3A – Region 12 Preview – 3 Semifinalists Return

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 12 could have a major say in who is hoisting the trophy at the end of the season. With the defending state champion coming out of this region—and three of last year's four 3A semifinalists calling Region 12 home—the road to a title could once again run through this group. Several teams return enough proven talent to keep the race tight at the top, while others have young pieces capable of taking a step forward. The depth, experience and returning production make this one of the most intriguing regions in the state. But with one of last year's top teams facing a significant rebuild, the door could be open for someone else to shake up the standings and change the entire complexion of Region 12 by the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1st in Region 12 - Morgan</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 16-11 (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan will have to replace a significant presence on the glass after losing one of its top rebounders to graduation, but the Trojans return plenty of production elsewhere. [player_tooltip player_id='889503' first='Zoe' last='Rockenfield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='829853' first='Makayla' last='Williams'] combined for 827 points last season, giving Morgan two proven offensive weapons to build around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockenfield brings back perhaps the most complete stat line on the roster, averaging 14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.8 steals per game while shooting 36% from three and 79% from the line. She led Morgan with 129 assists as only a sophomore, showing she can facilitate the offense just as effectively as she can score. Williams is just as multidimensional. As a junior, she averaged 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.4 steals while shooting 43% from the field, giving the Trojans another player capable of impacting both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that much proven production returning, Morgan has a strong foundation already in place. The bigger question may be who emerges around Rockenfield and Williams. We've seen several other players pushing for more minutes and larger roles, and if Morgan can find additional rebounding while developing that supporting cast, the Trojans should have plenty of options beyond their two established leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Players of Note:</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='889503' first='Zoe' last='Rockenfield']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='829853' first='Makayla' last='Williams'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1261801' first='Edyn' last='Gale']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1928799' first='Leone' last='Mafi']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1865675' first='Mackayla' last='McGiven']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1858303' first='Piper' last='Archibald']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1565119' first='Kendal' last='Williams']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kassidy Wardell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vivie Gale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emri Anderton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joyce Odum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timber Pace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2nd Place - Grantsville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 13-14 (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grantsville has plenty of experience and production coming back, making this look much more like a returning core than a rebuild. [player_tooltip player_id='952640' first='Emmy' last='Butler'] gives the Cowboys a proven scorer who can also work the glass, while [player_tooltip player_id='952641' first='Sadee' last='Castagno'] brings another scoring option along with the ability to disrupt things defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='952605' first='Kamry' last='Allen'] adds another dimension with her ability to move the ball, create for others, and apply pressure on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1379891' first='Alybree' last='Rogers'] could be an especially interesting piece as her role continues to grow. She was already pulling down more than six rebounds per game as a sophomore, giving Grantsville another strong presence on the boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of Note:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='952640' first='Emmy' last='Butler']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='952641' first='Sadee' last='Castagno'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1379891' first='Alybree' last='Rogers'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='952642' first='Haizlee' last='Hall']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='952605' first='Kamry' last='Allen']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1379891' first='Alybree' last='Rogers']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='952620' first='Kinleigh' last='Geipel']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlotte Lee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3rd Place - Layton Christian Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 18-8 (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LCA graduated a significant portion of the production that fueled last season's championship run, leaving [player_tooltip player_id='1529728' first='Gracie' last='Maloney-Holland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1119398' first='Sarah' last='Ledio'] as the Eagles' two highest-scoring returners. That puts both in position to take on much larger roles as LCA looks to replace not only points, but rebounding, playmaking and experience throughout the lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Repeating last year's run will be a much different challenge. The Eagles put everything together at the right time in the postseason and walked away as state champions, but many of the players who drove that run have moved on. Maloney-Holland and Ledio give LCA two experienced pieces to build around, but the biggest question will be which players step forward around them. There are plenty of minutes and touches available, and LCA will need some new faces to turn opportunity into production if the Eagles want to remain in the championship conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of Note:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1529728' first='Gracie' last='Maloney-Holland']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119398' first='Sarah' last='Ledio'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuana Sultan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denise Barrera</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Naima Babb</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4th Place - Ogden</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 11-13 (4-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ogden will have some production to replace, but there is plenty of youth returning that could make the Tigers an interesting team to follow. Juliet Knowles leads that group after scoring 167 points and knocking down a team-high 29 threes as just a freshman, giving Ogden a young perimeter threat with room to take a big step forward. [player_tooltip player_id='1731627' first='Hazel' last='Nadolski'] added 96 points as a sophomore, while [player_tooltip player_id='1731626' first='Millie' last='Nadolski'] scored 80 as a freshman, giving the Tigers several underclassmen who already have varsity experience and height. With 18 underclassmen listed on last season's roster, Ogden isn't short on players who have had a taste of the varsity level. The question will be which of those young players can turn that experience into increased production as the Tigers replace a senior class that accounted for a significant portion of their scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of Note:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1731627' first='Hazel' last='Nadolski']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1731626' first='Millie' last='Nadolski']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jasmine Draper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paisli Call</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaydree Crowther</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitney Fife</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5th Place - Logan</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 7-15 (1-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logan will be one of the teams in the region looking for new players to step into much larger roles after graduating several of its more productive pieces from last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1242986' first='Clarissa' last='Espinoza-Flores'] is the leading returning scorer from the group. Maia Kutarna brings back some needed work on the glass, while Taryn Craner added to the stat sheet as well. The Grizzlies don't return the same amount of proven varsity production as some of the teams at the top of Region 12, which makes their development especially important. Logan will need its returning group to take a significant step forward while finding additional scoring and depth from players moving into the varsity rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of Note:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hiwon Haile</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maia Kutarna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taryn Craner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1242986' first='Clarissa' last='Espinoza-Flores']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6th Place - Ben Lomond</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region Record: 4-18 (1-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben Lomond may not have put together the season it wanted last year, but the Scots return a young group that gained valuable varsity experience along the way. Nhyema Simpson and [player_tooltip player_id='1240268' first='Diana' last='Campos']-Ramer are the leading contributors. Trinytee Martinez could be an important piece after pulling down 69 rebounds and collecting 52 steals, showing an ability to impact possessions even when she isn't scoring. Regahn Espinoza is another player to keep an eye on after grabbing a team-high 116 rebounds as a freshman. Ben Lomond will need to find more consistent scoring, but with several young players already contributing on the glass and defensive end, the Scots have a group that could take a noticeable step forward with another year of varsity experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players of Note:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nhyema Simpson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1240268' first='Diana' last='Campos']-Ramer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regahn Espinoza</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts and Predictions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan and Grantsville have the clearest returning statistical cores. Morgan brings back Williams and Rockenfield, its top two scorers, while Grantsville brings back Butler, Castagno and Allen, who collectively led most of the Cowboys' major categories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LCA has talent returning but must replace Ava Smith's enormous production. Logan loses several seniors from an already small roster. Ogden has quantity and youth returning, while Ben Lomond also has a substantial number of underclassmen eligible to come back but needs considerably more production to emerge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Region 12 Prediction</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 - Morgan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 - Grantsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 - Ogden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 - Layton Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 - Logan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6 - Ben Lomond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->