The 2021-2022 high school girls basketball season gets underway this week for 6A, 5A and 4A teams. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has put together capsules for every team in 4A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.
The region rankings are based on coaches preseason projections.
There are two new head basketball coaches in 4A this year: Bri Barrett (Dixie) and Tori Craner (Logan)
Here are the 4A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.
Region 10
1. Desert Hills Thunder
Head coach: Ron Denos (eighth year).
2020-2021 record: 20-3 (first in Region 9 with a 14-0 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 2 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Sky View, 44-41, in the 4A semifinals.
2021 offense: 60.7 ppg (No. 1 in 4A).
2021 defense: 41.5 ppg (No. 4 in 4A).
Returning starters: Four
Returning contributors:
- Julia Jacobson, F, Sr. — 12.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
- Sa’de Turlington, G, Sr. — 9.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.1 spg.
- Enid Vaifania, G, Sr. — 12.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 apg.
- Alivia Cluff, G, Sr. — 7.2 ppg.
Key newcomers:
- Sadelle Springer, G, Sr.
- Lacie Jones, G, Sr.
Coach comment: Excited for the experience we have. The girls are working hard and looking forward to the challenges of the season. Looking forward to having the pandemic and all the restrictions behind us. It will be nice to have those that want to come to games be able to.
2. Snow Canyon Warriors
Head coach: Dan Roden (sixth year).
2020-2021 record: 5-16 (seventh in Region 9 with a 4-10 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 18 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Dixie, 57-44, in the 4A first round.
2021 offense: 42 ppg (No. 14 in 4A).
2021 defense: 52.2 ppg (No. 20 in 4A).
Returning starters: One.
Returning contributors:
- Natalie Olson, F, Jr. — 12.4 ppg.
- Lainee Leavitt, F, Sr..
Key newcomers:
- Olivia Hamlin, G, Fr.
- Kelly Howard, G, Fr.
Coach comment: We are unbelievably young and inexperienced, but these girls and dedicated to basketball and want to get better every day. It will be fun to see how much they improve as the season goes along.
3. Pine View Panthers
Head coach: Ben Luce (third year).
2020-2021 record: 21-3 (second in Region 9 with a 12-2 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 1 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Logan, 71-68, in the 4A semifinals.
2021 offense: 60.3 ppg (No. 2 in 4A).
2021 defense: 37.9 ppg (No. 2 in 4A).
Returning starters: One.
Returning contributors:
- Emma Jensen, G/F, Sr. — 4.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg.
- Avery Gustin, G, Jr. — 2.1 rpg.
Coach comment: Pine View has a lot of girls who are inexperienced at the varsity level, but they’ll still compete and play aggressively.
4. Cedar City Reds
Head coach: Cory Nielsen (fifth year).
2020-2021 record: 12-11 (third in Region 9 with a 8-6 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 8 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Pine View, 56-24, in the 4A first round.
2021 offense: 42.1 ppg (No. 13 in 4A).
2021 defense: 44.5 ppg (No. 9 in 4A).
Returning starters: Four.
Returning contributors:
- Braylee Peterson, G, Sr. — 10.0 ppg.
- Mckelle Kerns, G, Sr. — 4.1 ppg.
- Haylee Campbell, G, Jr. — 3.6 ppg.
- Emery Harrison, G, So. — 4.1 ppg.
- Kali Crowley, F, Sr.
Key newcomers:
- Kiara Hansen, C, So.
- Jessica Grant, F, Sr.
Coach comment: Looking forward to competing in a very balanced and competitive region.
5. Hurricane Tigers
Head coach: Pepper Reddish (second year).
2020-2021 record: 9-13 (fourth in Region 9 with a 7-7 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 10 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Juan Diego, 37-33, in the 4A second round.
2021 offense: 40.5 ppg (No. 18 in 4A).
2021 defense: 47.6 ppg (No. 15 in 4A).
Returning starters: None.
Returning contributors:
- Lindy Erickson, G, Sr. — 4.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg.
- Morgan Stout, F, Sr. — 2.9 ppg.
Key newcomers:
- Nizhoni Dominguez, F/C, So.
- Adriana Gubler, G, Jr.
- Abbigail Stout, G, So.
Coach comment: We are going to be young and fast but we have two amazing seniors to lead us.
6. Crimson Cliffs Mustangs
Head coach: Kacee McArthur (third year).
2020-2021 record: 2-19 (eighth in Region 9 with a 0-14 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 20 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Bear River, 54-22, in the 4A first round.
2021 offense: 39 ppg (No. 19 in 4A).
2021 defense: 53.6 ppg (No. 21 in 4A).
Returning starters: Two.
Returning contributors:
- Whitley Stookey, G, Sr. — 2.3 ppg.
- Skylar Sherratt, G, Sr.
- Brooklyn Winget, F, Sr.
Coach comment: We are excited for this season. Being a young program we have not had any seniors up until this year. We are excited to benefit from their experience and leadership. We have a whole lot of young and talented underclassmen that are eager to take the next step. We are looking forward to continued improvement and success this season.
7. Dixie Flyers
Head coach: Bri Barrett (first year).
2020-2021 record: 8-14 (sixth in Region 9 with a 5-9 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 15 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Desert Hills, 64-41, in the 4A second round.
2021 offense: 40.5 ppg (No. 17 in 4A).
2021 defense: 48 ppg (No. 16 in 4A).
Additional info not provided.
Region 11
1. Sky View Bobcats
Head coach: Vanessa Hall (sixth year).
2020-2021 record: 18-6 (fourth in Region 11 with a 6-4 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 6 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Beat Logan, 56-54, in the 4A championship.
2021 offense: 55.1 ppg (No. 4 in 4A).
2021 defense: 44.5 ppg (No. 8 in 4A).
Returning starters: Three.
Returning contributors:
- Macy Hellstern, G, Sr. — 11.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg.
- Melanie Hiatt, C, Jr. — 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg.
- Hannah Radford, G, Jr. — 10.5 ppg.
- Addey Merrill, G, Jr. — 2.5 ppg.
Key newcomers:
- Mya Garfield, G, Sr.
- Rachel Larson, G, Sr.
- Jada Westover, G, Sr.
- Hannah Womack, G, Sr.
- Kourtney Payne, F/C, Jr.
Coach comment: We are excited to get back in the gym and build on our finish from last season. We will miss our seniors from last year, but we are looking forward to the group we have returning and some of the girls that we will add to our rotation. We know we will have a target on our back from last year, but the girls are working hard and putting in the time to improve each day.
2. Ridgeline Riverhawks
Head coach: Ainsli Jenks (sixth year).
2020-2021 record: 15-8 (tied for second in Region 11 with a 7-3 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 3 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Sky View, 47-43, in the 4A quarterfinals.
2021 offense: 49.8 ppg (No. 7 in 4A).
2021 defense: 47.5 ppg (No. 14 in 4A).
Returning starters: One.
Coach comment: Our girls are excited that basketball season is here. We’ve got a very young group of players that love to compete. This team is a lot of fun to be around and we look forward to growing together.
3. Green Canyon Wolves
Head coach: Alexis Bird (fifth year).
2020-2021 record: 15-6 (tied for second in Region 11 with a 7-3 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 4 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Bear River, 47-44, in the 4A second round.
2021 offense: 55.5 ppg (No. 3 in 4A).
2021 defense: 44 ppg (No. 7 in 4A).
Returning starters: One.
Returning contributors:
- Brooke Monson, C, Sr. — 4.2 ppg.
- Maren McKenna, G, Jr. — 12.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg.
- Cambree Tensmeyer, G, Jr.
- Abby Blau, F, Jr. — 2.5 ppg.
Key newcomers:
- Stella Anhder, G, Jr.
- Abby Hansen, G, Jr.
- Lauren Whitby, F, Jr.
- Nora Wosnik, F, Jr.
- Kaetla Pierce, F, Jr.
- Sadie Jenson, G, Jr.
- Janalynn Blotter, G, So.
Coach comment: We graduated a core group of contributors but are excited to see who is going to step up and improve each day to battle for varsity spots. We will be young but have a bunch of players that are capable of competing with the best. We are excited to work hard through preseason to compete against a talented region and hopefully make some noise in the state tournament.
4. Bear River Bears
Head coach: Tyrell Neal (third year).
2020-2021 record: 8-17 (fifth in Region 11 with a 1-9 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 13 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Logan, 47-44, in the 4A quarterfinals.
2021 offense: 42.7 ppg (No. 11 in 4A).
2021 defense: 49.4 ppg (No. 17 in 4A).
Additional info not provided.
5. Mountain Crest Mustangs
Head coach: Megan Smith (fourth year).
2020-2021 record: 6-16 (sixth in Region 11 with a 1-9 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 16 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Ogden, 54-52, in the 4A first round.
2021 offense: 43.2 ppg (No. 9 in 4A).
2021 defense: 50.8 ppg (No. 18 in 4A).
Returning starters: Five
Returning contributors:
- Havyn Brown, G, Sr. — 11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.1 spg.
- Sadie Coggins, G, Sr. — 8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg.
- Lexie Coggins, G, Sr. — 8.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg.
- Paige LaRocco, G, Sr. — 5.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg.
- Manaia Tupuola, F/C, Sr. — 3.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg.
- Kali Jones, F/C, Sr. — 2.9 rpg.
Key newcomers:
- Lily Smith, Point G, Fr.
- Hadli Barrera, G, Fr.
- Aspen Leishman, G, So.
Coach comment: We are returning our starting five in addition to some great athletes coming off our bench this year. We have got some new younger players we are excited for and some lofty goals we will work to meet on a game by game basis.
6. Logan Grizzlies
Head coach: Tori Craner (first year).
2020-2021 record: 17-6 (first in Region 11 with a 8-2 record).
2021 RPI ranking: No. 5 in 4A.
2021 postseason: Lost to Sky View, 56-54, in the 4A championship.
2021 offense: 54.3 ppg (No. 5 in 4A).
2021 defense: 47.4 ppg (No. 13 in 4A).
Returning starters: None.
Returning contributors:
- Milly Garren, C, Sr.
- Erika Rose, F, So.
Key newcomers:
- Maddi Kartchner, G, So.
Coach comment: We’re looking to work hard, fight hard, and overcome adversity. We’re starting fresh but have a lot to look forward to.