PROVO — Fans of Provo High basketball are accustomed to watching some of the best basketball in Utah.
This season they should get to see the same high quality again, and at both boys and girls games. The two Bulldogs squads are both balanced and deep and are loaded with some exciting players. The expectations are high in Provo, and the key to whether the two Bulldogs teams are successful is how they handle the pressure of those expectations. In the past, Provo players have risen to keep the winning tradition alive.
GIRLS: They're going to be playing a little different brand of basketball in Provo. In the past the team's strengths have been a slow-down pound the ball inside type of offense, but this year, they're going to play a little more uptempo because of a newfound athleticism on the team.
"We're going to suffer some growing pains, but these girls are hard workers," said Provo coach Cory Green of his team, which does return some talent but will also be breaking in plenty of youngsters.
"We have a pretty potent and defensive backcourt," he added of his fiery guards, Amber Bosco and Vanna Cox. Bosco is all-everything for the Bulldogs, who Green expects to be the leading scorer, rebounder and defender for his team. Cox is a scrappy, quick ball-handler, who should be able to show off an improved shot this season.
Where the difference comes in is that this year the post players have some speed and plenty of athleticism, which will allow the team to get up and down the court a little easier.
Cammie Nelson played some last year, but this season she's done a lot of hard work, and she's ready to go along with younger sister Kelsey Nelson. Green notes that the two girls are the poster children for hard work in the off-season with their tremendous improvement.
Melisa Chamberlain is a big guard who can drain the three and open up the inside game. She'll share some backcourt time with Ethline Faatoafe, who is a hustle player, a good defender and a rebounder and can also get other girls on the floor the ball in the right spot at the right time.
This team should be greatly improved over last year's team that missed the playoffs. A prediction of a fourth-place finish in Region 7 could even be a little low.
"I have some younger girls that will be young and inexperienced, but I'm really excited about this year," added Green.
BOYS: There's been more than one Bulldogs team that's had a player labeled as the best in Utah. Those teams handled the situation admirably, didn't lean on that player too much, and the role players did what they needed to do for Provo to be successful. And every one of those star players seemed to find one or two others on the team to help complement his scoring.
That's what the Bulldogs are hoping happens this season. Senior center and BYU-bound Chris Collinsworth, a big man with the skills of a guard, is certainly among the top three players in Utah if not the best. He can create his own shot, rebound, defend, pass the ball when a teammate is open, and he makes good court decisions.
"He is a great player," Provo coach Craig Drury said.
But unless Provo has a few others step up and make teams pay that give too much defensive attention, it's unlikely that the Bulldogs can ride Collinsworth's shoulder game after game to victory. Of course, Collinsworth should be the one taking most of Provo's shots and scoring the most points. But team balance and chemistry are crucial.
"I have more than one key player who is going to be handling the ball in key situations, and we expect to have some big nights from those people," Drury said.
Perhaps Provo's biggest strength is the depth and experience at the guard line. The Bulldogs have eight seniors on their roster and eight players listed as guards. Four of those backcourt players are seniors. Trevon Gardner, Kevin Holcombe, Sean Thornton and Chris Carter have proven in the past that each is a capable scorer and leader.
"I really think one of the strengths is we are a good 3-point shooting team, and that should be a bonus when teams try to take Chris away. We haven't been shooting that way yet, but I think we will," Drury said.
The Bulldogs also have a solid rebounding team, with Keifer Collins and Blake Bryson helping out Collinsworth, and guards who can rebound. Provo always plays tough defense, and that should be the case again this year.
"We have the potential to be a very good defensive team because we're quick and we have hard-nosed kids," Drury said. "But we have to learn to win, and I think we're going to learn to win."
Provo Bulldogs
Boys Basketball
Class: 4A
League: Region 7
Last season: 20-4, 1st in Region 7
Predicted 2006-07 region finish: First
Head coach: Craig Drury, 24th year
Assistant coaches: Jared Casper, Keli Lobendahn, James McEvoy, Kenny Hardy, Don Johnson
Key returning players: Trevon Gardner, 6-foot-1 guard, Sr.; Kevin Holcombe, 6-foot-2 guard, Sr.; Sean Thornton, 6-foot guard, Sr.; Blake Bryson, 6-foot-5 forward, Sr.; Chris Collinsworth, 6-foot-9 center, Sr.
Newcomers: Chris Carter, 5-foot-9 guard, Sr.; Keifer Collins, 6-foot-2 forward, Sr.; Scott Edwards, 6-foot-3 forward, Jr.; Kolby Brown, 6-foot-3 forward, Jr.
Schedule (home games in bold)
Nov. 21 - Davis 50, Provo 42
Nov. 29 - L. P. 56, Provo 41
Dec. 1 - P.G. 65, Provo 61
Dec. 8 - Provo 37, Sp. Fork 36
Dec. 15 - Mountain View
Dec. 18 - Florida tournament
Dec. 19 - Florida tournament
Dec. 20 - Florida tournament
Dec. 21 - Florida tournament
Jan. 3 - American Fork
Jan. 5 - Timpanogos
Jan. 12 - Payson
Jan. 19 - Orem
Jan. 23 - Springville
Jan. 26 - Timpview
Jan. 30 - Lehi
Feb. 1 - Payson
Feb. 6 - Orem
Feb. 9 - Springville
Feb. 16 - Timpview
Feb. 21 - Lehi
Girls Basketball
Class: 4A
League: Region 7
Last season: 6-14, 5th in Region 7
Predicted 2006-07 region finish: Fourth
Head coach: Cory Green, 4th year
Assistant coaches: Lance Moore, Carla Dominguez
Returning Players: Amber Bosco, 5-foot-10 guard, Sr.; Vanna Cox, 5-foot-5 guard, Jr.; Cammie Nelson, 5-foot-11 center, Sr.; Melisa Chamberlain, 5-foot-10 guard, Sr.
Newcomers: Ethline Faatoafe, 5-foot-7 guard, Jr.; Kelsey Nelson, 6-foot-0 center, So.; Karissa Bosco, 5-foot-10 guard, Jr.
Schedule (home games in bold)
Nov. 21 - Provo 62, P.G. 58
Nov. 28 - Provo 60, Olympus 50
Dec. 1 - Provo 41, Am. Fork 38
Dec. 5 - Provo 47, Sp. Fork 37
Dec. 8 - Murray 55, Provo 48
Dec. 13 - N. Mexico tournament
Dec. 14 - N. Mexico tournament
Dec. 15 - N. Mexico tournament
Dec. 16 -N. Mexico tournament
Dec. 19 - Highland
Jan. 5 - Copper Hills
Jan. 9 - Lehi
Jan. 12 - Payson
Jan. 19 - Orem
Jan. 23 - Springville
Jan. 26 - Timpview
Jan. 30 - Lehi
Feb. 1 - Payson
Feb. 6 - Orem
Feb. 9 - Springville
Feb. 13 - Timpview
Next: Orem
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com; jolsen@desnews.com