OREM — Ronnie Price has been, inarguably, Utah Valley State's best player this season. Opponents' coaches have named him the best player they have played against this season and the best player in the state of Utah.
Online Web sites have rated him the most productive guard and second most productive player overall in the nation. He's scoring 24.2 points per game, good enough for third best in the country.
He still is the best player on his team, but over the past six games, a few players have risen to join him, perhaps none more than sophomore David Heck.
Averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, Heck ranks third on the team in both categories. But in the four home games — all wins — previous to the Wolverines' matchup with Idaho State on Tuesday, Heck averaged 16.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, scoring his career-high 20 points twice. He also led the team in rebounding each of those games.
"David Heck might have one-upped himself from Thursday," coach Dick Hunsaker said after Utah Valley's 74-57 win over IPFW on Saturday. "He was outstanding."
Heck scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to lead the Wolverines over the Mastadons only after tallying 20 points and eight rebounds two nights before against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The increased production from Heck was sorely needed after Price suffered an ugly take down on a fast break during Utah Valley's game with Corpus Christi. Price suffered tailbone and wrist injuries in the fall, and his mobility was severely limited during the Wolverines game two days later as he scored just 16 points.
Price has failed to lead the team in scoring just four times this season. Heck has taken his place in three of those games.
Utah Valley now faces its most difficult stretch of the season. With nine games remaining, the Wolverines play at home just three times. The team has won just one road game this season, and Heck and the rest of the Wolverines will have to rise up to meet Price to finish the season successfully.
The stretch starts Tuesday at Nebraska, a team that nearly defeated former No. 2 Kansas on the road.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Utah Valley hasn't played since Jan. 13, a loss at New Mexico. The Wolverines hope the two-week rest plays to their advantage as they play Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Saturday.
TRACK AND FIELD: Two school records were set at the Wildcat Track and Field Invitational in Ogden.
Gavin Shaw broke the Utah Valley record in the weight throw at 62 feet 4.00 inches, and Jordan Pope set a Wolverine record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.57 seconds. Shaw finished first while Pope finished third in the events.
The Wolverine track teams are back in action Jan. 28 when they travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to participate in the ISU Double Dual.
WRESTLING: Utah Valley travels to Portland to take on Portland State on Friday. The Wolverines sneaked by the Vikings in Orem on Jan. 13.