The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Girls basketball in Region 1 made noise in the 2022-2023 state championship tournament, with three schools reaching the quarterfinals and two schools making the final four. The Davis Darts, Fremont Silverwolves, and Syracuse Titans reached the quarterfinals and played games at the Dee Events Center in Ogden. All three schools return exciting, talented players and look to claim the ultimate prize of a state championship this season. We look at each team in Region 1 before the season gets underway.

Fremont Silverwolves

photo of Fremont’s Ama Herrick

The Silverwolves’ 2022-2023 season ended with a co-region title with the Davis Darts, a 19-7 overall record, and an incredible run into the 6A state semifinals. The semifinal game was a loss to the eventual 6A State Champion Lone Peak Knights 67-45. The Silverwolves will be tough again this season and are a bet to make a deep-state playoff run even though they lose key players from last season.

“Every year brings different challenges and hurdles to overcome. We need to stay focused on what we can control,” head coach Lisa Dalebout said. “We need to be trusting each other, showing up daily, striving to improve, holding our teammates accountable and putting in the daily work.”

Last year, talented Silverwolves players Sierra Eddie (Western Wyoming), Aly Coombs (Utah State University-Eastern), and Charli Hunt were able to create and hit three-point shots. This season may be more of an inside-out team, with returning junior post player Kaidance King and senior Syncere Langston. Both players saw extensive action last season and gained experience for the Silverwolves.

“We have a very talented group of freshmen coming into the program that we are very excited about,” said Dalebout. “They will be complemented by the sophomore group and the juniors stepping into leadership roles. We return one starter, and she only started a portion of the year. We have a lot of work but are excited about where we are headed.”

King averaged 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and a team-leading 28 blocks last season. Other players to watch this season for the Silverwolves will be seniors Ama Herrick and Kale Brian and juniors Jalyn Coombs and Canyon Britt.

The Silverwolves had their 73-game region win streak snapped last season by the Davis Darts. These teams will match up well again this season, providing electricity and a fantastic battle for the region title along with other teams.

“It is exciting to face tough Region 1 teams every year. They are well coached and give us a battle every night,” said Dalebout. “We must stay focused and disciplined and take it one game at a time. It will require dedication and consistent effort. But we cannot wait to get to work.”

The Silverwolves will begin with a road game at the Herriman Mustangs on November 21, 2023.

Davis Darts

Davis Darts’ T’Maea Eteuati

The Darts return All-state performer, The Hive Sports MVP senior Kendra Kitchen. Kitchen led the Darts to the Co-Region 1 title with an 11-1 region record and a 20-3 overall record in 2022-2023. Behind Kitchen, the Darts had an incredible season and made it into the final four of the state championship tournament before losing to the Skyridge Falcons.

Kitchen, a top Utah high school recruit, has verbally committed to Utah Valley University. Kitchen led the region in scoring 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season. The Darts only lost the graduated Aryanna Bull from last year’s squad. Returning starter, senior Kate Richards, was selected to The Hive Sports All-Region second team in 2022-2023. Richards was second in the region averaging 3.4 assists per game.

Sophomore T’Maea Eteuati returns and was selected on the Hive Sports third-team All-Region last season. Eteuati had an outstanding performance in the state tournament in playing great defense, rebounding and giving the Darts energy. Sophomore Chloe Peery returns to give the Darts speed and athleticism in the backcourt.

“We are hoping those things we learned last season will help carry over to this season, and we can continue to improve each day and each game, head Coach Anne Jones said. “We still have a lot of work ahead, and there are a lot of very, very good athletic and well-coached teams on our schedule this upcoming season, so we need to be prepared as best as we can.”

The Darts claimed a share of the region title for the first time since the 2012-2013 season and are ready to face every team best each game.

“We want to continue to be better than we were yesterday or the last game we played and just take it one game at a time,” said Jones. “Our goal is to compete each day at practice and every game.”

The three losses last season for the Darts were against teams that made it into the quarterfinals of the state tournament last season, and all ranked in the top six of the final Max Preps RPI rankings. Ready to make another memorable season, the Darts youth from last season will be the experience they need for a demanding schedule in 2023-2024.

“Our experience will hopefully be a strength this season.” said Jones. “I know the players are hungry to improve and to be the best they can be together. We want to build great memories that last a lifetime and form friendships and bonds that will always be there throughout the years. We need to have fun, enjoy each other, and build trust and teamwork.”

The Darts begin the season at the Viewmont Vikings on November 21, 2023.

Syracuse Titans

While the Davis Darts and Fremont Silverwolves will get attention to return to the top of Region 1, the Titans may be the best team in the region. The Titans battled into the 2023 state quarterfinals last year, gained valuable experience, and will bring back a great group this upcoming year.

Returning will be senior Avery Sanders, a first-team all-region performer, The Hive Sports first-team selection. Sanders is quick, tough, gets to the basket, and can knock down big shots. Sanders led the Titans in scoring last season, averaging 14.4 points per game.

Other returning starters will be seniors Cortnie Barker, Cami King, and sophomore Maylee Anderson. Barker averaged 8.4 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds per game last season. King is a great all-around player, able to finish at the basket, an excellent defender, and understands how to help the team win.

Anderson had an outstanding freshman season, averaging 7.6 points per game and made 34 three-point shots during 2022-2023. Seniors Rochelle Afo Manuma, Ariah Peterson, and sophomore Olivia Sorenson are other players to watch.

” My first message is to play together and enjoy every minute. We have a tough schedule this year which will challenge us,” said Head Coach Braden Hamblin. “We must play together, and our goal is to compete for a region championship and try to position ourselves well within the RPI to make a deep playoff run.”

“We have an athletic group and with some good depth, want to look to play up tempo,” said Hamblin. “Juniors Grace Thomas, Kyleigh Nielson and sophomore Rachel McBride have impressed early and will look to earn varsity minutes.”

Farmington Phoenix

The Phoenix will have a new team this upcoming season, as they will replace their head coach and all of their starters from last year. Legendary coach Van Price retired at the end of last season after having a remarkable career that saw him become the state’s all-time winningest coach. Stepping in for the Phoenix will be Head coach Tara Ferrin. Ferrin comes in from Layton High School and looks forward to the new challenge of coaching the Phoenix girls’ team.

“Our goal as a team is to continue to get better each day,” Ferrin said. “We want to control what we can control and that is our effort. I don’t look at wins and losses to dictate if we had a good or bad game, I look at what we can control. If the girls are giving their best effort out on the court, then we have a win whether the score indicates it or not. You can always control the effort given in practice and in the game and that will lead to positive outcomes.”

Ferrin will look to seniors Brynn Ryan and Kate Garff to return and lead the Phoenix on the court. Newcomer Hailey Larsen will be a player to watch for this season to have an impact for the Phoenix.

The Phoenix season begins with a home game against the Bonneville Lakers on November 28, 2023.

Layton Lancers

photo of Lancers’ Ebony Davis

The Lancers had a rough start last season but finished the season as a much improved and skilled team. They finished with a 4-3 record over their final seven games, with the losses coming against the Fremont Silverwolves twice and the Syracuse Titans. The Lancers won their first-round playoff game against the Taylorsville Warriors and will use that momentum to jump-start a better beginning to the 2023-2024 season.

Head coach Rob Reisbach will welcome back senior captains Avery Potter and Ebony Davis. Senior Oakley Homer will be counted on to score and knock down shots. Potter averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. Other players to watch this season will be seniors Ashlynn Purcell, Conley Santizo, and Katlynn Spendlove.

Weber Warriors

The Warriors will be transitioning to a new head coach this season, with athletic director Trevor Howell moving over after being the head baseball coach. Howell takes over a team that finished with a 2-10 region record and 5-17 overall last season.

“Trust the process and enjoy the journey,” Howell said. “We will work hard together one day at a time and focus on the little things and will work to build positive habits.Our goal is to compete each game one possession at a time. We will focus on winning possessions. We will play as a team and not care who scores.”

Finding more scoring will be a primary focus for the Warriors this season after averaging 34.8 points per game in 2022-2023. Reducing the number of turnovers will also bode well, as the team will look to have their first winning season since 2018-2019.

The Warriors will have a good mix of returning players and newcomers to count on and help in Howell’s first year. Junior Abby Sayer had a great season after being the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

“Sayer, Allie Clark, Rylee Juggler, Sunee Shaw, and Logyn Howell are capable,” said Howell. “Multiple other players will see varsity time, and we expect to contribute greatly. Our strengths will be playing as a team and sharing the ball. We will get after it every night and put pressure on both ends of the court. Our philosophy is being a great teammate and competing every day. We take pride in the little things and developing great habits.”

The Warriors start their season at home against the Taylorsville Warriors on November 21, 2023.

photos courtesy James Tate