High school boys basketball: 4A state tournament capsules

2012-2013 Schedule

Coach: Mike Maxwell (24th year)

How qualified: First in Region 6 with 10-0 record.

Playoff opener: vs. Westlake, Tuesday, 5:50 p.m. (At Weber State)

Best preseason victory: A 62-56 win against Olympus on Jan. 2.

Most important region victory: A 57-43 win against Highland on Jan. 29.

Top contributors

#10 Sam Merrill, Jr., Guard (17.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.1 spg)

#1 Zach Seljaas, So., Guard (15.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.3 spg)

#20 Pere LeSueur, Jr., Guard (8.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg)

#31 Jordan Bleak, Jr., Guard (6.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg)

#13 Jeff Pollard, So., Forward (5.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Scoring offense: 62.4 ppg (4th in 4A)

Scoring defense: 51.2 ppg (7th in 4A)

Last state championship: 1997 (5A)

Prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Orem in championship game.

Edward’s evaluation: Since starting the year 1-3, this team led by all underclassmen has been unstoppable, winning 18 straight to end the regular season. The Braves have certainly been in some tight games, but night in and night out they’ve proved they know how to finish games off. After what should be a straightforward first-round game, the path to a championship gets much more difficult for Bountiful in the tough lower bracket. With that said, with Utah State commit Sam Merrill leading the way this team is certainly capable of capturing its first state title since 1997.