"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.