Games to Catch – New Years’ Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some teams tip into region play this week while others wrap up the final stretch of preseason, but either way, the slate ahead carries real weight. These matchups will start to separate contenders from pretenders and give us our first real glimpse of what the new year — and the race for postseason positioning — could look like.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday - December 30</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Westlake (9-2) at Copper Hills (8-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This marks the first Region 2 matchup for both teams, with Westlake entering the region for the first time. Summer and fall ball saw these two trade results, so having full rosters ready on Tuesday will matter. Copper Hills has struggled at times in the preseason, and taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers will be critical if they want this one to swing their way. If they do, their length could become a major advantage — stretching the floor on the perimeter while controlling the glass in the paint. Look for [player_tooltip player_id='922382' first='Ella' last='Creer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1248994' first='Makayla' last='Staker'] to clean up misses and generate second-chance points, while Creer and [player_tooltip player_id='1206007' first='Abby' last='Bush'] keep defenses honest from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Westlake, the story starts in the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='796479' first='Avery' last='Thompson'] has been nearly unstoppable, using tight handles and pace to create shots from anywhere on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='796486' first='Mia' last='Foster'] has given them a reliable interior presence, while [player_tooltip player_id='861992' first='Ella' last='Seymore'] continues to be the glue — rebounding, scoring, and impacting every phase of the game. If Copper Hills can keep Westlake out of the paint and force contested looks, they'll like their chances. But if Westlake's guards get loose on the perimeter and find a rhythm beyond the arc, this could quickly tilt in the Thunder's favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Copper Hills Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1206007' first='Abby' last='Bush'], [player_tooltip player_id='922382' first='Ella' last='Creer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1238745' first='Elise' last='Southworth'], [player_tooltip player_id='1248994' first='Makayla' last='Staker'], [player_tooltip player_id='796851' first='Sela' last='Ama'], [player_tooltip player_id='1325143' first='Kynzie' last='Petter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1325144' first='Addie' last='Guymon'], [player_tooltip player_id='952652' first='Riley' last='Greenwood']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westlake Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796479' first='Avery' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='861992' first='Ella' last='Seymore'], [player_tooltip player_id='796486' first='Mia' last='Foster'], [player_tooltip player_id='1248783' first='Keira' last='Hester'], [player_tooltip player_id='829862' first='Isley' last='Sauvao'], [player_tooltip player_id='875183' first='McCoy' last='Larson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1038913' first='Katie' last='Cannon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1417535' first='Alli' last='Robbins'], [player_tooltip player_id='789066' first='Ava' last='Chaney']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bingham (8-2) at Mountain Ridge (8-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Region 2 showdown on Tuesday features Bingham and Mountain Ridge in what should be a physical, high-intensity matchup. Bingham has been on a roll, with its only two losses coming against a loaded Pleasant Grove squad and in a tough road game in Oregon before Christmas. [player_tooltip player_id='796474' first='Evalyn' last='Roberts'] has emerged as the clear leader for the Miners, pacing the team across nearly every major stat category and setting the tone on both ends of the floor. In the paint, Bingham will lean on [player_tooltip player_id='796469' first='Veanna' last='Pau'u'], who has found her rhythm as a rebounder and second-chance scorer, to counter Mountain Ridge's interior presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain Ridge, meanwhile, brings a relentless, disruptive defense that has frustrated opponents all season. Add in [player_tooltip player_id='805788' first='Kaylee' last='Montgomery']'s ability to stretch the floor with her range from deep, and the Sentinels force teams to defend every inch of the court. For Bingham, the challenge will be balancing paint protection with perimeter closeouts, all while staying out of foul trouble. Whichever team handles that balance better could emerge with a statement win in this early regional battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bingham Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796474' first='Evalyn' last='Roberts'], [player_tooltip player_id='875180' first='Lanie' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='805797' first='Quinn' last='Porter'], [player_tooltip player_id='805794' first='Brizzy' last='Cottle'], [player_tooltip player_id='789053' first='Stacia' last='Peoples'], [player_tooltip player_id='875185' first='Avery' last='Aiono'], [player_tooltip player_id='796469' first='Veanna' last='Pau'u']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mountain Ridge Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796847' first='Jessica' last='Maynard'], [player_tooltip player_id='866703' first='Jada' last='Jangard'], [player_tooltip player_id='805789' first='Cailin' last='Kehl'], [player_tooltip player_id='805790' first='McKinley' last='Stowell'], [player_tooltip player_id='805788' first='Kaylee' last='Montgomery'], [player_tooltip player_id='805791' first='Sadie' last='Madsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='805787' first='Josephine' last='Lombardi'], [player_tooltip player_id='1157687' first='Claire' last='Pomeroy'], [player_tooltip player_id='952614' first='Maci' last='Larsen']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday - New Year's Eve</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bountiful (9-1) at Syracuse (8-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Syracuse will enjoy the home-court edge on Wednesday, and they may need every bit of it. [player_tooltip player_id='796823' first='Maylee' last='Anderson'] has been the engine behind the Titans' strong preseason, but the matchup wrinkle that could tilt things is 6'3" center [player_tooltip player_id='903189' first='Rachel' last='McBride'], whose ability to clean the glass and convert put-backs gives Syracuse a true interior weapon. For Bountiful, the key will be keeping the game spaced — attacking off the dribble, moving the ball, and pulling McBride away from the rim. If they can do that, it opens the floor for their D1 guard, Milika, to create, score, and dictate the tempo, turning this into a perimeter-driven battle rather than a paint fight. If Syracuse figures out how to stop her, look for her to rely on players who have shown thus far that they can step up and be a target when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bountiful Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796795' first='Milika' last='Satuala'], [player_tooltip player_id='827404' first='Maleah' last='Nelson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1378310' first='Charlotte' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='884212' first='Brynna' last='Castleton'], [player_tooltip player_id='856279' first='Adelaide' last='Stevenson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1246453' first='Mailey' last='Murdock'], Peyton Orchard, Bailee Gilsen, Carlie Nielsen, [player_tooltip player_id='1239636' first='Ava' last='Clark']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Syracuse Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796823' first='Maylee' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='903189' first='Rachel' last='McBride'], [player_tooltip player_id='866704' first='Olivia' last='Sorenson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1350619' first='Karsyn' last='Visser'], [player_tooltip player_id='1579525' first='Avery' last='King'], Zaydie Peterson, [player_tooltip player_id='1579549' first='Mindy' last='McNeill'], [player_tooltip player_id='1233988' first='Jasmine' last='Burnett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1579512' first='Alex' last='Secrist'], Brighton Goddard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->