All eyes on Panguitch

Most of the 1A coaches know defending state champion Panguitch is the team to beat in this year's 1A Tournament. Afterall, the Bobcats have been ranked No. 1 since preseason polls were taken and managed a 19-1 season, even after losing their best defensive player to a knee injury.

There is one coach, however, who is not so sure.

"I think there are six or eight teams that could win it, and we're just one of the six or eight," said Bobcat coach Curtis Barney. "I felt like Oaklee Orton (who hurt her knee in the team's only loss) really gave us an edge. Losing her really evens things up."

Tell that to the teams who have to face last year's MVP and future Ute, Halie Sawyer who averages 20 points per game.

Barney admits he has talent coupled with experience in his three seniors who've won state titles two of the three years they've played for him. Sawyer is clearly the team leader, but she's surrounded by athletic players like senior Jennifer Perkins, who is averaging 13 points per game, and senior point guard Chelsea Birch, who averages eight assists and six steals.

Those seniors may not have played in many close games this season as the Bobcats rolled through region play, but they've played in some extremely tight state tournament games, including a loss in 2004 to Wayne in the semifinals. The Bobcats have earned six of the last seven state titles, and while they hope to earn another gold trophy, Barney knows not to count on anything.

"We're playing pretty good ball together," he said. "You can't look to far ahead at the state tournament."

If he does, he might see Rich High School as a possible semi-final opponent. The two schools have an intense playoff rivalry that spans two sports and nearly a decade of time. The Rebels have dominated in volleyball, while the Bobcats have had the Rebels' number in basketball.

When asked what he thought of his bracket, Rich High coach Scott Ferguson just laughed.

"I think we're on the wrong side of the bracket again," he said. "But I'm not sure we'll even have to worry about Panguitch."

That's because the Rebels, who went undefeated in region play, will square off against Wayne or Wendover and if they win that, they'll face the winner of Monticello vs. Valley.

"We've got to get to that game before we worry about it," Ferguson said. "It's in our minds, but I'm sure I'll have no problem getting my girls ready for that game if it happens."

The No. 3 Rebels have struggled through a month of cold and flu viruses that kept some of their key players sidelined. Then leading scorer Sami Cornelison, who is averaging 17 points per game, sprained her ankle.

"That might have made us a better team, though," Ferguson said. "Other girls had to step up and fill in for us."

Second-ranked St. Joseph is in the upper bracket, while Panguitch and Rich are in the lower bracket. That does not mean the Jayhawks have it any easier, however. Region 19 champion Green River is in that bracket, and the Jayhawks would open the tournament with either Tintic or Monument Valley. Green River faces Tabiona, a team much tougher than their third-place region finish would indicate. The two squads met twice earlier this season with Green River winning in overtime in the first game, and Tabiona winning the second by eight points.

St. Joseph's has plenty of depth and experience, too, with senior point guard Julie Laure, who leads the team in scoring with 18 points per game.

Adriana Cordova leads Green River with 16.5 points per game, and Heidi Vetere adds 12 points per game.

One of the best games of the tournament's first round promises to be Valley and Monticello in the last game scheduled on Wednesday at the Seveir Valley Center in Richfield. Valley boasts one of the state's best players in Sammi Griffiths, who averages 15 points per game, while the Buckaroos finish a great season behind a well-balanced team.