High school girls basketball: 2020 Class 1A team-by-team preseason capsules

McKina Stacey returns this year for Rich, which is one of the top teams in 1A. | Rich High School

Monument Valley, Valley, Wendover and Rich open the season as the girls basketball preseason favorites in their respective 1A regions

After a multiweek delay because of COVID-19, the 2020-2021 high school girls basketball season gets underway this week for teams teams in 6A through 1A. To prepare fans for the upcoming season, the Deseret News has put together capsules for every team in 1A. Every coach was invited to participate and submit information.

The region rankings are based on coaches preseason projections.

There are four new head basketball coaches in 1A this year: Ryan Cottam (Escalante), Ben Klepper (Water Canyon), Kerry Stevens (Wayne) and Riley Mulitalo (West Ridge).

The school board for Monument Valley and Whitehorse will meet Dec. 9 to determine if those two schools will be participating this year because of COVID-19.

Here are the 1A teams and players to watch this upcoming season.

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Region 19

1. Monument Valley Cougars

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Theresa James.

2019-2020 record: 21-7 (third in Region 19 with a 2-4 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Milford, 49-46, in 1A quarterfinals.

Additional info not provided.

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2. Whitehorse Raiders

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Tiona Grant.

2019-2020 record: 17-4 (third in Region 19 with a 2-4 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Panguitch, 54-52, in 1A quarterfinals.

Additional info not provided.

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3. Green River Pirates

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Tyler Bastian.

2019-2020 Record: 7-17 (third in Region 19 with a 2-4 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Valley, 48-32, in the 1A second round.

Additional info not provided.

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4. Pinnacle Panthers

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Mark Stuckenschneider.

2019-2020 record: 8-16 (fourth in Region 19 with a 0-6 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Monument Valley, 46-19, in the 1A second round.

Additional info not provided.

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Region 20

1. Valley Buffaloes

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Dustin Cox (fifth year).

2019-2020 record: 18-8 (second in Region 20 with a 10-4 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Water Canyon, 50-48, in the 1A quarterfinals.

Coach comment: “Every girl plays a very critical part of our team from starters to finishers to the sixth, seventh, and 13th man.”

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2. Piute Thunderbirds

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Tim Westwood (third year).

2019-2020 record: 19-7 (first in Region 20 with a 11-3 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Water Canyon, 43-34, in the 1A second round.

Returning starters: 2.

Returning contributors:

• Kassidy Westwood, F, Jr., 11.4 ppg.
• Ashley Talbot, G, Sr., 5.1 ppg.
• Tera Morgan, F, So., 3.5 ppg.

Coach comment: “We will be young and lack experience but are looking forward to getting better each day in practice. Hopefully we can have a season!”

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3. Wayne Badgers

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Kerry Stevens (first year).

2019-2020 record: 13-13 (sixth in Region 20 with a 6-8 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Milford, 44-37, in the 1A second round.

Returning starters: 4.

Returning contributors:

• Abby Stevens, Sr., 11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.5 spg.
• Hanna Williams, Sr., 11.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 spg.
• Allee VanDyke, Jr., 8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 apg.
• Andee VanDyke, So., 5.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.4 spg.
• Hali Peterson, Jr.

Coach comment: “I am very optimistic about our team this year. Having the same returning team from last year is a big plus for us. These girls have been playing together for a while now and they have a good chemistry together. This is going to be a fun season for me stepping up to the head coach and I’m so glad that I have these girls to work with. I’m looking forward to the great things that they will accomplish this season.”

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4. Panguitch Bobcats

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Nadine Owens (second year).

2019-2020 record: 14-11 (fifth in Region 20 with a 7-7 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Milford, 50-40, in the 1A semifinals.

Returning starters: 1.

Returning contributors:

• Kyan Orton, G, Jr., 5.5 ppg.
• Abbee Holman, G, Jr., 3.0 ppg.
• Hailee Eyre, G, Jr.
• Kambree Howell, F, Jr.

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5. Milford Tigers

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Mallory Bailey (seventh year).

2019-2020 record: 18-7 (tied for third in Region 20 with a 9-5 record).

2020 postseason: Beat Rich, 48-42, in the 1A championship.

Returning starters: 1.

Returning contributors:

• Madysen Griffiths, G, Sr., 7.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.7 spg.
• Kinley Spaulding, G, Sr., 8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 spg.
• Analise Wiseman, C, Sr., 2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.4 apg, 1.0 spg.

Coach comment: “We graduated five talented players but luckily we still have a lot of returning experience and three awesome seniors that are more than capable of leading this team. I have no doubts my team will be able to navigate through this shaky and unknown season with ease.”

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6. Water Canyon Wildcats

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Ben Klepper (first year).

2019-2020 record: 8-16 (seventh in Region 20 with a 3-11 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Rich, 48-40, in the 1A semifinals.

Returning starters: 2

Returning contributors:

• Melissa Jessop, 19.0 ppg.
• Shanna Barlow, 6.3 ppg.
• Millie Barlow.
• Sandra Black.
• Jazmine La Corti.

Coach comment: “I am very excited about the upcoming season. We are adding a few new players to the team as well as an amazing coach in Carly Stratton. We will be a much different team from last year and play a different style of basketball.”

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7. Bryce Valley Mustangs

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Tyson Brinkerhoff (19th year).

2019-2020 record: 13-13 (tied for third in Region 20 with a 9-5 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Rich, 41-28, in the 1A quarterfinals.

Returning starters: 3.

Returning contributors:

• Brooklyn Syrett, G, Sr., 10.5 ppg.
• Kezli Floyd, G, Sr., 4.0 ppg.
• Kristen Stewart, F, Jr., 1.1 ppg.

Coach comment: “We have a very limited number of participants this year. We hope to bring in a few kids that have no experience and try to build a competitive team around them. Hopefully the COVID-19 situation doesn’t do any more damage to the careers of some of our top student-athletes.”

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8. Escalante Moquis

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Ryan Cottam.

2019-2020 record: 5-20 (eighth in Region 20 with a 1-13 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Rich, 40-16, in the 1A second round.

Additional info not provided.

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Region 21

1. Wendover Wildcats

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Domenick Tangaro (second year).

2019-2020 record: 17-8 (1st in Region 21 with a 4-0 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Bryce Valley, 36-15, in the 1A second round.

Returning starters: 3.

Returning contributors:

• Leslie Luna, G, Jr., 16.5 ppg.
• Stephanie Magallanes, F, Sr., 3.9 ppg.
• Xochil Duenas, F, Sr., 2.6 ppg.

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2. Tintic Miners

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Samantha Rydalch (third year).

2019-2020 record: 4-14 (second in Region 21 with a 2-2 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Escalante, 37-33, in the 1A first round.

Additional info not provided.

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3. West Ridge Eagles

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Riley Mulitalo (first year).

2019-2020 record: 0-14 (tied for third in Region 21 with a 0-1 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Pinnacle, in the 1A first round.

Additional info not provided.

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Region 22

1. Rich Rebels

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Cody Lundgren (fifth year).

2019-2020 record: 22-4 (first in Region 22 with a 6-0 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Milford, 48-42, in the 1A championship.

Returning starters: 4.

Returning contributors:

• Mckina Stacey, G, Sr., 18.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 4.2 spg.
• Sage Tingey, F, Sr., 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 spg.
• Jaycee Cornia, F, Sr., 4.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.0 spg.
• Tayla Mckee, G, Jr., 4.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 spg.

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2. Tabiona Tigers

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Jake Fabrizio.

2019-2020 record: 16-9 (tied fo third in Region 22 with a 0-2 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Panguitch, 53-38, in the 1A second round.

Additional info not provided.

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3. Intermountain Christian Lions

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Jesse Adams.

2019-2020 record: 2-14 (tied for third in Region 22 with a 0-4 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Whitehorse, 62-17, in the 1A second round.

Additional info not provided.

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4. Manila Mustangs

2020-2021 schedule

Head coach: Toni Pendleton (third year).

2019-2020 record: 5-11 (second in Region 22 with a 2-2 record).

2020 postseason: Lost to Intermountain Christian, 23-18, in the 1A first round.

Returning starters: 3.

Returning contributors:

• Kenelle Browning, G, Sr., 8.8 ppg.
• Kaira Kofford, F, So., 2.0 ppg.

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