Defending champs get pressure of being favorites

Pressure comes from a lot of places. It can be refining or destructive, depending on whether the teenagers feeling the pressure can deal with it or even use it to their advantage.

Because Skyline and Bingham return nearly all of last year's basketball starters, coaches see them as the preseason favorites this year. Starting the season with the pressure of being No. 1 can be a tough load to carry throughout a season

"It's something we've talked about," said Deb Bennett, head coach of the defending 5A champion Eagles. "Last year we kind of slid under the radar. But you have to raise the bar. They know what's expected of them, and they want to work. Jenteal Jackson is probably one of the better pressure players in the state. It's nice to have her leading the team. And yet, our kids know they have to work hard to get there."

The Eagles were voted the No. 1 team in a preseason poll of 5A coaches and were also voted the top team in Region 2. Bennett isn't worried about the weight of a ranking because she said their goal is to win another 5A title.

"We're focused on getting better each day," Bennett said. "I want to win every game, but we're also shooting to be playing our best basketball in February."

Sometimes a coach has to convince a team it needs to work hard, not rest on its accomplishments and take care of each other. Bennett said that is not the case with this group that is led by junior point guard Jackson and junior center Danielle Peterson.

"This is a great group," Bennett said. "These kids have been real motivated all summer ... I like where their focus and their chemistry is."

In addition to Jackson and Peterson, the Eagles have experienced, athletic players alongside them on the court. Emily Copier, Liz Johnson and Teresa Uipi are part of the deep lineup that will make Skyline a favorite until someone can beat the Eagles.

The team coaches voted second in the state is Bingham, and the Miners have both the talent and the chemistry to compete with the Eagles. Like Skyline's players, most of Bingham's athletes spent the summer working on improving their games.

Head coach Rand Rasmussen said he feels the most significant pressure on the Miners comes from within.

"I don't think anybody could put any more pressure on us than we put on ourselves," he said.