Top 3A teams are good again

The 3A girls basketball season promises more good things from most of the programs that were successful last year.

The 3A state championship game between Canyon View and Emery was one of the most exciting in any of the state tournaments.

While Emery returns key starting guard Camille Fehlberg and the Falcons return 3A MVP guard Cassie Platt, Canyon View has a new coach in Brad Lambeth.

It might seem Canyon View has the edge this season as the Falcons defeated the Spartans in preseason play, but consider that Canyon View lost to North Sevier, a promising 2A team, and that Emery defeated North Sevier, as well as Snow Canyon.

About the only thing that's clear is how competitive class 3A is, and how interesting all of the region races will be.

With Emery and Snow Canyon suffering losses in the season's first weeks, Morgan has taken over as the No. 1-ranked team. The 3A coaches knew the Trojans would be tough as they voted them No. 3 in preseason polls. Region 10 rival Wasatch was voted No. 4, while defending 3A champion Canyon View was voted No. 5.

The one exception in preseason polls was Snow Canyon. The Warriors were picked to finish second in a state-wide poll of coaches, and the team didn't finish in the top six last season. In fact, last year, the Warriors finished third in Region 9, tied with Hurricane.

In addition to Fehlberg, who averaged 15 points per game last season, Emery returns Rachel Rasmussen, senior center, Jodi Lundell, senior guard, and junior guard Meagan Pearson.

"Overall we should be a very good team," said Emery coach Steve Gordon. "We are more athletic than last year, but we lack size. If we stay healthy, we should be playing at the end of the season."

Snow Canyon returns eight players with varsity experience including Angela Walter, junior center; Alex Jenson, junior guard; Anna Nostrant, junior forward; junior guard Whitney Dunlop; and junior guard Liz McArthur.

"A lot of experience should go a long way," said coach Wade Jensen.

Morgan is always a tough defensive squad with players such as guard Dani Evans, while Wasatch lost eight seniors but retained some great younger talent. The Wasps return junior guard Tara Gehring and sophomore forward Kim Parker, who averaged 12 and 10 points per game, respectively, last season. Parker also averaged eight rebounds per game.