MaxPreps 2013-14 Utah preseason girls basketball Fab 5

Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. Springville
2012-13 finish: 24-0, won Class 4A Championship
Head coach: Camie Oakey

No girls basketball team in Utah has been more dominant during this decade than Springville. The Red Devils notched their second perfect season in four years and third state title in four years a season ago. Oakey, a former University of Utah star, takes the reins from longtime coach Nancy Warner. She has plenty of talent to make another title run, starting with 5-foot-2 senior point guard Savannah Park (13.2 ppg) and 6-3 senior center Brooke Wheeler (8.6 ppg).

2. Brighton (Salt Lake City)
2012-13 finish: 15-6, lost in Class 5A first round
Head coach: Jim Gresh



The Bengals won the Region 3 title a year ago and could be a favorite to repeat with many of their top players back. Senior Maddy Chin (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and 5-10 junior Lindsey Johnson (11.7 ppg) were the top two scorers for Brighton in 2012-13 and make a backcourt tandem that's tough for any team to defend. Six-foot junior Alyssa Hirschi (6.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and 5-11 junior McCall Christensen (5.6 ppg) also return to give the Bengals a boost in the frontcourt.

3. Bingham (South Jordan)
2012-13 finish: 23-1, lost in Class 5A semifinals
Head coach: Charron Mason

A new chapter will begin for the Miners this season. Mason, a former three-sport athlete for the Miners, will take the place of longtime coach Rand Rasmussen, who retired after last season. Rasmussen went 465-97 and won four state titles in 24 seasons. Mason returns only one player,  5-foot-11 senior Sheradyn Parker (6 ppg), who saw significant minutes, but has plenty of young talent to bring up from the JV ranks.

4. Bonneville (Washington Terrace)
2012-13 finish: 23-1, lost to Springville in Class 4A semifinals
Head coach: Mike Russell

It's not impossible to think the Lakers could be on a collision course with Springville in the Class 4A tournament again after the Red Devils ended their perfect season. Bonneville returns two of its top three scorers from a year ago: 6-3 senior Kayla Eilertson (11.4 ppg) and 5-9 senior Cortney Porter (10.9 ppg). They should be favored to win a Region 5 title once again.

5. Viewmont (Bountiful)
2012-13 finish: 19-3, lost in Class 5A first round
Head coach: Clint Straatman



The Vikings have tons of momentum after winning their first region title since 1999 a season ago. Viewmont was tough to beat last season and the story should be the same in 2013-14 since the team's top two players, 5-10 senior Caitlyn Larsen (17.8 ppg) and 5-foot-9 junior Katie Toole (15.4 ppg) are back for more. Larsen and Toole were team leaders in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps.com. He is a former prep sports reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports.