Video: Mikelle Magalogo's highlights vs. CottonwoodMany familiar Utah girls basketball teams have once again emerged as title contenders in the 2015-16 season. Still, there are a few newcomers to the party.
These teams have taken dramatic steps forward from where they finished a season ago and are poised to make serious waves once state tournaments get underway in February.
Here's a closer look at five Utah girl's basketball teams who have exceeded expectations so far:
Shirsten Wissinger has helped lead Copper Hills to a breakout season.
Photo by Dave Argyle
The Grizzlies were a solid team a season ago. Now they have graduated from good to dominant. Copper Hills has won thirteen straight games to open the season — matching its win total from last year. The Grizzlies have the top offense in Class 5A, averaging 62.1 points per game.
One reason the offense is so potent is the play of senior
Shirsten Wissinger. The 5-foot-7 guard leads Class 5A in scoring, averaging 21.5 points per game and is a dangerous shooter from perimeter.
She gets plenty of help from
Ashley Larsen and
Mikelle Magalogo. Larsen, a senior, makes her presence known around the basket. She averages 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Magalogo impacts both ends of the court, tallying 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game for Copper Hills.
Millard (Fillmore)Just like Copper Hills, Millard has raced out to an undefeated start this season. The Eagles have won 12 consecutive games to match their season win total from a year ago. Millard is doing it with a stifling defense that dominates the glass and creates oodles of turnovers.
Millard has allowed opponents to score just 32.5 points per game and, as a team, is averaging 20.2 steals per game. Five different players average at least two steals per contest — led by
Kaitlyn Kesler with 5.8 steals per game.
The Eagles feature a balanced offense.
Anna Camp leads the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game. She is one of six players that average at least 5.5 points per contest.
Snow Canyon (St. George)The Warriors have risen to the top faster than anyone could have expected after winning just 10 games and finishing below .500 last season. Snow Canyon has won 13 of 14 games so far this season. The Warriors are a solid team on both ends of the court, averaging 52.1 points per game while allowing just 41.0 points.
Madison Mooring is the engine that makes the team go. The 5-foot-9 senior guard is a threat in every phase of the game. Mooring is averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Fellow senior guard
Shaylee Reed has also made a good impression, averaging 9.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.
Highland (Salt Lake City)Bountiful may be the Class 4A title favorite this season, but the Rams are doing an excellent job of keeping pace with the Braves in Region 6 thus far. Highland is 11-2 after winning 12 total games last season. The Rams have risen up behind a defense that is giving up just 37.6 points per game.
Offensively,
Nani Tonga and
Marlee Machon form a nice inside-out combination for Highland. Tonga, a senior forward, is averaging 13.1 points per game. Machon, a senior guard, is averaging 12.5 points per game and has emerged as the team's top 3-point shooter.
West (Salt Lake City)Winning seasons are rare for West. The Panthers have won more than 10 games in season just once since 2008. That's what makes this year's 7-5 start so sweet. West opened Region 2 play by winning four straight games and is on track to secure a Class 5A playoff berth.
The Panthers have excelled at slowing the game down and using defense to give themselves a chance to pull off upsets. It has worked well. West is averaging just 47.8 points per game, but the Panthers are also only allowing 47 points per contest.
Nadia Demic and
Briana White are West's top threats on offense. Demic averages 10.3 points and White adds 9.8 points.
John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter @johncoonsports.
