebels in the 1A girls basketball state championship game on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Lifetime Events Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Tabiona Tigers assistant coach Jade Fabrizio (center) hugs Tabiona Tigers’ Joey Genes (left) and Adri Fabrizio (23) (right) during the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activities Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Rich Rebels’ Kaeda Lundgren (43) dribbles the ball on the court against the Tabiona Tigers during the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Rich Rebels’ Laci McKinnon (23) walks to the basket during the 1A girls basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Rich Rebels’ Laci McKinnon (23) shoots the ball during the 1A girls basketball state championship game against the Tabiona Tigers on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Lifetime Activity Center in Taylorsville. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Ginez performed well at the free throw line but made just 2 of 6 shots. Still, her only 3-pointer of the night came with 64 seconds left to give the Tigers a 43-40 lead.
We’ve been working hard all season to have a season to remember, and Genes said those sentiments were strongly echoed when the team spent some time in its home gym Saturday morning.
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“It feels great,” Genes said. “We were in the gym today and I saw all the second-place trophies and I knew I didn’t want to finish second again.”
The win and state title were especially satisfying for Hagerman, who missed the state tournament last season while recovering from ACL surgery.
“I missed the second half of last season and that affected me a lot,” Hagerman said. “I felt like I missed that emotional connection with the team, but I got that emotional connection back and it feels great.”
As expected, the whole game was close. Tabiona led 9-5 after the first quarter and entered halftime with a 19-17 lead.
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Everyone else stepped up for the Tigers as Joy Gines was surrounded by Rich’s Laci McKinnon.
Andree Fabrizio scored nine points and seven Tabiona players also scored.
“Joy embraced her role and we knew they were going to put a lot of pressure on her,” coach Fabrizio said. “We had other girls step up and do some things, and I think that took the pressure off everyone.”
As the third quarter progressed, the taller and more physical Leach began to take control. Molly Weston’s 3-pointer tied the score at 23-23 and Madi White’s basket late in the third quarter gave the Rebels a 29-27 advantage heading into the final quarter.
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Ridge’s Paige Smith and Braylin Pugmire then hit back-to-back baskets at the start of the final quarter to give the Rebels a 33-27 lead.
The Rebels took their largest lead of the game at 35-28 on McKinnon’s layup after Tarbiona’s Talia Allred made a free throw, but just like they did in Friday’s semifinal win over Wayne, the Tigers refused to stop fighting.
Joy Gines finally hit a layup to tie the game at 40-40, and soon after she drained a 23-foot 3-pointer over Tabiona.
“When push came to shove, we knew we wanted Joey to play well,” Fabrizio said.
MacKinnon led Rich with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Weston also scored 12 points with 3 three-pointers, while Smith had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
