For Judge coach Jim Yerkovich, one of the most important nights in this young basketball season occurred in a preseason game against Bountiful in mid-December.
Yerkovich's star player, Ute-bound center Daniel Deane, was on the bench in foul trouble, and the Bulldogs were trailing. With Deane unavailable for the entire second quarter, Judge's role players thoroughly outplayed Bountiful as the Bulldogs clawed back into the game, and eventually prevailed as Deane dominated the second half.
If 3A's No. 1 team is going to find itself near the top come state tournament time, it's going to need those role players to step up every night, because Deane can't win it on his own.
There's no questioning the 6-foot-8 center's abilities. He can score from inside or outside, he can rebound and he can play defense. However, sometimes he plays defense too aggressively and gets himself into foul trouble, and that's ultimately the key to the season.
Can others like Jaxon Myaer and Marcus Walisky fill the scoring void when Deane is on the bench, or simply having an off night?
In Judge's only loss of the season this year, to the 4A No. 1 Highland, Deane and everyone else in a Judge uniform had an off night, and not surprisingly the Rams dominated in the second half.
Before 3A teams like Judge and defending champion Tooele turn their attention to state tournaments, there are four region titles in 3A up for grabs.
In Region 8, newcomer Juan Diego is already regarded as the team to be beat based on the preseason coaches rankings.
Led by returning first-teamer Mike Larsen, and returning second-teamer Mason Miller, the Soaring Eagles have already jumped out to an 8-1 start this year, and that lone loss was to 5A Taylorsville in overtime. Juan Diego has already beaten Tooele, Pine View and Snow Canyon in the preseason.
"We look forward to the challenge of 3A and Region 8," said Juan Diego coach Tim Gardner. "We're anticipating teams to be bigger, faster and stronger than last year, and how we respond to the level change will depend our season's success."
So far the results have been great.
Emery has also enjoyed great success in the preseason, and figures to be Juan Diego's stiffest challenge for the league title.
The Region 9 race could be one of the most exciting in the state.
Even though every Region 9 coach but one projected Dixie as the preseason favorite, three other teams received second-place votes which should lead to plenty of parity in Southern Utah.
Dixie has jumped out to an impressive 8-2 record so far, including wins over Emery (7-2) and Springville (6-2).
As the Flyers gear up for region play, coach Ken Robinson is hoping his team's size, led by 6-foot-7 junior Derek Owen, and the guard play of seniors Dean Mills and Paul Hogue will push his team over the top.
Hurricane should be a contender with Aaron Pugh's 22.1 ppg leading the way, as should Pine View with James Lark's 17.4 ppg average.
In Region 10, Judge is the obvious favorite, but it won't be an easy task considering the road venues awaiting the Bulldogs. Union and Uintah are never easy places to play with the traveling involved, whereas Region 10 newcomer Morgan always enjoys one of the top home-court advantages in the state.
The Trojans, led by 3A leading scorer Josh Shaw (23.9 ppg) figure to provide Judge with the toughest competition in Region 10.
The quest for the Region 11 crown will likely come down to a pair of very important games. Of the five Region 11 coaches who projected the order of finish, all five picked defending 3A champ Tooele and its four returning starters as the team to beat, while all five dubbed Logan as No. 2.
Based on preseason results, those coaches knew what they were talking about.
Since losing its season opener to Juan Diego, Tooele (8-1) has won eight straight. At 7-2, Logan's only losses were to Pine View and defending 4A champion Lone Peak.
If the deciding factor ultimately comes down to experience, Tooele should have the edge over Logan, and its one returning starter.
3A Coaches Straw Polls
Note: Record shown is current 2005-2006 record.
Region 8
1. Juan Diego 8-1
2. North Sanpete 3-6
3. Emery 7-2
4. Delta 4-4
5. Carbon 5-5
6. Granite 2-7
Region 9
1. Dixie 8-2
2. Pine View 3-5
3. Hurricane 7-2
4. Snow Canyon 3-3
5. Cedar 2-7
6. Canyon View 4-6
Region 10
1. Judge 8-1
2. Morgan 6-3
3. Union 4-4
4. Wasatch 1-7
5. Park City 1-8
6. Uintah 3-7
Region 11
1. Tooele 8-1
2. Logan 7-2
3. Ogden 3-5
4. Ben Lomond 4-4
5. Bear River 2-6
6. Grantsville 1-7
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com