High school basketball: 3A girls tournament lack clear-cut favorite

The average record of the eight teams still alive in the 3A girls basketball state tournament is 16-4.

It's pretty obvious then that anything truly can happen at the Huntsman Center this week when the quarterfinals get underway Thursday.

"I think all eight teams have a chance on any given night with the different talent they bring to the table," said Delta coach Kurtis Topham.

The girls tournament will take center stage at the University of Utah at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday with Emery (14-6) facing Morgan (19-3). The rest of the schedule is Canyon View (17-4) vs. Juab (16-4) at 5:50 p.m.; Cedar (16-6) vs. Carbon (18-1) at 7:30 p.m.; and Delta (17-2) vs. Hurricane (13-7) at 9 p.m.

"The games in the tournament are going to be intense and tight. I just think the teams are real evenly matched," said Morgan coach Brad Matthews.

In fact, all eight teams beat at least one fellow quarterfinalist at least once this year. Only two of the four quarterfinals are rematches. Juab beat Canyon View 36-33 back on Dec. 28, and Delta clobbered Hurricane 73-48 in the first game of the year on Nov. 30.

Unlike the 3A boys tournament, where Wasatch is the clear-cut favorite, there's not an obvious favorite in the 3A girls tournament. If anything, most believe that either Carbon, Delta or Morgan will end up hoisting the championship trophy on Saturday night.

Delta appears to have a leg up after beating both Morgan and Carbon during the preseason, but it's hardly invincible after losing to both Juab and Emery during region play.

Basically, anything can and probably will happen.

For Morgan, it's happy just to still be playing. Playing without injured leading scorer Ashley Garfield in the first round of the state tournament last year, the Trojans were stunned by Juab on their home floor.

"That was hard for her, it was for us as coaches and the team, just to know that one of the best players in the state couldn't participate. So it's good for her to come back," said Matthews.

Garfield has been healthy all year and she's averaging 20.3 points.

Emery is arguably the most unpredictable team left in the tournament. It split with both Delta and Juab in region play, but then lost to Carbon twice and both Cedar and Canyon View in the preseason.

Taylor Mann averages 21 points for the Spartans, and she'll need to have a big game if her team is going to upset Morgan.