Wasatch boys poised to contend; girls rebuild

HEBER — Wasatch High can boast more than just a top wrestling program.

For the past several seasons, the Wasps have put some mighty good basketball teams on the floor. This season one of those teams is again poised for a serious run at the state championship, while the other is reloading and likely won't have a realistic title shot until next year.

The boys team, the defending 3A state champions, has two of the state's top players back. A young crop of guards that has shown early the ability to play team basketball has many penciling in the Wasps as a favorite to repeat.

The girls team is comprised mostly of new faces who still have to prove their ability. Still, the Wasps girls should be competitive simply because they're loaded with athleticism.

WASATCH BOYS

No basketball team in Utah can claim a tougher preseason schedule than the Wasps. But coach Lonnie Magnusson knows that the challenging string of games will only make his team better prepared for the state tournament, where the Wasps will be a favorite to defend their 3A state title.

"That's the whole reason we schedule games like this, to see what the guys are made of," Magnusson said following his team's road win over 4A power Payson.

Before league games begin, the Wasps will have played defending 5A champion Hunter and Bingham, a favorite to win the 5A title this year, and 4A favorites Timpview and Payson. They'll also be tested by 3A powers Morgan, Lehi and Bear River.

"I think the kids feel that we can compete at that level, so I guess we'll find out soon enough," Magnusson said.

The reason the Wasps can compete at that level is they have perhaps the state's top big-man duo returning in Logan Magnusson, 6-foot-6, and Darin Mahoney, 6-foot-8. Both players are potent offensive weapons because they possess small-man skills. They can shoot from outside or score inside, and both are excellent at putting the ball on the floor. They're also two outstanding defenders.

But the key to the Wasps' success this season might lie with the little guys. The team lost floor general Josh Cottle, last season's 3A MVP, so junior guards Tyler Baird and Pat Burns will have to step in to provide the same balance Wasatch had last season.

"There's only one (Cottle) but Tyler and Pat are doing a nice job of filling his shoes," coach Magnusson said.