Hunter basketball working toward state tournament

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Hunter boys and girls basketball teams are facing different obstacles in their quests to get to and win the state tournament this year. The boys are trying to claw back into contention after a year where they went 1-20. The girls had a comparatively better season last year at 9-12, but they want to get past the first round at state this year. With returning coaches Dave Filimoehala and Heather Sonne at the helm, each team is already showing signs of improvement.

BOYS: After a tough season 1-20 season last year, the Hunter boys basketball team is simply trying to bounce back and get into a position to make it to the state tournament.

"We are playing a lot of sophomores this year, and I want to get them experience by region time so we can place in the top three and make it to state," head coach Dave Filimoehala said.

Region 3 only gets to send the top three teams to state this year, which is going to make each region game even more intense.

"It's very frustrating," Filimoehala said. "Region 4 and Region 2 get to send four teams and Region 1 gets five."

Filimoehala is going to rely on A.J. Pataialii's shooting and Ryan Brough's leadership to help his team succeed this year.

"Ryan has improved a lot, and even as a junior he brings leadership to the club," Filimoehala said. "A.J. is leading the team in scoring and is a strong shooter."

Although they are still a young team, the Wolverines are more experienced than last year and are determined to perform better. Besides Pataialii and Brough, Scott Friel and Harold Moleni will also be important contributors for Hunter.

GIRLS: The Hunter girls basketball team may have started the season 2-2, but those two losses were by a total of six points, including a 3-point loss to third-ranked Lone Peak, and the Wolverines have shown that they will be competitive night in and night out throughout the season.

"We're trying to build a tradition at Hunter of tough basketball," coach Heather Sonne said.

Along those lines, the name of the game this season for Hunter is defense.

"I always tell the girls, points don't matter if we can't stop them. Every practice we mostly work defense. We probably work it too much," Sonne said with a laugh.