The two varsity basketball teams at Lone Peak High have the same goals, but one has a much bigger climb to get there.
The boys team went through much of last season undefeated, won a share of the region crown and was always considered one of the state's top teams, finishing the year with only two losses. With a load of talent returning, the boys have the potential to return to that form and probably go a little deeper in the state tournament, if not win it all.
The girls team, on the other, struggled with only four wins. This year's squad is hoping to return to the days when the Knights were considered a girls basketball power. As it did with the boys program last year, having a new girls coach might help.
One thing both teams have in common is they're athletic, quick and fast. Basketball at Lone Peak is sure to be fun to watch this season.
LONE PEAK GIRLS
Once again the Lone Peak Knights are in rebuilding mode. Most of last year's starters and a great deal of the team's height is not returning to the hardcourt. After last season's 4-16 record, that might not be such a bad thing.
"We're going to be very young this year," said first year coach Keith Flood. "We're going to be a really quick and athletic team, but we don't have much experience."
The new coach will try to implement his new style and "use a full-court game. We want to get up and down in a hurry." A large part of the reason for the run-and-gun attack is the noticeable lack of height and power in the middle.
The team's center is 5-foot-11 sophomore Amanda Prestwich, whom Flood says will do well for the team, but she has no varsity experience coming into this season. The Knights' main point of attack though is a returnee from last year's squad. Point guard Lindsey Pflueger is "a terrific ball handler and a smart player" that he expects to lead the team this season.
Another team leader will be forward Katie Bowen, "an excellent athlete in every way and a great leader," noted Flood. She's also a top member of the school's cross country and track teams.
Whitlie Murdoch, a good defender and ball handler, is quick and can penetrate to the middle, and Mari Larsen will provide necessary long distance shooting to the height-challenged team. Both are returning players from last year's squad, but Christina Nielsen, a "super fast" guard will be earning her first major varsity minutes.
"We're athletic. We've got to run the floor, take advantage of our guards," said Flood. They will be the focal point of yet another inexperienced Knights team.
LONE PEAK BOYS
One might think the Knights will be a weaker team this season without last year's big man Brandon Knight in the middle. Coach Quincy Lewis doesn't think so. Not that the 6-foot-8 center wasn't valuable, but having a little less size and a bit more quickness gives Lone Peak a few new wrinkles.
"We'll have a lot more flexibility this season to so some things we couldn't do last season," Lewis said. "Last season our defense and offense revolved around having him in the middle. This season it won't. So we're going to miss (Knight's) smarts more than we will his size."
Filling that role inside will be senior Matt Bahr, a 6-foot-5 center/forward who saw significant minutes last year off the bench. With Bahr and junior Cory Chase as Lone Peak's two main big guys, expect the Knights to have more of a perimeter and drive-to-the-basket offense. They surely have the weapons to be effective that way.
Jackson Emery is one of the state's best outside shooters, but also one of the best at taking the ball to the hole. With lightning quick feet and hands, and an incredible quick jumping ability, he's also one of the better defenders around. Add in Chase, who understands how to score around the basket, and the Knights have a potent duo. But they have much more balance than that. Senior Justin Stoddard is another shooter/penetrator, and guards Cory Cosgrave and Jake Larsen add quickness and more driving ability.
All of Lone Peak's scorers have the green light to shoot. Lewis doesn't want to hold any of them back or do anything to hurt their confidence.
Defensively, the Knights will apply a lot of pressure and trapping. They'll be one of the more difficult teams to score on.
"To get to the same level we did last year we're going to have to play the same level of defense," Lewis said.
Lone Peak Knights: Boys basketball
Class: 4A
League: Region 7
Last season: 21-2, tied for first.
Predicted 2004-05 region finish: First
Coach: Quincy Lewis, second year. Played at Timpview High, Wagner and Dixie State. Assistant at UVSC and BYU-Hawaii
Key returning players: Cory Chase, 6-foot-5 forward, Jr.; Jackson Emery, 6-3 guard, Sr.; Matt Bahr, 6-5 forward, Sr.; Justin Stoddard, 6-2 guard, Sr.
Newcomers: Jake Larsen, 6-0 guard, Sr.; Cory Cosgrave, 6-0 guard, Sr; Matt Bailey, 6-5 forward, Jr.
Schedule (home games in bold)
Dec. 1 — Lone Peak 66, Bountiful 52
Dec. 3 — Lone Peak 74, Provo 45
Dec. 8 — Lehi
Dec. 10 — American Fork
Dec. 14 — Logan
Dec. 17 — West
Dec. 21 — 23 — at Dixie Great 8
Jan. 4 — Payson
Jan. 7 — at Timpview
Jan. 12 — at Spanish Fork
Jan. 14 — Granger
Jan. 18 — Mountain View
Jan. 21 — at Orem
Jan. 26 — Pleasant Grove
Feb. 2 — at Timpanogos
Feb. 9 — at Mountain View
Feb. 11 — Orem
Feb. 16 — Timpanogos
Feb. 22 — at Pleasant Grove
Lone Peak Knights: Girls basketball
Class: 4A
League: Region 7
Last season: 4-16, tied for fourth place in region.
Predicted 2004-05 region finish: Fourth
Coach: Keith Flood, first year. Spent the last three years as an assistant coach at Provo. Played college basketball and coached in St. Louis prior to moving to Utah.
Key returning players: Lindsey Pflueger, 5-8 guard, Jr..; Whitlie Murdoch, 5-9 guard, Jr..; Mari Larsen, 5-10 forward, Jr..; Katie Bowen, 5-10 forward, Sr..
Newcomers: Amanda Prestwich, 5-11 center, soph.; Caitlyn Sears, 5-9 guard, soph.; Christina Nielsen, 5-5 guard, Sr.
Schedule (home games in bold)
Dec. 1 — Lone Peak 69, American Fork 44
Dec. 3 — Timpview 53, Lone Peak 32
Dec. 7 — Skyline
Dec. 10 — at Spanish Fork
Dec. 11 — Payson
Dec. 14 — Olympus
Dec. 16 — at Bingham
Dec. 17 — Clearfield
Dec. 21 — Granger
Jan. 4 — at Springville
Jan. 7 — at Provo
Jan. 11 — Timpanogos
Jan. 18 — Mountain View
Jan. 21 — at Orem
Jan. 26 — Pleasant Grove
Feb. 1 — at Timpanogos
Feb. 4 — Lehi
Feb. 8 — at Mountain View
Feb. 11 — Orem
Feb. 15 — at Pleasant Grove
Tuesday: Lehi
E-MAIL: jimr@desnews.com