Deseret News | High school boys basketball Top 20

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High school boys basketball Top 20

FINALLY! | 4:39 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

region play starts and the REAL leaders will now be recognised based on their play THIS year instead of on last years senior's performance!
region 6 is still the weakest in 4a maybe even with some 3a regions thrown in but the top two or three teams are close.
region 5 is wide open with Bountiful failing to replace good seniors from last year. They have 2 good returning starters plus maxwell's often injured son Chris but have yet to show they can come anywhere close to last year's strong team.
Wood's cross has the leading scorer in the state but also better height and hustle than lst year. Jake West is the SHORTEST starter at 6'2" and leads the defense with proven state playoff performance. Mt.Crest has good players as well and I think it will be a race to the very last game to see who gets #1 seed.
Provo is the team to beat in region 7 and very likely the top team in the state right now.STATE playoffs and matchups will be fun to see this year!

Movin' Up | 7:09 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Bear River just keeps creaping up the ladder. Don't be suprised if they finish in the top 5.

PG | 8:18 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Finally, PG gets a home game!

Comments continue below

Watch out for Bear River | 8:41 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Everyone needs to watch out for Bear River. They beat their cross-county rival, Bear River, twice. That's right, you read it right in the article, Bear River beat Bear River twice. That's just how good they are. Be afraid.

BoBaMa | 10:20 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

1. Skyline
2. West Jordan
3. Riverton
4. Lone Peak
5. Davis

1. Provo
2. Orem
3. West
4. Olympus
5. Mtn. Crest

1. Bear River
2. Wasatch
3. Judge
4. Waterford
5. Juan Diego

UtahSig | 10:26 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Bear River beat Box Elder...twice.

3A?? | 10:58 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

How can a undersized 3a team make the top 10. Maybe #25 they couldn't manage other top teams. But good luck against Ben Lomond.

There They Are!! | 11:12 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I knew it wouldn't be long until my Springville Red Devils got some love. Way to go Dan and Alex and the rest. Now you'll start getting some attention for all the hard work now that you are in the rankings. Keep blowing teams out of the water and you'll be #1 by the end of the season. Then you can take State!

It will happen! I believe! The best coaching staff + the best athletes + sheer will and desire = state champs.

dont get too far ahead | 11:49 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I agree that SV is good but they have a TOUGH region with provo orem and timpview and even MV will suprise people. Region 7 is legit this year, they will all make some noise in the post season. Until then i cant wait to watch the region games, most of them will come down to the wire and who ever wants it more will win.

Anonymous | 12:03 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Springville won't leave Copper Hills Saturday night without a loss. Everyone is underestimating CH this year...watch out.

CH | 1:31 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Copper Hills should not be underestimated but let,s also remember they are in a very tough region III. WIth West Jordan, Riverton, and Bigham in their rregion the grizzlies will have a tough time taking any higher than fourth in their region. They should be able to handle Kearns and Riverton though.

no. | 3:28 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

there's no such thing as a weak region. You can't judge an entire region based on a basketball team's performance to this point in the season. You can't judge a region based solely on an entire region's performance in any one sport. There is much more to the strength of a region than the success of one of it's basketball teams in the 2009 season. In fact, the only utah teams that have defeated region 6's best teams are alta bingham and skyline. If you want to talk about the weakness of a region's basketball teams, wait until the state tournament.

Re: CH | 4:27 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

you guys could not handle riverton even if you tried. They look dang good this year and i have heard that from other 5A coaches that have beaten you guys. So i am sorry. Maybe ..... never. you guys will always be fighting with hunter and kearns to bring up the rear of the region.

Khan | 4:48 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I agree that region 6 is the weakest of all 4A regions. They may have a good team or two this year in basketball. But overall across all sports region 6 is definetely the worst and has been for years.

Anonymous | 5:10 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Copper Hills does play in a very tough region no doubt. Year in and year out they battle with West Jordan, Bingham, and Riverton. I believe they will finish 4th, but will battle hard for the 3rd spot. Remember, those three teams also have to play each other and at least one of them will have 3-4 losses by the end of region play. If CH takes care of business against Kearns and Hunter and pulls an upset or two, they will be right in the thick of 3rd place, with only 4 to 5 losses.

Anonymous | 9:43 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Jordan's taking state

Hey ALTAFAN | 10:49 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I guess it doesnt pay to go to Utah County...I see PG drilled you guys tonight....like I said there are 9 or 10 teams that could win it all. PG if they are on can beat anyone. Skyline-Riverton-LP-PG-Bingham-Davis-West Jordan-Alta even Jordan or Lehi...it is going to be a good year with Region play coming....5A..who is peaking early and who will peak at the right time in the State Tourney? Best of Luck to all-

BR is For Real | 11:24 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

They beat Hunter by six and played horribly. If any other team shot 60% from the line, 40% from the field, and didn't make a three in the game, that team would have lost to the Wolverines, But the Bears defense pulled them through.

Little | 9:11 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Man You Bear River people never stop. You brag and talk your team up so much. i cant wait until your team loses and then we will see if you really love them that much. your ego's are huge... get a life.

Provo | 9:19 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I Love that no one complains about Provo being number one!! Its good to see that you all are respecting them.
And yes it is true we do dominate on both sides of the court. and our bench is stellar too

Shake N Bake!!!

to provo | 9:53 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

who can argue with the team that beat loan peak this year and is still undefeated?
The exception of course, is little bear river cubs running around crowing about beating small schools and the bottom 4a and 5a schools.Real H.S. fans who watch basketball through out the state have the sense to give props where they are due and not get over confident and big heads because their team is undefeated against VERY WEAK teams!that's a lesson the Y hopefully learned and pineview has sadly been forced to learn. when will the bear river cubs learn it?

wait what? | 11:17 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I dont know how good Bear River truly is, but a win by six over Hunter isnt exactely something to be proud of.

Rtown | 1:36 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

What happened to Riverton last night? Does anyone know?

Patrica | 1:49 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Riverton lost.

Rtown | 2:10 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I saw that Riverton lost. What I meant to ask was how did they lose. What happened? Viewmont was 1-5...No way they should have beat us.

Dartman | 2:25 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

RE: BoBaMa | 10:20 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Not bad. For the most part I agree with your assessment. Mine is just slightly different and has the benefit of seeing Riverton's meltdown last night. (Still not sure about Skyline, but they keep winning so what do you do?)

1. West Jordan
2. Lone Peak
3. Skyline
4. Davis
5. Bingham/Riverton (Tie)

1. Provo
2. West
3. Orem
4. Olympus
5. Canyon View/Bountiful/WX (Tie)

1. Bear River
2. Judge
3. Wasatch
4. Juan Diego
5. Logan (I know they have a losing record but have you seen who they have played? You have to respect a team that will step up and play bigger and better schools)

Region9 | 2:28 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

"to provo" what are you talking about when you mention pineview? pineview isn't even on the top 20 list.

region 6 | 2:44 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

is not that weak, and improves every year. they have: perennially strong basketball teams, including the 02 and 06 champ; three out of the top 5 4A volleyball teams year after year after year; women's swim teams that are champions every year, and boys swim teams that always finish near the top of the podium. Region 6 has had a football team in the championship game oh 7 out of the last 10 years, and 4 or 5 of those years it has had two of its teams in the semifinals. in boys and girls tennis region 6 has had 2 to 3 teams in the top 5 at state for 5 years running, and excluding the orem girls and timpview boys, undoubtedly has the most individual champions. Shall I continue Khan???

re: Region9 | 5:03 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I think he's referring to last year in football. Everyone down south thought that Pine View was so good because they were undefeated, then they got beat by 50 in the championship.

Re: Region 6 | 6:08 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Region 6 isn't weak in those sports man. In basketball that's another story.

However on that note. GO WEST PANTHERS!

Anonymous | 12:37 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

to Dartman: you might want to scratch Canyon View from that 5th spot in your 4A category, they are a 3A school.

Dartman | 10:55 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Your right... sorry. Correction below.

1. West Jordan
2. Lone Peak
3. Skyline
4. Davis
5. Bingham/Riverton (Tie)

1. Provo
2. West
3. Orem
4. Olympus
5. Bountiful/WX (Tie)

1. Bear River
2. Judge
3. Wasatch
4. Juan Diego
5. Canyon View / Logan (I know they both have losing records but have you seen who they have played? You have to respect a team that will step up and play bigger and better schools)

I Bleed Green, Provo Fan!! | 4:53 p.m. Jan. 9, 2009

TO Hey ALTAFAN:
To bad PG wasnt on when they played us... Sad story. Its okay after we three peat along with Lone Peak this year we will let other teams have the fun but first we have to make a statement that Provo is the Dominate force here in the state, and out as seen in the maui tourny. It just awesome to know that we have a coach with 8 rings from Provo. I love it! with Davies, Colllinsworth, Hunter, and Austin anything is possible. I love provo and i will always bleed Green.

Davis, PG, West Jordan.... | 12:23 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Yack, yack, yack.... What do you all have in common? Yeah, you have all lost to the Beetdiggers!

GO JORDAN!

5A Fan | 4:46 p.m. Jan. 12, 2009

Dartman and BoBaMa, I don't know what either of you are watching but anyone that doesn't put Lone Peak on top is crazy. I've seen WJ, LP and Riverton play and I am not sold on Skyline (they haven't played a good team yet). I would have to say LP is probably the best in the state.

Eagle | 10:03 p.m. Jan. 12, 2009

Skyline is #1 they beat west jordan

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