The 3A School With The Toughest Pre-Season Schedule

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Morgan</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan has stacked its preseason with a brutal slate — a mix of heavy-hitting 4A programs, legit 6A contenders, and five games packed into nine days. It's the kind of schedule that forces a team to grow up fast. By the end of this run, we should have a clear picture of how battle-tested Morgan really is, and just how high the ceiling is for both them and the opponents they'll face along the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Lineup For Morgan</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How Morgan handles the next two weeks will depend heavily on who steps up to help [player_tooltip player_id='889503' first='Zoe' last='Rockenfield'] make a statement. If there were five of her on the floor, this stretch would feel close to a gimme, but to stay competitive against the lineup they're facing, both the seniors and the younger pieces will have to earn their minutes quickly. Morgan enters the season ranked as the third-best team in 3A, but they'll be tested immediately by bigger, deeper programs, and those early challenges could expose areas they need to tighten before region play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoe attacks with confidence, sees the floor well, and has the strength to finish through traffic, but what truly elevates her game is the way she competes on every possession. Defensively, she's relentless. She reads actions early, rotates with purpose, and is rarely caught out of position. Offensively, she's both a scoring option and a creator, capable of breaking down a defense or drawing help to open up teammates. Her leadership is already evident — Morgan goes as she goes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='829853' first='Makayla' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1261801' first='Edyn' last='Gale'] will be the junior leaders expected to steady the ship, and [player_tooltip player_id='1239841' first='Kendal' last='Wiliams'] may have to elevate her game to give Morgan the production they'll need on both ends. If this group can find rhythm and support Zoe with consistent scoring, toughness, and defensive discipline, Morgan should not only survive this demanding opening stretch but come away better prepared for a deep postseason push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mountain Crest - 11/18</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan is starting the season on Tuesday with a big test at a 4A school that has plenty of firepower on its roster. [player_tooltip player_id='997499' first='Emersyn' last='Brown'] is a long, skilled shooting guard who brings calm confidence to the floor. She reads the game at a high level, stays poised under pressure, and rarely forces a decision. Her offensive game is smooth — she can hit shots in rhythm, attack openings off the dribble, and keep the ball moving to create better looks for her teammates. On the defensive end, she competes with purpose, understands angles and positioning, and uses her length and instincts to stay active in every possession. She'll provide a real challenge for Morgan's top players and set the tone for what they'll face early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wasatch - 11/21</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wasatch is picked as the fifth-best team in 5A, and the biggest challenge for Morgan will come inside. Wasatch's frontcourt is anchored by 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='796470' first='Mahala' last='Speardon'], who can finish at the rim, exploit defensive gaps, and make sharp reads with the ball in her hands. She's efficient, poised, and already plays with the presence of a seasoned post. As she tightens her handle, adds strength, and grows her scoring range, her influence on games will only increase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan could struggle to contain Mahala if Zoe is shifted elsewhere on the floor and unable to match up with her directly. If Speardon gets deep touches or clean looks, she has the tools to tilt the matchup in Wasatch's favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sky View - 11/24</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the number four Deseret News 4A favorite, Sky View is poised to give this 3A squad all they can handle. [player_tooltip player_id='1092176' first='Mollee' last='Allen'] anchors the interior for the Bobcats, owning the paint with her size and timing. Surrounding her is a strong supporting cast—[player_tooltip player_id='1092178' first='Lacy' last='Smith']'s perimeter scoring, [player_tooltip player_id='1119388' first='Liv' last='McKay']'s versatility, [player_tooltip player_id='884213' first='Molly' last='Tarbet']'s steady production, and [player_tooltip player_id='1310201' first='Reese' last='Seeley']'s two-way impact all elevate Sky View's overall firepower. With that combination of inside dominance and balanced guard play, Sky View has the pieces to make an early statement and show why they're viewed as the top team in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Syracuse - 11/25</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last game of Morgan's pre-Thanksgiving gauntlet comes against a physical, disciplined Syracuse squad. Syracuse brings size in a major way with 6'5" [player_tooltip player_id='903189' first='Rachel' last='McBride'] anchoring the paint, but it's the depth behind her that could cause the real problems. [player_tooltip player_id='796823' first='Maylee' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1233988' first='Jasmine' last='Burnett'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1321376' first='Mindy' last='McNeil'] give Syracuse a steady rotation of length, rebounding, and defensive pressure. If Morgan doesn't find a way to counter that interior presence — whether by speeding the game up, spacing the floor, or forcing Syracuse into tough matchups — they could get worn down quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|primary"}}}},"textColor":"primary"} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color">After Thanksgiving Games</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll follow those matchups with games against <strong>Provo</strong>, <strong>North</strong> <strong>Summit</strong>, and <strong>Skyridge</strong> — all programs sitting at the top of their regions or among the strongest in their classifications. By the time Morgan reaches region play, the toughest stretch of their schedule will be behind them, giving them the grit and experience needed to make a strong postseason push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->