High school girls basketball: Warriors win, but still trying to learn to play together

KEARNS — Taylorsville Senior Saane Lo'amanu is learning that sometimes a team's greatest challenge doesn't come from its opponents.

"It is frustrating," said Lo'amanu who led the Warriors to a messy but key victory against Kearns 51-35 Thursday night. "Sometimes we play good and sometimes we don't. It's just not playing hard all the time."

That lack of intensity is something that also frustrates — and at times baffles — Warriors head coach Jace Hymas.

"Kearns did a good job," said Hymas after the win. "I'm upset with the play of my players. Our post play was almost non-existent. And we're not running an offense. It's one pass and fire something off. We're 14 games into the season and they've heard this from me 1,000 times. You'd think they'd be sick of it by now."

One issue the team has, Hymas said, is that they only have about two dozen girls in the entire Warrior program.

"They are here because they like each other," he said. "I feel like I'm back there more as a cheerleader. The only thing that's got us as good as we are is that they are athletic."

Hymas said his team has a ton of potential and the fact that they seem to be stalled by inconsistent play is frustrating to both players and coaches. Still, there were definitely things to be proud of in a win that will help them avoid a play-in game to make the 5A tournament.

"This is an absolutely must win," he said.

Lo'amanu, one of the few year-round basketball players, led the team with 22 points. She played half of the fourth quarter with four fouls and was key on defense for the team. Sophomore Whitney Mitchell provided nice perimeter play and added nine points. Freshman Pela Tapusoa added eight points, including two 3-point shots.

The Warriors started off strong, especially defensively against a depleted Kearns squad. The Cougars were off to a 5-1 start when they lost center Micaelee Orton to a knee injury and junior Dallas Vega quit the team to work. Christen Lopez, a senior guard, and Mary Luna, a senior guard, led the team with 8 and 10 points respectively. Sa Afatasi, a senior, scored nine points.

The one thing the Warriors have on their side, Lo'amanu said, is that in addition to be athletic, they have great chemistry.

"We are all friends on and off the court," she said.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com