It’s a brand new season. There are a handful of teams, more than a handful even, that can make a deep run. – South Sevier head coach Rhett Parsons
When Summit Academy and Beaver boys basketball teams take the floor early Saturday morning at Orem High School the 2A state tournament will officially begin, and, per South Sevier head coach Rhett Parsons, it's any team's tournament.
“It’s a brand new season,” said Parsons. “There are a handful of teams, more than a handful even, that can make a deep run.”
Parsons’ South Sevier squad had an excellent year, highlighted by an undefeated record in Region 13, as well as an impressive 12-game winning streak to close out the season. And yet, despite their many successes, the Rams know quite well that the playoffs are a different beast.
“Emery still has to be favored,” said Parsons. “They have all those seniors back from last year’s team and they have played great all year.”
Parsons was not selling the Spartans short. They finished the season with a classification best 19-2 record and were dominant in a solid Region 15.
Emery was not the only Region 15 team to make the postseason, though. San Juan, which handed Emery its only loss to a 2A opponent this season, Grand and Manti all made it into the tournament. All three teams will pose difficult challenges for their opponents in their respective play-in games on Saturday.
“Region 15 was a solid region,” said Parsons “And Region 16 has been a battle all year.”
Three different teams (North Summit, Summit Academy, and South Summit) claimed first place in Region 16 at some point this season, though the Bears and Braves finished tied at the top.
In addition to Summit Academy and North Summit, South Summit, along with Providence Hall, give the region four sturdy playoff teams.
The Patriots, slated to face off against South Sevier, definitely have the Rams' attention.
“We will have our hands full with Providence Hall. They are a big team and we will have to play well, better than we have recently, in order to beat them,” said Parsons.
Other playoff teams that will most assuredly have a say in who takes home the championship trophy include Waterford and Layton Christian.
“Those teams are really solid,” said Parsons. “I heard that Layton Christian has a kid back from injury, that will be really good for them.”
Filling out the bracket are three additional Region 13 schools, Enterprise, Delta and Beaver. Perhaps nothing paints a clearer picture of the challenge that awaits teams in the 2A state tournament as well as Parsons' appraisal of the Beavers.
“I wouldn’t want to play Beaver in a play-in game. They were the fourth-best team in our region but they are going to be a handful.”
Every team will have its hands full starting Saturday in what should be an excellent 2A state tournament.
EMAIL: twood@deseretnews.com