Contenders and pretenders (5A)
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We will be highlighting three teams we believe are real contenders for the 5A state crown. We will also highlight three pretenders that don’t have what it takes to win the whole thing.
Contenders
Lone Peak 12-3 (6-0) The knights are the real deal with plenty of talent and arguably the best coach in the entire state. Outside of Pleasant Grove, they have blown every team out during region play. Westminster College signee Nate Harkness has been stellar. He is averaging 18 points and 5 rebounds and has moved up to the #7 ranked player in the class of 2017 in Utah. Steven Ashworth and Chantry Ross have also played well and those three guards together have been nearly impossible to stop.
Bingham 13-3 (4-1) The three headed monster of Carlson, Parker, and Youngblood is tough to stop. The three combined to average 41 points per game and they all play great defense. The miners are built for a championship run with how balanced they are offensively. I would like to see Carlson play a little more aggressive down the stretch of the season but the Miners have a team system which has worked in the past for them.
Pleasant Grove 14-2 (4-1) Has only lost one game to an in-state team and that was by one point to Lone Peak. The Vikings are built to make a championship run with 7-3 Matthew Van Komen and also have an array of shooters. They knocked down a state record 20 three pointers last week in a win. Keanu Akina and Casey Brown have lead the Vikings with a combined 85 made threes on the year.
Pretenders
Copper Hills 14-3 (6-0) I sound a little crazy for saying a team with a 6-0 record in one of the best regions is a pretender. Stockton Shorts has been the best player in the state this year with his 24 point per game average but he is the only double digit scorer on his team. The question I ask myself can Shorts have four big games in a row during the state tournament? As good as Shorts is I think he’s bound for an off night which will lead to an exit from the state tournament.
Sky View 12-2 (4-0) The Bobcats have dominated their schedule so far this season. I’m suspicious of how good they are because they haven’t played any team south of Davis County. the Bobcats very well could be a contender but are a complete mystery. Freshman Mason Falslev already has an offer from Utah State University which means he’s the real deal. His brother, Peyton has been playing great and holds a 15 point per game average. It will be interesting come state tournament time to see if they can compete with the Salt Lake County and Utah County schools.
Davis 12-3 (4-1) The Darts have looked very good against lesser competition this season. They haven’t beaten anyone good this season and in their one big test against Bingham they were thumped by 25 points. No one on their team averages in double figure which shows they are very balanced. I predict Davis will get beat in the first round of the state tournament regardless of what seed they have.