Mid Season 5A Team Rankings – Can Anyone Upend the Favorite?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's an obvious favorite in 5A, as there is one team remaining in 5A that is undefeated and seems unstoppable. Can the teams below them figure out how to guard them and close the gap that some teams are figuring out?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1 - Pleasant Grove (Region 7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the lone remaining unbeaten team in their classification, the Vikings have built serious momentum. While they've looked dominant, a few opponents have pushed them into late-game situations, showing they aren't completely untouchable. What separates their offense is its discipline — it's not isolation-heavy or overly reliant on dribble penetration. Instead, the ball moves side to side until the defense breaks, creating high-quality looks. Most of their scoring comes from clean ball movement, efficient shooting, and well-timed put-backs rather than forcing action. [player_tooltip player_id='796796' first='Tabitha' last='Clark'] is the engine behind it all, a true do-it-all presence whose feel for the game and ability to impact every possession keep everything flowing. With region play, there are a few teams that have given them some pressure already, taking the game into the fourth quarter, but will it be enough of a rigorous schedule to keep them growing as a team and be ready to move into postseason play?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Grove Standouts - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796796' first='Tabitha' last='Clark'], [player_tooltip player_id='873276' first='Sutton' last='Villa'], [player_tooltip player_id='796499' first='Janiece' last='Sikander'], [player_tooltip player_id='796473' first='Zuri' last='Nordstrom'], [player_tooltip player_id='879706' first='Cash' last='Connors'], [player_tooltip player_id='875195' first='Aaliyah' last='Sikander'], [player_tooltip player_id='1246467' first='Ruby' last='Mosman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2 - Fremont (Region 5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fremont has proven it can compete with — and beat — top-tier opponents, highlighted by wins over Westlake and Ridgeline. They have the personnel and depth to make a serious postseason run, potentially all the way to the final game. The biggest question mark may be region play, as Region 5 doesn't provide the same week-to-week grind as some of the other regions. Still, this is one of the youngest rosters in the field, and those younger players are already stepping into meaningful roles and improving quickly. [player_tooltip player_id='1247151' first='Ellie' last='McArthur'] has been a prime example, delivering in tight moments when Fremont needed an extra boost. With a deep bench and consistent production even when rotating players, Fremont has the depth and balance to stay competitive deep into the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fremont Standouts </strong>- Abby Christensen, [player_tooltip player_id='805795' first='Brynn' last='Wadman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1247151' first='Ellie' last='McArthur'], [player_tooltip player_id='985884' first='Maya' last='Jensen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1274979' first='Mia' last='McArthur'], [player_tooltip player_id='805793' first='Mia' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='827419' first='Olivia' last='Surrage'], [player_tooltip player_id='805792' first='Jersie' last='Slater'], [player_tooltip player_id='796481' first='Daphnie' last='Moyes']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 - West (Region 4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West hasn't yet had a marquee matchup that truly shows where they stack up within their classification, and with region play beginning this week, clarity may still be hard to find. The lack of depth and strength in their region could become a disadvantage as the season progresses, limiting opportunities to be tested before the state tournament. Kylie Falatea has been the steady leader, controlling the pace and directing the floor, and a handful of players have emerged as reliable contributors around her. Still, West will need to find ways to challenge itself and continue to sharpen execution without the benefit of a demanding second-half schedule if it wants to be prepared for postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Standouts:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='796794' first='Kylee' last='Falatea'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279080' first='Tiana' last='Fa'], [player_tooltip player_id='796811' first='Tia' last='Pan'], [player_tooltip player_id='796805' first='Laite' last='Latu'], [player_tooltip player_id='847893' first='Jaida' last='Lavatai'], Sia Iosua, Sinoveti Unatofe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4 - Bountiful (Region 6)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bountiful cruised through the preseason, with its lone loss coming against Cedar Valley in what feels like an outlier rather than a trend. Their one-point win over Fremont has been the closest thing to a true test so far. Region play should provide more resistance, especially from scrappy teams like Alta and Olympus, but the bigger question lies in depth. The top five have carried the load consistently, yet when foul trouble hits or shots aren't falling, the production from the bench drops off. For Bountiful to make a deeper postseason run, that secondary unit will need to grow quickly and become more reliable before tournament time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bountiful Standouts: </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</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 - Wasatch (Region 7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's a team that figures to be truly battle-tested by the time postseason arrives — and capable of pushing the favorites enough to expose weaknesses — it's Wasatch. One advantage they bring that many others don't is a true interior presence who can control space in the paint and secure the glass. [player_tooltip player_id='796470' first='Mahala' last='Speredon'] anchors that identity, giving Wasatch a reliable inside force to build around. With a solid group of contributors developing behind her, this is a team that could look very different — and far more dangerous — by the time their playoff run unfolds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wasatch Standouts: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796470' first='Mahala' last='Speredon'], [player_tooltip player_id='789054' first='Danielle' last='Garner'], [player_tooltip player_id='789068' first='Fili' last='Liava'a'], [player_tooltip player_id='1502655' first='Brylee' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='1502637' first='Anna' last='Greenwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1357903' first='Kate' last='Miller'], Brynn Scheuller</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->