It's a fun week and I believe in most games, it's going to come down to just a couple of free throws, a couple of turnovers — it should be a great tournament. – American Fork coach Doug Meacham
Coaches around the state seem to have formed a consensus on the eve of this year's 5A state basketball tournament: Lone Peak is the team to beat, but the tournament field could be as deep as it's been in recent years.
No gimmes are expected in any of the rounds by coaches, who expect most games to come down to the very end.
"It's a fun week and I believe in most games, it's going to come down to just a couple of free throws, a couple of turnovers — it should be a great tournament," said American Fork coach Doug Meacham, whose team finished tied for second in the ultra-competitive Region 4.
"I believe there's six or seven teams that are capable of winning (the championship) this year," added Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis. "Then there's three or four teams capable of beating anyone in the state, so yeah, it should be a very competitive tournament this year."
Lewis again led his team to a Region 4 championship, but unlike recent years, the Knights didn't run away in region play, with two teams (American Fork and Pleasant Grove) finishing just one game off their pace. Still, the four-time defending state champions are considered the favorite.
"Until someone beats them, they're the team to beat," said Davis coach Chad Sims. "They've had a great run, and they look tough again, but there's a lot of other tough teams this year."
For Lewis, he understands the role of a tournament favorite well, and believes his team will be up for another great challenge.
"We've been there before and the way you do it really is just focusing on what's in front of you," Lewis said. "We're going to have all we can handle with Copper Hills, a team that's playing very well entering the tournament. So, just don't get ahead of yourselves is the way to do it, and I think my players understand that."
As for Sims' Region 1 champion Darts, they enter the tournament with everyone's attention, having finished 18-3 overall and 11-1 in region play. The team is led by Gonzaga signee Jesse Wade, who appears poised to lead his team to another deep tournament run.
"Jesse is playing great, and we like how we're playing entering the tournament," Sims said. "I feel we've improved a lot since the first of the year. We battled through a tough region, and we're excited to see how we match up with teams we haven't seen, or haven't seen for a while."
Finishing second to Davis in Region 1 is Layton, a team that could certainly make some noise with star Jarriesse Blackmon leading the way.
Hunter looks to be the most formidable team out of Region 2, but it's both Region 3 and Region 4 where most of the tournament's depth hails from, particularly Region 4, represented by three of the four semifinalists from a year ago.
"There's no games off in our region, and that's going to be like it is in the tournament, so that could help us," Meacham, whose team lost to Pleasant Grove in the semifinals in 2014, said. "I think it also should help us having made a deep run in last year's tournament. Our guards, Spencer Johnson and Braden Condie, and then Brendan Bailey got some great experience last year, and that should help."
Quality guard play should prove paramount once again in this year's tournament, and Region 4 has some of the state's best, players such as Lone Peak's Frank Jackson and Christian Popoola; Pleasant Grove's Riley Court; and Riverton's Joey Andrews and Jeff Arens, along with the American Fork trio mentioned by Meacham.
Bingham enters as Region 3's most formidable team, having won that region crown. The Miners are led by one of the state's premier post players, Yoeli Childs.
Other Region 3 teams include Copper Hills, Alta and American Fork's first-round opponent, Brighton.
"I think Brighton is as tough of a first-round opponent you could get with us being a No. 2 seed," Meacham said. "They have Brock Miller, who is as tough as they come, and he's going to be a handful for us along with the rest of their team."
The 5A state playoffs tip off early Monday morning at the Dee Events Center in Ogden and will conclude the following Saturday.
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney