Bingham titles lead 2006

1. Bingham double-trouble

It was a great year to be a Bingham Miner in 2006.

First, the boys basketball team captured the 5A championship in March with a thrilling title-game victory over rival Riverton on Brett Sommerville's buzzer-beater. Six months later, Bingham's football team added to the trophy haul by capturing the school's first title in 60 years by finishing with a 14-0 record.

Bingham's basketball team trailed by as many as 10 points against Riverton at the E Center, but Sommerville helped spark the improbable rally that include his game-winning 10-foot jumper as time expired.

The Miners' football team was one of the most dominant in state history, as evidenced by nine players garnering Deseret Morning News all-state first team honors, including 5A MVP Jordan Pendleton.

2. Alta gets national respect

The Alta girls soccer team raked in the hardware this year. By capturing the 5A state championship with a 20-0-0 record in the fall, the Hawks finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally in the NSCAA/adidas national rankings.

In addition to its 4-2 victory over Lone Peak in the championship game, Alta's most impressive victory was a 4-1 thrashing of Montgomery, Calif., on Sept. 15. That was the only loss of the season for Montgomery, which checked in at No. 6 in the final national rankings.

Alta forward Megan Ohai and goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung were two of the 84 girls named to the NSCAA/adidas youth all-America team.

3. A Utah McDonald's All-American

Of all the accolades bestowed upon Mountain View's Michelle Harrison, being named a McDonald's All-American takes the prize. Harrison is the only Utah girls basketball player ever to receive such an honor.

Harrison, who's now playing at Stanford, averaged a double-double with 22.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game during her senior season. She also averaged 4.8 blocks, 3.8 assists and 3.6 steals per game in helping Mountain View to a second-place finish in 5A.

4. Cancer rears ugly head

It was an emotional year for the basketball coaching community.

Tooele coach Gary Alverson, 59, and Taylorsville coach John Bowman, 57, both passed away from cancer.

Alverson, who continued to coach until the last week of his life, passed away on Feb. 7 following a 14-month battle with lung cancer caused by asbestos.