SPORTS
Wrestlers dominate in region duals, take second in Idaho tournament
Box Elder’s Bridger Ricks quickly pinned his opponent in the Bees’ dual meet against Bountiful last week. Ricks had a busy week, competing and winning, in the Utah All-Star Duals, before beating a two-time Idaho state champion with an undefeated season to claim the individual title at the Tiger-Grizz tournament in Idaho. In between, the Bees dominated Woods Cross and Bountiful in region duals.
January 22, 2020 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
It was a busy week for the Box Elder High School wrestling team, beginning with three wrestlers performing well in the state-wide spotlight of the Utah All-Star Duals, and ending with a second-place finish at a tournament in Idaho.
Sandwiched in between were two dominant displays in region dual meets against Woods Cross and Bountiful.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Box Elder defending state champions Bridger Ricks and Lucas Cochran, accompanied by teammate Kellen Collier, competed against some of the top talent the state has to offer at the All-Star Duals.
Cochran (182 pounds) had the easiest go of it, defeating Mason Christensen by decision, 6-2, while Ricks and Collier needed extra time to dispatch their opponents.
Ricks (113) won in the first sudden victory overtime, 5-3, and Collier (285) earned victory in the first tie-break period, 4-2.
Ricks would end his week at the Tiger-Grizz tournament in Idaho how he started it, against a difficult opponent who would take Ricks beyond regulation. Ricks would make it to the championship mat with two wins by fall and a 12-0 major decision, but would end regulation in the championship bout against Kolton Stacey, a two-time Idaho state champ with an undefeated season, in a 2-2 tie. Ricks would go on to win the 113-pound championship 4-2 in the first tie-break period.
Ricks was one of nine Box Elder placers at the tournament as the Bees finished in second place, 37 points behind Kuna High School, 182.5-219.5.
The Bees had one other first-place finisher in Cochran, who spent the least time on the mat of any of his teammates. Cochran won all of his bouts by fall, and none made it beyond the first round. His longest bout was the championship final, where he pinned Nick Chappell from Blackfoot High School in 1:32. All of Cochran’s matches combined took less time than a regulation three-round bout.
Other than Ricks and Cochran, however, no Bee finished higher than fifth.
Colton Ward (106) made it to the championship semifinals, but lost his next two bouts by a combined five points to be relegated to the fifth-place match, where he won by fall in the second round.
Isaac Richards (126) also placed fifth after losing a two-point bout, 5-7 in the championship quarterfinals, and 8-4 in the consolation semifinals. Richards took fifth place due to an injury default.
Caleb Marx (152) lost his first bout of the tournament in an ultimate tie breaker, but wrestled back convincingly until losing 5-12 in the consolation semifinal. Marx won the fifth-pace bout with a 6-1 decision against Tucker Banks from Bonneville High School.
Collier was the Bees’ fourth and final fifth-place finisher. Collier made it to the championship semifinals, where he lost by fall. He had the same result in the consolation semifinals to send him to the fifth-place bout, where he won an 8-4 decision.
Wyatt Romriell (120), Quinton Knight (138), and Harrison Hodgson (170) all took sixth place.
The Bees’ two region duals were almost no-contests as Box Elder won 61-10 against Woods Cross, and 61-13 against Bountiful.
Following two weeks with busy schedules, the Bees get a little break this week with just one match: Their regular season finale at Viewmont on Thursday.
The following week, on Jan. 31, will be the 5A divisionals to determine seeding into the state tournament.
January 22, 2020 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
It was a busy week for the Box Elder High School wrestling team, beginning with three wrestlers performing well in the state-wide spotlight of the Utah All-Star Duals, and ending with a second-place finish at a tournament in Idaho.
Sandwiched in between were two dominant displays in region dual meets against Woods Cross and Bountiful.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Box Elder defending state champions Bridger Ricks and Lucas Cochran, accompanied by teammate Kellen Collier, competed against some of the top talent the state has to offer at the All-Star Duals.
Cochran (182 pounds) had the easiest go of it, defeating Mason Christensen by decision, 6-2, while Ricks and Collier needed extra time to dispatch their opponents.
Ricks (113) won in the first sudden victory overtime, 5-3, and Collier (285) earned victory in the first tie-break period, 4-2.
Ricks would end his week at the Tiger-Grizz tournament in Idaho how he started it, against a difficult opponent who would take Ricks beyond regulation. Ricks would make it to the championship mat with two wins by fall and a 12-0 major decision, but would end regulation in the championship bout against Kolton Stacey, a two-time Idaho state champ with an undefeated season, in a 2-2 tie. Ricks would go on to win the 113-pound championship 4-2 in the first tie-break period.
Ricks was one of nine Box Elder placers at the tournament as the Bees finished in second place, 37 points behind Kuna High School, 182.5-219.5.
The Bees had one other first-place finisher in Cochran, who spent the least time on the mat of any of his teammates. Cochran won all of his bouts by fall, and none made it beyond the first round. His longest bout was the championship final, where he pinned Nick Chappell from Blackfoot High School in 1:32. All of Cochran’s matches combined took less time than a regulation three-round bout.
Other than Ricks and Cochran, however, no Bee finished higher than fifth.
Colton Ward (106) made it to the championship semifinals, but lost his next two bouts by a combined five points to be relegated to the fifth-place match, where he won by fall in the second round.
Isaac Richards (126) also placed fifth after losing a two-point bout, 5-7 in the championship quarterfinals, and 8-4 in the consolation semifinals. Richards took fifth place due to an injury default.
Caleb Marx (152) lost his first bout of the tournament in an ultimate tie breaker, but wrestled back convincingly until losing 5-12 in the consolation semifinal. Marx won the fifth-pace bout with a 6-1 decision against Tucker Banks from Bonneville High School.
Collier was the Bees’ fourth and final fifth-place finisher. Collier made it to the championship semifinals, where he lost by fall. He had the same result in the consolation semifinals to send him to the fifth-place bout, where he won an 8-4 decision.
Wyatt Romriell (120), Quinton Knight (138), and Harrison Hodgson (170) all took sixth place.
The Bees’ two region duals were almost no-contests as Box Elder won 61-10 against Woods Cross, and 61-13 against Bountiful.
Following two weeks with busy schedules, the Bees get a little break this week with just one match: Their regular season finale at Viewmont on Thursday.
The following week, on Jan. 31, will be the 5A divisionals to determine seeding into the state tournament.
Girls break two-game skid playing ‘beautiful basketball’ against Bountiful
January 22, 2020 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
After a couple of disappointing losses, the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team found the formula for success last Friday as the team played their most complete game of the season and secured a 63-50 win at home over Bountiful.
After trailing by five points at the half, the Bees came out with some very inspired play in the third quarter and used a 20-4 run to take the lead and never look back.
Junior forward Annika Quayle led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds in the win. The senior backcourt of Jacie Anderson and Jenna Mortensen gave the Bees a scoring punch from the outside as they recorded 14 and 11 points respectively.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley spoke highly of his team’s performance after the game.
“We’ve always said we don’t have a talent problem on our team, and when the girls play like they did tonight, it’s easy for everyone to see what we’re saying,” Dooley said. “I stay by our girls and they play beautiful basketball. That was on display tonight.”
The Bees also got a big lift on the defensive end from junior wing Kailee Talbot, who was largely tasked with checking the Braves’ freshman standout Jordyn Harvey.
“That girl [Harvey] is talented, but Kailee handled it,” Dooley said. “She [Talbot] picked up her third foul midway through the third quarter and we were wondering what we were going to do, but we rode it and we rode it all the way to the fourth quarter. She just did a great job for us tonight.”
The team as a whole picked up their defensive intensity in the second half. After giving up a 34-point first half, the Bees held the Braves to just 16 points after the break.
Dooley also gave his team more credit for that effort than any coaching adjustment when he said, “I’d love to say that was beautiful coaching and we made so many adjustments after the half, but that’s B.S. Our girls made a mental adjustment and that was really the difference.”
Despite the defensive attention, Harvey still managed 23 points on the night to lead all scorers, but couldn’t get enough help down the stretch to make a comeback in the fourth quarter. Fellow freshman Lizzie McConkie added 13 points in the loss.
The win moves the Bees to a 1-1 record in Region 5 and a 6-8 overall mark on the year. The win also moved the Bees up one spot in the RPI rankings to number 14 this week.
Box Elder will get two more chances this week to improve on those numbers as the team takes on Woods Cross at home tonight at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats come into tonight’s game ranked 10th in the RPI and will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid. To turn things around, they’ll be looking to senior scoring guard Gracie Browning, who is averaging 10.6 points per game with her deadly outside shooting.
The Bees will also play Friday on the road against Bonneville. The Lakers start the week ranked 17th in the 5A RPI and will need a big game from sophomore center Courtnie Porter to keep things rolling against the Bees.
The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
In other 5A news, Lehi remains the team to beat statewide as the undefeated Pioneers hold the top spot in the RPI rankings for the second week in a row. The Phoenix from Farmington come in at number two while Viewmont climbed up to the ninth spot, just ahead of the Wildcats.
January 22, 2020 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
After a couple of disappointing losses, the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team found the formula for success last Friday as the team played their most complete game of the season and secured a 63-50 win at home over Bountiful.
After trailing by five points at the half, the Bees came out with some very inspired play in the third quarter and used a 20-4 run to take the lead and never look back.
Junior forward Annika Quayle led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds in the win. The senior backcourt of Jacie Anderson and Jenna Mortensen gave the Bees a scoring punch from the outside as they recorded 14 and 11 points respectively.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley spoke highly of his team’s performance after the game.
“We’ve always said we don’t have a talent problem on our team, and when the girls play like they did tonight, it’s easy for everyone to see what we’re saying,” Dooley said. “I stay by our girls and they play beautiful basketball. That was on display tonight.”
The Bees also got a big lift on the defensive end from junior wing Kailee Talbot, who was largely tasked with checking the Braves’ freshman standout Jordyn Harvey.
“That girl [Harvey] is talented, but Kailee handled it,” Dooley said. “She [Talbot] picked up her third foul midway through the third quarter and we were wondering what we were going to do, but we rode it and we rode it all the way to the fourth quarter. She just did a great job for us tonight.”
The team as a whole picked up their defensive intensity in the second half. After giving up a 34-point first half, the Bees held the Braves to just 16 points after the break.
Dooley also gave his team more credit for that effort than any coaching adjustment when he said, “I’d love to say that was beautiful coaching and we made so many adjustments after the half, but that’s B.S. Our girls made a mental adjustment and that was really the difference.”
Despite the defensive attention, Harvey still managed 23 points on the night to lead all scorers, but couldn’t get enough help down the stretch to make a comeback in the fourth quarter. Fellow freshman Lizzie McConkie added 13 points in the loss.
The win moves the Bees to a 1-1 record in Region 5 and a 6-8 overall mark on the year. The win also moved the Bees up one spot in the RPI rankings to number 14 this week.
Box Elder will get two more chances this week to improve on those numbers as the team takes on Woods Cross at home tonight at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats come into tonight’s game ranked 10th in the RPI and will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid. To turn things around, they’ll be looking to senior scoring guard Gracie Browning, who is averaging 10.6 points per game with her deadly outside shooting.
The Bees will also play Friday on the road against Bonneville. The Lakers start the week ranked 17th in the 5A RPI and will need a big game from sophomore center Courtnie Porter to keep things rolling against the Bees.
The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
In other 5A news, Lehi remains the team to beat statewide as the undefeated Pioneers hold the top spot in the RPI rankings for the second week in a row. The Phoenix from Farmington come in at number two while Viewmont climbed up to the ninth spot, just ahead of the Wildcats.
Jaron McKee watches as one of his two 3-pointers drops through the basket in the Bees’ win over Mountain Crest. McKee was the Bees’ second-leading scorer with 14 points.
Bees tame Mustangs, downed by Phoenix
January 15, 2020 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was a tale of two games for the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team last week as the team cruised to an 88-40 win over Mountain Crest last Tuesday at home before suffering a 74-48 loss to Farmington on Friday night.
On Tuesday, both teams started a bit sluggish before the Bees used a 29-10 second quarter run to blow the game open.
The Mustangs couldn’t find any sort of answer in the second half and none of their players topped six points on the night while the Bees continued to cruise on the offensive end.
Junior Parker Buchanan had his way inside all night and led all scorers with 20 points along with six rebounds in the win. Buchanan’s front court running mate Jaron McKee also added 14 points, five rebounds, and a team-high five assists.
Ten players from each team did crack the scoresheet as the starters were benched in the fourth quarter to give the subs some experience.
Hoping for continued success, the Bees got a rude awakening on Friday against the Phoenix and super sophomore Collin Chandler.
Farmington’s McKay Thomsen and Truman Hendry each gave Chandler some support as they scored 13 and 10 points, respectively, but Chandler was the headliner as he poured in 35 in the game and gave the Bees fits on the defensive end.
While having to work harder on the defensive side of the court, the shots weren’t falling for the Bees on the offensive end like they had earlier in the week and the team connected on just 17 field goals against the Phoenix, compared to 32 against the Mustangs.
Buchanan was the high-point man again for the Bees with 14 while senior point guard Riley Dahlgren added 12 and fellow senior Spencer Huff cracked double digits with 10.
In the end, big runs in the first and fourth quarters by the Phoenix put the game out of reach as the Bees ended up on the wrong side of the equation.
The week moves the Bees to an 8-4 overall record, but the loss to the Phoenix knocked the team down a few notches in the RPI rankings as the Bees come in this week ranked 12th in 5A.
In other games around Region 5 last week, Woods Cross edged out Viewmont 58-52, landing the Wildcats fourth the RPI rankings while the Vikings come in at 22nd. Bountiful also won a thriller in Washington Terrace over Bonneville, 49-48, which helped the Braves climb to 11th in the rankings while Bonneville enters the week ranked 25th.
The Bees will be back in action this Friday when they host the Braves. To get a win, the Bees will need to find ways to contain junior center Robert Whaley, who is averaging 19.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
The outside piece of the Braves inside-out attack may well come from senior wing Camron Chism, who is putting up 13.6 points per game and is making exactly two 3-point buckets per outing.
The game against the Braves will be the second game of a double-header, with the girls team playing at 5:15 p.m. and the boys scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
It was a tale of two games for the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team last week as the team cruised to an 88-40 win over Mountain Crest last Tuesday at home before suffering a 74-48 loss to Farmington on Friday night.
On Tuesday, both teams started a bit sluggish before the Bees used a 29-10 second quarter run to blow the game open.
The Mustangs couldn’t find any sort of answer in the second half and none of their players topped six points on the night while the Bees continued to cruise on the offensive end.
Junior Parker Buchanan had his way inside all night and led all scorers with 20 points along with six rebounds in the win. Buchanan’s front court running mate Jaron McKee also added 14 points, five rebounds, and a team-high five assists.
Ten players from each team did crack the scoresheet as the starters were benched in the fourth quarter to give the subs some experience.
Hoping for continued success, the Bees got a rude awakening on Friday against the Phoenix and super sophomore Collin Chandler.
Farmington’s McKay Thomsen and Truman Hendry each gave Chandler some support as they scored 13 and 10 points, respectively, but Chandler was the headliner as he poured in 35 in the game and gave the Bees fits on the defensive end.
While having to work harder on the defensive side of the court, the shots weren’t falling for the Bees on the offensive end like they had earlier in the week and the team connected on just 17 field goals against the Phoenix, compared to 32 against the Mustangs.
Buchanan was the high-point man again for the Bees with 14 while senior point guard Riley Dahlgren added 12 and fellow senior Spencer Huff cracked double digits with 10.
In the end, big runs in the first and fourth quarters by the Phoenix put the game out of reach as the Bees ended up on the wrong side of the equation.
The week moves the Bees to an 8-4 overall record, but the loss to the Phoenix knocked the team down a few notches in the RPI rankings as the Bees come in this week ranked 12th in 5A.
In other games around Region 5 last week, Woods Cross edged out Viewmont 58-52, landing the Wildcats fourth the RPI rankings while the Vikings come in at 22nd. Bountiful also won a thriller in Washington Terrace over Bonneville, 49-48, which helped the Braves climb to 11th in the rankings while Bonneville enters the week ranked 25th.
The Bees will be back in action this Friday when they host the Braves. To get a win, the Bees will need to find ways to contain junior center Robert Whaley, who is averaging 19.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
The outside piece of the Braves inside-out attack may well come from senior wing Camron Chism, who is putting up 13.6 points per game and is making exactly two 3-point buckets per outing.
The game against the Braves will be the second game of a double-header, with the girls team playing at 5:15 p.m. and the boys scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Bees grounded by Phoenix
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January 15, 2020 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Farmington’s Valerie Kunzler led all scorers with 20 points as the Phoenix dealt the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team their first region loss of the year last Friday night, 55-22. The Phoenix came into the game fresh off a 38-33 loss to Ridgeline and were looking to—and succeeded in—establishing the tempo early. The home team jumped out to a 17-4 advantage after the first period and never looked back as they cruised to the win. In a game that was always going to be a tough one for the Bees, Box Elder found out why the Phoenix came into the contest as the third-ranked team in the 5A classification as they flustered and frustrated the Bees’ offense all night, holding them to a season-low scoring output. On the other end of the court, the Bees had no answer for Kunzler or junior guard Abigail Ferrell, who netted 17 points on the night. Naomi Kehl also added 10 points and six rebounds in the win. The Bees were led by Tegan Mecham with six points. The loss drops the Bees to 5-8 on the year and puts the team into a two-game skid after winning four out of five prior to the loss against Ridgeline two weeks ago. The loss didn’t change anything for the Bees in the RPI standings as they still sit ranked number 15 in the 5A classification to start the week. In other action from the first week of play in Region 5, Viewmont upset Woods Cross to jump up to 11th in the RPI rankings and Bountiful took down Bonneville to improve their ranking to 17th. The Wildcats check in at ninth while the Lakers find themselves in 13th to start the week. The Bees also will have the whole week to prepare for their next opponent, which they’ll face on Friday night when Bountiful comes to Brigham City. The Braves will come into the gym with a 6-7 record, but are riding a three-game winning streak with their latest victim being the Lakers last Friday night. In order to start a winning streak of their own, the Bees will need to be aware of freshman standout Jordyn Harvey. The 6-foot 1-inch youngster is averaging 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to lead the Braves. The game against the Braves is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. |
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Colton Ward, seen here in an early round of the Richardson Memorial, wrestled selflessly in a dual meet against Bear River earlier in the week to help give the Bees a 33-30 win over the Bears. Ward took second at the Richardson.
Second place at Richardson ‘sits well’ with coach
January 15, 2020 • Sean Haless • Managing Editor
The Box Elder High School wrestling team had four wrestlers reach the championship mat and two walk away with individual titles as the Bees finished in second place behind Payson at the Richardson Memorial tournament in Brigham City last week.
Bridger Ricks (113 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182) continued their string of wins and tournament titles at the Richardson, which improved each of their records to 22-2 this year. Colton Ward (106) got beat for the second time in a week by Bear River’s Trenton Ward, and Kellen Collier (285) came up two points shy in a match against Fremont’s Weston Warr to finish in second place.
Payson had six wrestlers reach the final match on their way to dominating the tournament. In two of those championship bouts, at 120 and 126 pounds, Payson wrestlers faced off against each other. In addition, Payson had numerous top-four finishes as the Lions bested Box Elder by more than 50 points, 234-182.5.
“Payson is solid through just about every weight,” said Box Elder head coach Jed Craner about the tournament winner and favorite to win the state title. “Second [place] sits well with me as long as we wrestled to the best of our ability,” which he said he felt most of the kids did.
Perhaps the Box Elder wrestler who did that the most was Caleb Marx. Marx, who is in just his second year of wrestling, finished third after being beat in the 152-pound semi finals by the top-ranked wrestler in 6A, and wrestling his way back. In the third-place match, Marx won in sudden victory overtime over Viewmont’s Marcus Espinoza-Owens, the third-ranked wrestler in 5A.
It was the culmination of a good week for Marx, who had a good showing in the Bees’ dual meet against Farmington earlier in the week, barely losing to the top-ranked wrestler in 5A.
Box Elder finished the Richardson 37 points ahead of third-place Bear River, a team that the Bees had beaten by three points in a dual match earlier in the week.
In all, the Bees had six placers in the tournament, rounded off by Isaac Richards, who took fifth place.
The Bees started their busy week with a close win over Bear River, 33-30, on Tuesday before cruising to a much easier region victory over Farmington, 42-21, both on the road.
Beginning at 113 pounds with sophomore standout Bridger Ricks, the Bees jumped out to a quick lead over the Bears, 18-0.
But the Bears chipped away with six wins through the next nine weights, and just six points separated the Bees and Bears as Box Elder’s Colton Ward (106) faced off against Trenton Ward in the final bout of the night.
Despite some anxious moments in the first round when Trenton Ward earned some back points and took a 4-0 lead, Colton Ward never gave up much more than that to help preserve the win for his team.
And that was by design, according to Craner.
“He cared more about the team winning the dual than wrestling for himself, and I commended him for that,” Craner said, adding that Colton Ward was cognizant of the situation and “He wasn’t as aggressive as he might have been in a normal match.”
If Colton Ward had given up the pin the match would have gone to tiebreak criteria, but Craner said he didn’t know which team would have walked away the winner if that had been the case. “I never figured it out, I was so excited to win.”
The Bees opened their region dual against Farmington two days later by spotting the Phoenix six points with a forfeit at 160 pounds, the first weight of the night.
The two teams would trade a pair of wins in the next four weights, after which Farmington held a 12-9 advantage.
But Collier’s win by fall in the first 34 seconds of his bout signaled things to come as the Bees’ next four wrestlers—Colton Ward, Ricks, Wyatt Romriell, and Isaac Richards would put up 21 points to give their team a big lead, 36-12. Quinton Knight also earned a win by fall in the match.
It will be another busy week for the Bees. Bridger Ricks, Lucas Cochran and Kellen Collier Participated in the Utah All-Star Duals in Orem on Tuesday, and the team has two dual meets at home, against Woods Cross tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Bountiful tomorrow. After that, the Bees will head to Idaho to compete in the Tiger-Grizz Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Richardson Memorial
Team scores
1. Payson 234; 2. Box Elder 182.5; 3. Bear River 145.5; 4. Viewmont 137; 5. Altamont 125.5; 6. Syracuse 121; 7. Fremont 116; 8. Corner Canyon 108; 9. Sky Ridge 94; 10. Mountain Crest 89; 11. Weber 88.5; 12. Star Valley 86; 13. Ridgeline 81.5; 14. Davis 77; 15. Woods Cross 52.5; 16. Malad 39; 17. Murray 34; 18. Sky View 27; 19. Roy 26; 20. Olympus 3; 21. Copper Hills 0
Box Elder placers
106: Colton Ward (22-4), 2nd; 113: Bridger Ricks (22-2), 1st; 126: Isaac Richards (23-12), 5th; 152: Caleb Marx (29-7), 3rd; 182: Lucas Cochran (22-2), 1st; 285: Kellen Collier (24-3), 2nd
The Box Elder High School wrestling team had four wrestlers reach the championship mat and two walk away with individual titles as the Bees finished in second place behind Payson at the Richardson Memorial tournament in Brigham City last week.
Bridger Ricks (113 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182) continued their string of wins and tournament titles at the Richardson, which improved each of their records to 22-2 this year. Colton Ward (106) got beat for the second time in a week by Bear River’s Trenton Ward, and Kellen Collier (285) came up two points shy in a match against Fremont’s Weston Warr to finish in second place.
Payson had six wrestlers reach the final match on their way to dominating the tournament. In two of those championship bouts, at 120 and 126 pounds, Payson wrestlers faced off against each other. In addition, Payson had numerous top-four finishes as the Lions bested Box Elder by more than 50 points, 234-182.5.
“Payson is solid through just about every weight,” said Box Elder head coach Jed Craner about the tournament winner and favorite to win the state title. “Second [place] sits well with me as long as we wrestled to the best of our ability,” which he said he felt most of the kids did.
Perhaps the Box Elder wrestler who did that the most was Caleb Marx. Marx, who is in just his second year of wrestling, finished third after being beat in the 152-pound semi finals by the top-ranked wrestler in 6A, and wrestling his way back. In the third-place match, Marx won in sudden victory overtime over Viewmont’s Marcus Espinoza-Owens, the third-ranked wrestler in 5A.
It was the culmination of a good week for Marx, who had a good showing in the Bees’ dual meet against Farmington earlier in the week, barely losing to the top-ranked wrestler in 5A.
Box Elder finished the Richardson 37 points ahead of third-place Bear River, a team that the Bees had beaten by three points in a dual match earlier in the week.
In all, the Bees had six placers in the tournament, rounded off by Isaac Richards, who took fifth place.
The Bees started their busy week with a close win over Bear River, 33-30, on Tuesday before cruising to a much easier region victory over Farmington, 42-21, both on the road.
Beginning at 113 pounds with sophomore standout Bridger Ricks, the Bees jumped out to a quick lead over the Bears, 18-0.
But the Bears chipped away with six wins through the next nine weights, and just six points separated the Bees and Bears as Box Elder’s Colton Ward (106) faced off against Trenton Ward in the final bout of the night.
Despite some anxious moments in the first round when Trenton Ward earned some back points and took a 4-0 lead, Colton Ward never gave up much more than that to help preserve the win for his team.
And that was by design, according to Craner.
“He cared more about the team winning the dual than wrestling for himself, and I commended him for that,” Craner said, adding that Colton Ward was cognizant of the situation and “He wasn’t as aggressive as he might have been in a normal match.”
If Colton Ward had given up the pin the match would have gone to tiebreak criteria, but Craner said he didn’t know which team would have walked away the winner if that had been the case. “I never figured it out, I was so excited to win.”
The Bees opened their region dual against Farmington two days later by spotting the Phoenix six points with a forfeit at 160 pounds, the first weight of the night.
The two teams would trade a pair of wins in the next four weights, after which Farmington held a 12-9 advantage.
But Collier’s win by fall in the first 34 seconds of his bout signaled things to come as the Bees’ next four wrestlers—Colton Ward, Ricks, Wyatt Romriell, and Isaac Richards would put up 21 points to give their team a big lead, 36-12. Quinton Knight also earned a win by fall in the match.
It will be another busy week for the Bees. Bridger Ricks, Lucas Cochran and Kellen Collier Participated in the Utah All-Star Duals in Orem on Tuesday, and the team has two dual meets at home, against Woods Cross tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Bountiful tomorrow. After that, the Bees will head to Idaho to compete in the Tiger-Grizz Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Richardson Memorial
Team scores
1. Payson 234; 2. Box Elder 182.5; 3. Bear River 145.5; 4. Viewmont 137; 5. Altamont 125.5; 6. Syracuse 121; 7. Fremont 116; 8. Corner Canyon 108; 9. Sky Ridge 94; 10. Mountain Crest 89; 11. Weber 88.5; 12. Star Valley 86; 13. Ridgeline 81.5; 14. Davis 77; 15. Woods Cross 52.5; 16. Malad 39; 17. Murray 34; 18. Sky View 27; 19. Roy 26; 20. Olympus 3; 21. Copper Hills 0
Box Elder placers
106: Colton Ward (22-4), 2nd; 113: Bridger Ricks (22-2), 1st; 126: Isaac Richards (23-12), 5th; 152: Caleb Marx (29-7), 3rd; 182: Lucas Cochran (22-2), 1st; 285: Kellen Collier (24-3), 2nd
Box Elder wrestlers take second at 5A dual tournament, beat Fremont handily
In calm control of the situation, Box Elder’s Colton Ward waits for his Fremont opponent to tire and give up the pin and six points toward the Bees’ 43-24 win over the Silverwolves last week.
January 8, 2020 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Led by four wrestlers who posted undefeated records against some tough competition, the Box Elder High School varsity team took second place at the 5A Dual State Championship Tournament in Provo last week.
On their way to a decisive 47-24 loss to 5A newcomer—but a favorite to compete for the state title—Payson, the Bees earned a close five-point win over Wasatch, 36-31, in the semi-final round.
With the exception of the final two dual matches, the Bees won convincingly over every other team they faced, including 59-15 over Alta, 69-9 over Provo, and 64-18 over Salem Hills.
The Bees were led by Colton Ward (106 pounds), Bridger Ricks (113), Lucas Cochran (182), and Kellen Collier (285), who won each of their bouts.
In an email, head coach Jed Craner wrote, “I thought we started the 5A duels off fairly slow and then hit our stride the second day of the tournament. We beat Wasatch in the semifinals, (missing some of their better guys) to move on to the finals against Payson.”
Craner continued that Payson is a tough competitor in each weight class, and it didn’t help that an injury forced the Bees to forfeit a weight.
Prior to the tournament, the Bees faced off against—and beat—Fremont, 43-24, on Jan. 2.
After the first three bouts, the Bees were behind, 9-3, but Box Elder won six of the seven bouts between 145 and 220 pounds to build an insurmountable lead, 31-12. That stretch began with a win by fall from Quinton Knight. Thomas Peterson (170) won a hard-fought battle by fall, and Lucas Cochran (182) pinned his opponent in the first round. Lincoln Torrey (220) ended the run with a one-point decision.
All that came before the Bees’ standout lightweights Colton Ward (106) and Bridger Ricks (113) hit the mat and earned first-round wins by fall.
Before all that, heading into the Christmas break, on Dec. 20, the Bees participated in the Viewmont Invitational where they finished fourth behind 5A’s Highland, 2A’s Duchesne, and Region 5 foe, Viewmont. Highland and Duchesne were separated by four points, 204-200, and Viewmont led Box Elder by 14 points, 176.5-162.5.
The Bees, however, only had 10 wrestlers at the event.
As has become almost expected this year, Ricks and Cochran took first at the tournament. Three Bees earned spots in the third-place bouts, with Isaac Richards (126) and Caleb Marx (152) both winning their final matches.
“I thought we wrestled great at Viewmont,” Craner said. “It would’ve been nice to have those missing guys to help us bring home the first place trophy; But I was proud of how we performed.”
The Bees have an incredibly busy week this week culminating with the annual Richardson Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
The Bees wrestled at Bear River yesterday (results not available by press time), and have a region matchup against Farmington on Thursday.
The Richardson Memorial will feature a number of familiar opponents from this year’s schedule, such as Bear River, Fremont, Mountain Crest, Payson and others from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. (See box for tournament schedule and ticket prices).
January 8, 2020 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Led by four wrestlers who posted undefeated records against some tough competition, the Box Elder High School varsity team took second place at the 5A Dual State Championship Tournament in Provo last week.
On their way to a decisive 47-24 loss to 5A newcomer—but a favorite to compete for the state title—Payson, the Bees earned a close five-point win over Wasatch, 36-31, in the semi-final round.
With the exception of the final two dual matches, the Bees won convincingly over every other team they faced, including 59-15 over Alta, 69-9 over Provo, and 64-18 over Salem Hills.
The Bees were led by Colton Ward (106 pounds), Bridger Ricks (113), Lucas Cochran (182), and Kellen Collier (285), who won each of their bouts.
In an email, head coach Jed Craner wrote, “I thought we started the 5A duels off fairly slow and then hit our stride the second day of the tournament. We beat Wasatch in the semifinals, (missing some of their better guys) to move on to the finals against Payson.”
Craner continued that Payson is a tough competitor in each weight class, and it didn’t help that an injury forced the Bees to forfeit a weight.
Prior to the tournament, the Bees faced off against—and beat—Fremont, 43-24, on Jan. 2.
After the first three bouts, the Bees were behind, 9-3, but Box Elder won six of the seven bouts between 145 and 220 pounds to build an insurmountable lead, 31-12. That stretch began with a win by fall from Quinton Knight. Thomas Peterson (170) won a hard-fought battle by fall, and Lucas Cochran (182) pinned his opponent in the first round. Lincoln Torrey (220) ended the run with a one-point decision.
All that came before the Bees’ standout lightweights Colton Ward (106) and Bridger Ricks (113) hit the mat and earned first-round wins by fall.
Before all that, heading into the Christmas break, on Dec. 20, the Bees participated in the Viewmont Invitational where they finished fourth behind 5A’s Highland, 2A’s Duchesne, and Region 5 foe, Viewmont. Highland and Duchesne were separated by four points, 204-200, and Viewmont led Box Elder by 14 points, 176.5-162.5.
The Bees, however, only had 10 wrestlers at the event.
As has become almost expected this year, Ricks and Cochran took first at the tournament. Three Bees earned spots in the third-place bouts, with Isaac Richards (126) and Caleb Marx (152) both winning their final matches.
“I thought we wrestled great at Viewmont,” Craner said. “It would’ve been nice to have those missing guys to help us bring home the first place trophy; But I was proud of how we performed.”
The Bees have an incredibly busy week this week culminating with the annual Richardson Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
The Bees wrestled at Bear River yesterday (results not available by press time), and have a region matchup against Farmington on Thursday.
The Richardson Memorial will feature a number of familiar opponents from this year’s schedule, such as Bear River, Fremont, Mountain Crest, Payson and others from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. (See box for tournament schedule and ticket prices).
Boys come up short in close contest against Taylorsville
December 31, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Taylorsville senior wing, Cameron Millican, continued his hot start to the season, leading all scorers with 23 points, as the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team lost a hard-fought game to Taylorsville last Friday night in the Bees’ only game of the week, 66-63.
The Bees looked to exploit their size advantage over the Warriors and worked inside the paint. They dominated the free throw battle, making 19 of 26 tries from the stripe compared to the home team, who made 9 of just 13 attempts.
However, the Warriors made five more field goals (25 to 20) and that proved to be the difference in a game that was tight throughout.
Millican wasn’t the only storyline of the night for the Warriors as he led four players in double-figures. Sophomore John Gavin put up a career-high 14 points while Kaiden Facemyer hit double digits for the first time on the year with 11 and Eric Giang added 10 points.
The Bees were led by senior point guard Riley Dahlgren, who had 17 points, and junior Parker Buchanan who had 13.
The loss drops the Bees to 6-3 on the year with just two more preseason games before starting region play on the road against Farmington on Friday, Jan. 10.
Yesterday, the team hoped to end 2019 on the right foot as they played a matinee on the road against Roy in a game that had a 3 p.m. tip time (results not available by press time).
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Bees will host Mountain Crest in their final preseason game. The Mustangs have struggled in the early going and have posted a 1-7 record.
In order to turn things around, the Mustangs will need a big performance from their leading scorer, Marshall Nethercott, who is averaging 15.3 points per game.
The game against the Mustangs is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
As the preseason winds down, the Bees are getting 18.2 points per outing from Dahlgren and 15.4 points each night from Buchanan.
Buchanan is also leading the team in rebounds and assists as he is grabbing 5.7 boards per game and dishing out 3.4 assists per contest.
In the current RPI standings, the Bees sit in eighth place in the 5A classification and are currently the second-highest ranked team from Region 5. Woods Cross is ranked fourth to start the week while Farmington sits in 14th, Bountiful is ranked 19th, Viewmont is 21st, and Bonneville lands at 22nd.
Taylorsville senior wing, Cameron Millican, continued his hot start to the season, leading all scorers with 23 points, as the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team lost a hard-fought game to Taylorsville last Friday night in the Bees’ only game of the week, 66-63.
The Bees looked to exploit their size advantage over the Warriors and worked inside the paint. They dominated the free throw battle, making 19 of 26 tries from the stripe compared to the home team, who made 9 of just 13 attempts.
However, the Warriors made five more field goals (25 to 20) and that proved to be the difference in a game that was tight throughout.
Millican wasn’t the only storyline of the night for the Warriors as he led four players in double-figures. Sophomore John Gavin put up a career-high 14 points while Kaiden Facemyer hit double digits for the first time on the year with 11 and Eric Giang added 10 points.
The Bees were led by senior point guard Riley Dahlgren, who had 17 points, and junior Parker Buchanan who had 13.
The loss drops the Bees to 6-3 on the year with just two more preseason games before starting region play on the road against Farmington on Friday, Jan. 10.
Yesterday, the team hoped to end 2019 on the right foot as they played a matinee on the road against Roy in a game that had a 3 p.m. tip time (results not available by press time).
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Bees will host Mountain Crest in their final preseason game. The Mustangs have struggled in the early going and have posted a 1-7 record.
In order to turn things around, the Mustangs will need a big performance from their leading scorer, Marshall Nethercott, who is averaging 15.3 points per game.
The game against the Mustangs is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
As the preseason winds down, the Bees are getting 18.2 points per outing from Dahlgren and 15.4 points each night from Buchanan.
Buchanan is also leading the team in rebounds and assists as he is grabbing 5.7 boards per game and dishing out 3.4 assists per contest.
In the current RPI standings, the Bees sit in eighth place in the 5A classification and are currently the second-highest ranked team from Region 5. Woods Cross is ranked fourth to start the week while Farmington sits in 14th, Bountiful is ranked 19th, Viewmont is 21st, and Bonneville lands at 22nd.
Second-quarter run boosts girls over Mountain Ridge
December 31, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girl’s basketball team used a 19-4 second quarter run to turn a tight contest into a blow out as they ran away from Mountain Ridge, 62-25, last Friday night in the Bees’ only outing last week.
After a bit of a sluggish first quarter, the team found their stride on the offensive side of the court and stomped on the gas en route to their second straight win and fourth win in their last five games.
Junior post player Annika Quayle led the charge for the Bees with 17 points and a game-high seven rebounds in the win.
Quayle got a lot of help from the bench, which was cleared by the end of the lop-sided affair as 12 Bees players got on the court and 10 of them made at least one field goal in the win.
The game also saw the return of senior point guard Kate Johnson, who has been recovering from a knee injury she sustained over the summer. In limited minutes, Johnson scored three points and picked up one rebound and one assist.
The Sentinels got a season-high 14 points from Sara Broadhead, but no other player scored more than two points as the visitors were left still in search of their first win on the year.
The Bees improved their preseason mark to 5-6 with one more tune up left before beginning region play on Friday, Jan. 10, at Farmington.
Prior to that, the Bees will travel to Millville to take on Ridgeline on Friday, Jan. 3.
The Riverhawks come into the game with a 5-4 record and have three players averaging double figures, led by senior post player, Emma Anderson, who is putting up 15.3 points per outing as well as collecting 8.8 rebounds per game.
Quayle is leading the way for the Bees so far this season with 10.4 points per game and hauling in 8.6 rebounds.
The game against the Riverhawks is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
The latest RPI standings land the Bees right in the middle of the 5A classification as the team checks in at number 15 of 29 teams.
Undefeated Lehi has a hold on the top spot followed by Region 5 opponent, Farmington.
Other Region 5 rankings this week are Woods Cross coming in fifth, while Viewmont and Bonneville are 10th and 11th, respectively, while Bountiful is bringing up the rear at number 21.
The Box Elder High School girl’s basketball team used a 19-4 second quarter run to turn a tight contest into a blow out as they ran away from Mountain Ridge, 62-25, last Friday night in the Bees’ only outing last week.
After a bit of a sluggish first quarter, the team found their stride on the offensive side of the court and stomped on the gas en route to their second straight win and fourth win in their last five games.
Junior post player Annika Quayle led the charge for the Bees with 17 points and a game-high seven rebounds in the win.
Quayle got a lot of help from the bench, which was cleared by the end of the lop-sided affair as 12 Bees players got on the court and 10 of them made at least one field goal in the win.
The game also saw the return of senior point guard Kate Johnson, who has been recovering from a knee injury she sustained over the summer. In limited minutes, Johnson scored three points and picked up one rebound and one assist.
The Sentinels got a season-high 14 points from Sara Broadhead, but no other player scored more than two points as the visitors were left still in search of their first win on the year.
The Bees improved their preseason mark to 5-6 with one more tune up left before beginning region play on Friday, Jan. 10, at Farmington.
Prior to that, the Bees will travel to Millville to take on Ridgeline on Friday, Jan. 3.
The Riverhawks come into the game with a 5-4 record and have three players averaging double figures, led by senior post player, Emma Anderson, who is putting up 15.3 points per outing as well as collecting 8.8 rebounds per game.
Quayle is leading the way for the Bees so far this season with 10.4 points per game and hauling in 8.6 rebounds.
The game against the Riverhawks is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.
The latest RPI standings land the Bees right in the middle of the 5A classification as the team checks in at number 15 of 29 teams.
Undefeated Lehi has a hold on the top spot followed by Region 5 opponent, Farmington.
Other Region 5 rankings this week are Woods Cross coming in fifth, while Viewmont and Bonneville are 10th and 11th, respectively, while Bountiful is bringing up the rear at number 21.
Bees edge Falcons, blow out Bears in rivalry game
Bentley Miles eyes his target before dropping one of his four first quarter 3-pointers in the Bees’ win over the Bears.
December 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Following their trip to Georgia, the Box Elder High School basketball team kept their winning ways rolling with a victory over Clearfield on the road last Wednesday night before unloading offensively on Bear River Friday night with a 90-64 win.
Against the Falcons, the Bees overcame a rough shooting night, both from the field and the free throw line to pick up a gritty win, 52-47.
The Bees connected on just 5 of 15 free throws, but made up for a few of those points by hitting nine 3-pointers on the night, led by senior forward Jaron McKee, who netted 15 points including three of 3-pointers.
Riley Dahlgren and junior wing Jarom Watson each added 12 points in the win.
The Falcons were looking for balance on the offensive end and got 11 points from senior guard Kaden Swanson while eight different players on the roster got on the scoresheet.
In the end, the Bees held the Falcons to just 39% from the field, while connecting on 51% of their own to hold on for the win.
Looking to extend their winning streak to three games, the Bees had a big emotional test Friday when hosting the Bears. The team from Garland came into the game with a 6-1 record and were fresh off a loss to Morgan earlier in the week.
The Bees knew coming in they would need to keep track of top scorer Mark Huber, who still led all scorers in the contest with 29 points.
Huber got some help from fellow guard Ben Fonnesbeck, who had 15 points on the night and big man Logan Litchford added 12.
Despite the offensive success, the Bears could not find an answer on the defensive end as the Bees posted their highest scoring game of the season, led by junior forward Parker Buchanan with 24 points.
Dahlgren added 17 points while senior guard Bentley Miles got hot in the first quarter and pumped in 12 points, all from downtown in the opening period.
McKee also added 11 before the fourth quarter, when both benches were emptied and the Bees saw 12 different players score at least once.
No bucket in the game was bigger than a 3-pointer by freshman guard Cole Mortensen, who took an outlet pass, streaked down the right side of the court, and buried a deep jumper as the third quarter horn sounded.
After the win, Bees head coach Jace McKee said he was happy with how his team handled the emotions of a rivalry game.
“There are always a lot of emotions running in these games and I’m glad it went our way this time,” McKee said.
If the Bees needed any extra motivation coming into the game, they needed to look no further than last year’s 72-54 loss at the hands of the Bears in Garland.
The two wins move the Bees to 6-2 in the preseason. With the Christmas break this week, the Bees won’t be back in action again until Friday, Dec. 27, when the team will travel to Salt Lake to take on Taylorsville.
The Warriors will come into the match up on Friday with a 5-2 record and are most recently coming off a loss to East.
Much like the Bears, the Warriors also have a big scorer on their roster as senior forward Cameron Millican is averaging nearly 21 points per outing and hasn’t been held under 15 points in any game so far this season.
The game against the Warriors is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
December 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Following their trip to Georgia, the Box Elder High School basketball team kept their winning ways rolling with a victory over Clearfield on the road last Wednesday night before unloading offensively on Bear River Friday night with a 90-64 win.
Against the Falcons, the Bees overcame a rough shooting night, both from the field and the free throw line to pick up a gritty win, 52-47.
The Bees connected on just 5 of 15 free throws, but made up for a few of those points by hitting nine 3-pointers on the night, led by senior forward Jaron McKee, who netted 15 points including three of 3-pointers.
Riley Dahlgren and junior wing Jarom Watson each added 12 points in the win.
The Falcons were looking for balance on the offensive end and got 11 points from senior guard Kaden Swanson while eight different players on the roster got on the scoresheet.
In the end, the Bees held the Falcons to just 39% from the field, while connecting on 51% of their own to hold on for the win.
Looking to extend their winning streak to three games, the Bees had a big emotional test Friday when hosting the Bears. The team from Garland came into the game with a 6-1 record and were fresh off a loss to Morgan earlier in the week.
The Bees knew coming in they would need to keep track of top scorer Mark Huber, who still led all scorers in the contest with 29 points.
Huber got some help from fellow guard Ben Fonnesbeck, who had 15 points on the night and big man Logan Litchford added 12.
Despite the offensive success, the Bears could not find an answer on the defensive end as the Bees posted their highest scoring game of the season, led by junior forward Parker Buchanan with 24 points.
Dahlgren added 17 points while senior guard Bentley Miles got hot in the first quarter and pumped in 12 points, all from downtown in the opening period.
McKee also added 11 before the fourth quarter, when both benches were emptied and the Bees saw 12 different players score at least once.
No bucket in the game was bigger than a 3-pointer by freshman guard Cole Mortensen, who took an outlet pass, streaked down the right side of the court, and buried a deep jumper as the third quarter horn sounded.
After the win, Bees head coach Jace McKee said he was happy with how his team handled the emotions of a rivalry game.
“There are always a lot of emotions running in these games and I’m glad it went our way this time,” McKee said.
If the Bees needed any extra motivation coming into the game, they needed to look no further than last year’s 72-54 loss at the hands of the Bears in Garland.
The two wins move the Bees to 6-2 in the preseason. With the Christmas break this week, the Bees won’t be back in action again until Friday, Dec. 27, when the team will travel to Salt Lake to take on Taylorsville.
The Warriors will come into the match up on Friday with a 5-2 record and are most recently coming off a loss to East.
Much like the Bears, the Warriors also have a big scorer on their roster as senior forward Cameron Millican is averaging nearly 21 points per outing and hasn’t been held under 15 points in any game so far this season.
The game against the Warriors is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Jenna Mortensen slips by a Bear River defender in her first game on the hardwood following a broken hand suffered during volleyball season. Mortensen boosted the Bees with 14 points in the win over the Bears
Bees victorious over Bears following loss to Green Canyon
December 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team had a humbling experience to start the week as the team ran into the buzz saw that is Green Canyon and suffered a 70-25 defeat on Tuesday night before bouncing back on Friday night and beating Bear River, 53-47.
Against Green Canyon, the Bees got down big early as the Wolves were clicking on all cylinders right from the opening tip, posting 30 points in the first quarter alone en route to the comfortable win.
Wolves’ senior Jordyn Thompson stole the show as she posted a career-high 26 points, including connecting on five shots from behind the arc in the win, while Utah State University-commit Kennedy Eskelson and fellow senior, Shante Falslev, each put up 16 points.
The Bees were also frustrated on the offensive side of the court all night and no player was able to crack double-figures. Sophomore Tegan Mecham led the way with seven points.
Looking to move past the loss quickly, the Bees came out firing on Friday night against the Bears and built a 21-7 lead after the first quarter and never looked back on their way to picking up their fourth win of the preseason.
Bees’ senior guard Jacie Anderson posted a personal best 18 points in the win. The Bees also got 14 points from fellow senior, Jenna Mortensen, who played in her first game of the year after suffering a broken bone in her left hand at the end of the volleyball season.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said it was a big lift for the team to have Mortensen back on the floor.
“It was nice to have Jenna back in the line up for us. She shot it well tonight and I think it was a little bit of a relief to our whole team to have one more player back that can really help us in the ways she can,” Dooley said.
The Bears attempted a comeback in the second half behind a lot of full court pressure and got 17 points from senior post player Mckenzie Bywater, but were never able to gain the lead in the second half as the Bees put the game out of reach from the free throw line down the stretch.
Coach Dooley saw some areas for improvement, especially in the team’s handling of pressure defenses.
“[The Bears] want to make the game a little bit ugly and they sure did,” Dooley said. “From our end, we just didn’t respond the way we needed to in the second half. Overall, our girls rocked it and handled it, even with all the emotions that go into a rivalry game like that one.”
The week moves the Bees to a 4-6 mark in the preseason ahead of their holiday break.
The team will be back in action Friday, Dec. 27, when they host Mountain Ridge. The Sentinels from Herriman are in their first year as the school opened its doors this fall, and are still looking for their first win on the season, with a 0-9 mark so far.
When asked about the upcoming game, coach Dooley said, “Obviously [the Sentinel’s] record shows they are struggling a little bit, but you just never know. We’re just going to focus on ourselves and keep moving forward. We want to keep getting better and we can’t relax. While our team did feel some of that relief getting Jenna back, we need those other girls to keep up their energy and focus as we move forward closer to full strength.”
The game against the Sentinels is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Bees victorious over Bears following loss to Green Canyon
December 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team had a humbling experience to start the week as the team ran into the buzz saw that is Green Canyon and suffered a 70-25 defeat on Tuesday night before bouncing back on Friday night and beating Bear River, 53-47.
Against Green Canyon, the Bees got down big early as the Wolves were clicking on all cylinders right from the opening tip, posting 30 points in the first quarter alone en route to the comfortable win.
Wolves’ senior Jordyn Thompson stole the show as she posted a career-high 26 points, including connecting on five shots from behind the arc in the win, while Utah State University-commit Kennedy Eskelson and fellow senior, Shante Falslev, each put up 16 points.
The Bees were also frustrated on the offensive side of the court all night and no player was able to crack double-figures. Sophomore Tegan Mecham led the way with seven points.
Looking to move past the loss quickly, the Bees came out firing on Friday night against the Bears and built a 21-7 lead after the first quarter and never looked back on their way to picking up their fourth win of the preseason.
Bees’ senior guard Jacie Anderson posted a personal best 18 points in the win. The Bees also got 14 points from fellow senior, Jenna Mortensen, who played in her first game of the year after suffering a broken bone in her left hand at the end of the volleyball season.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said it was a big lift for the team to have Mortensen back on the floor.
“It was nice to have Jenna back in the line up for us. She shot it well tonight and I think it was a little bit of a relief to our whole team to have one more player back that can really help us in the ways she can,” Dooley said.
The Bears attempted a comeback in the second half behind a lot of full court pressure and got 17 points from senior post player Mckenzie Bywater, but were never able to gain the lead in the second half as the Bees put the game out of reach from the free throw line down the stretch.
Coach Dooley saw some areas for improvement, especially in the team’s handling of pressure defenses.
“[The Bears] want to make the game a little bit ugly and they sure did,” Dooley said. “From our end, we just didn’t respond the way we needed to in the second half. Overall, our girls rocked it and handled it, even with all the emotions that go into a rivalry game like that one.”
The week moves the Bees to a 4-6 mark in the preseason ahead of their holiday break.
The team will be back in action Friday, Dec. 27, when they host Mountain Ridge. The Sentinels from Herriman are in their first year as the school opened its doors this fall, and are still looking for their first win on the season, with a 0-9 mark so far.
When asked about the upcoming game, coach Dooley said, “Obviously [the Sentinel’s] record shows they are struggling a little bit, but you just never know. We’re just going to focus on ourselves and keep moving forward. We want to keep getting better and we can’t relax. While our team did feel some of that relief getting Jenna back, we need those other girls to keep up their energy and focus as we move forward closer to full strength.”
The game against the Sentinels is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Bees score wire-to-wire victory over Logan before heading to Georgia
December 19, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Senior point guard Riley Dahlgren led four in double figures with 15 points as the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team picked up a pre-region victory over Logan Tuesday, 64-52.
Fellow senior back court running mate Clay Mortensen dropped in 14 points while Jaron Mckee netted 12 and Parker Buchanan added 10 in a game that saw the Bees lead wire-to-wire and move their preseason record to 3-1.
Junior wing Isaac Tuft scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, including hitting four shots from downtown, but he didn’t get much help as no other player for the visitors managed to score more than eight.
The Grizzlies have also picked up three more losses since last Tuesday and sit with a 1-5 preseason record.
The win over the Grizzlies was the last tuneup for the Bees before they ventured to Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend for games against Mount Vernon Academy and Holy Innocents Episcopal.
The team was not available for interview before printing and the results from the game against the Golden Bears from Holy Innocents were not available.
Mount Vernon gave the Bees all they could handle as the Mustangs saw four players reach double-figures in scoring, led by Jordan Wicker and Alex Morge who had 14 points apiece. Jonathan Hammond and freshman standout Dylan Holbrook each netted 10 as the Mustangs took the win 60-52.
Buchanan led the way for the Bees with 16 points while Dahlgren added 14 and McKee chipped in nine in the loss.
The Bees will be on the road again tonight, though a little closer to home, as they’ll travel to Clearfield to take on the Falcons.
The Falcons enter the contest with a 2-4 mark on the season so far and will be looking for a big game from 6-foot 5-inch senior forward Grayson Banks, who is averaging 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per outing.
Dahlgren and Buchanan have emerged as the offensive leaders for the Bees so far in the young season as the point guard is averaging 19.6 points per game while Buchanan is getting 14.2 points per contest on the inside.
The Bees may well need all of those points and more this Friday when the team hosts cross-county rival Bear River, who currently boast the fourth leading scorer in the state across all classifications in senior guard Mark Huber.
Huber is putting up a blistering 26.2 points per game and has lead the Bears to a perfect 5-0 start to their season.
The game against the Bears is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Senior point guard Riley Dahlgren led four in double figures with 15 points as the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team picked up a pre-region victory over Logan Tuesday, 64-52.
Fellow senior back court running mate Clay Mortensen dropped in 14 points while Jaron Mckee netted 12 and Parker Buchanan added 10 in a game that saw the Bees lead wire-to-wire and move their preseason record to 3-1.
Junior wing Isaac Tuft scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, including hitting four shots from downtown, but he didn’t get much help as no other player for the visitors managed to score more than eight.
The Grizzlies have also picked up three more losses since last Tuesday and sit with a 1-5 preseason record.
The win over the Grizzlies was the last tuneup for the Bees before they ventured to Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend for games against Mount Vernon Academy and Holy Innocents Episcopal.
The team was not available for interview before printing and the results from the game against the Golden Bears from Holy Innocents were not available.
Mount Vernon gave the Bees all they could handle as the Mustangs saw four players reach double-figures in scoring, led by Jordan Wicker and Alex Morge who had 14 points apiece. Jonathan Hammond and freshman standout Dylan Holbrook each netted 10 as the Mustangs took the win 60-52.
Buchanan led the way for the Bees with 16 points while Dahlgren added 14 and McKee chipped in nine in the loss.
The Bees will be on the road again tonight, though a little closer to home, as they’ll travel to Clearfield to take on the Falcons.
The Falcons enter the contest with a 2-4 mark on the season so far and will be looking for a big game from 6-foot 5-inch senior forward Grayson Banks, who is averaging 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per outing.
Dahlgren and Buchanan have emerged as the offensive leaders for the Bees so far in the young season as the point guard is averaging 19.6 points per game while Buchanan is getting 14.2 points per contest on the inside.
The Bees may well need all of those points and more this Friday when the team hosts cross-county rival Bear River, who currently boast the fourth leading scorer in the state across all classifications in senior guard Mark Huber.
Huber is putting up a blistering 26.2 points per game and has lead the Bears to a perfect 5-0 start to their season.
The game against the Bears is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Bees win wild one over Warriors, fall to Bulldogs
Senior point guard Riley Dahlgren draws a foul on the way to the hoop against a physical Weber squad last week. Dahlgren poured in a career-high 30 points, including connecting on six shots from behind the 3-point arc to help fuel the Bees’ win
December 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team was back in action twice last week, picking up an overtime win over Weber at home last Tuesday, 87-83, then falling to Provo on the road on Friday, 53-46.
The game against the Warriors may well go down as the game of the year for the Bees, just from an entertainment perspective alone.
The game was tight throughout and neither side could get further than four points ahead before the other would make a run to draw level again.
The game also featured some physical inside play as both teams had size on their front lines and that was where a lot of offense was generated.
The Warriors were lead by Cache Clark with 25 points and senior center Alex Triplett had 21, but they were countered by the Bees front line of Parker Buchanan, who finished with 22 points and Jaron McKee, who netted 12.
With all the physical play inside, both Buchanan and McKee ended up fouling out of the game midway through the fourth quarter and could only watch from the bench as the rest of the game unfolded.
The hero of the game ended up being senior point guard Riley Dahlgren, who poured in a career-high 30 points, including connecting on six shots from behind the 3-point arc.
His biggest 3-pointer came with time winding down in regulation and the Bees trailing by three. Wanting the ball in his hands, Dahlgren pulled a crossover to gain some separation at the top of the key and swished a deep jump shot to tie the game.
While the stands erupted, the excitement wasn’t over yet as the Warriors inbounded the ball to Triplett near midcourt, who shook off a defender and had an unimpeded path to the basket with just four seconds remaining.
Looking to send a message and finish the game in a big way, Triplett drove and went for a dunk as the buzzer sounded. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the dunk attempt hit the back of the rim and came out, setting the stage for the Bees to grab the win in overtime.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Jace McKee simply said, “What a fun high school game. Both teams just continued to battle and compete. It was like we’d make a bucket and then [the Warriors] would make a bucket. Or if we got a stop, then they would get a stop. So it was just nip and tuck the whole way. With that, the student sections were both into it and talking to each other, so it was a great environment to play in. It was exactly what high school basketball should be.”
On Friday night, the Bees looked to keep their perfect preseason record intact at Provo, but the Bulldogs came in with a two-game winning streak of their own after picking up victories over Lehi and Kearns to start the year.
The game was another tight one and saw the Bees jump out early in the first quarter before the Bulldogs reigned things back in and won each of the last three quarters to get the win.
Gabe Gutierrez netted 17 points and grabbed six rebounds to pace the Bulldogs while Isaac Castagnetto added 16 and Lincoln Prager had 12 in the win.
The week moved the Bees to 2-1 on the year and their preseason schedule rolled on last night as the team was back at home to take on Logan (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the Bees will get to take a break from the norm and will head to Atlanta, Georgia, for a two-game road trip. On their trip, they’ll take on Mount Vernon on Friday night, then play Holy Innocents Episcopal on Saturday.
In addition to the games, coach McKee said he was excited for the kids to get both an education and cultural experience from the trip.
“We’ve been planning this trip for a little over a year and we wanted to go play and give our kids a chance to experience the culture and play in a different environment than what they are used to,” McKee said.
After the trip to Atlanta, the Bees will be back in action next Wednesday on the road against Clearfield before hosting Bear River on Friday night.
December 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team was back in action twice last week, picking up an overtime win over Weber at home last Tuesday, 87-83, then falling to Provo on the road on Friday, 53-46.
The game against the Warriors may well go down as the game of the year for the Bees, just from an entertainment perspective alone.
The game was tight throughout and neither side could get further than four points ahead before the other would make a run to draw level again.
The game also featured some physical inside play as both teams had size on their front lines and that was where a lot of offense was generated.
The Warriors were lead by Cache Clark with 25 points and senior center Alex Triplett had 21, but they were countered by the Bees front line of Parker Buchanan, who finished with 22 points and Jaron McKee, who netted 12.
With all the physical play inside, both Buchanan and McKee ended up fouling out of the game midway through the fourth quarter and could only watch from the bench as the rest of the game unfolded.
The hero of the game ended up being senior point guard Riley Dahlgren, who poured in a career-high 30 points, including connecting on six shots from behind the 3-point arc.
His biggest 3-pointer came with time winding down in regulation and the Bees trailing by three. Wanting the ball in his hands, Dahlgren pulled a crossover to gain some separation at the top of the key and swished a deep jump shot to tie the game.
While the stands erupted, the excitement wasn’t over yet as the Warriors inbounded the ball to Triplett near midcourt, who shook off a defender and had an unimpeded path to the basket with just four seconds remaining.
Looking to send a message and finish the game in a big way, Triplett drove and went for a dunk as the buzzer sounded. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the dunk attempt hit the back of the rim and came out, setting the stage for the Bees to grab the win in overtime.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Jace McKee simply said, “What a fun high school game. Both teams just continued to battle and compete. It was like we’d make a bucket and then [the Warriors] would make a bucket. Or if we got a stop, then they would get a stop. So it was just nip and tuck the whole way. With that, the student sections were both into it and talking to each other, so it was a great environment to play in. It was exactly what high school basketball should be.”
On Friday night, the Bees looked to keep their perfect preseason record intact at Provo, but the Bulldogs came in with a two-game winning streak of their own after picking up victories over Lehi and Kearns to start the year.
The game was another tight one and saw the Bees jump out early in the first quarter before the Bulldogs reigned things back in and won each of the last three quarters to get the win.
Gabe Gutierrez netted 17 points and grabbed six rebounds to pace the Bulldogs while Isaac Castagnetto added 16 and Lincoln Prager had 12 in the win.
The week moved the Bees to 2-1 on the year and their preseason schedule rolled on last night as the team was back at home to take on Logan (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the Bees will get to take a break from the norm and will head to Atlanta, Georgia, for a two-game road trip. On their trip, they’ll take on Mount Vernon on Friday night, then play Holy Innocents Episcopal on Saturday.
In addition to the games, coach McKee said he was excited for the kids to get both an education and cultural experience from the trip.
“We’ve been planning this trip for a little over a year and we wanted to go play and give our kids a chance to experience the culture and play in a different environment than what they are used to,” McKee said.
After the trip to Atlanta, the Bees will be back in action next Wednesday on the road against Clearfield before hosting Bear River on Friday night.
Box Elder wrestlers take third at Layton Invitational featuring two 5A powerhouses
Lucas Cochran (182 pounds) had the advantage for much of his brief bout in the Bees’ dual meet against Ridgeline last week, before winning by fall in the second round. Cochran also took first at the Layton Invitational as the Bees took third, just two points behind Wasatch.
December 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In what some might consider as a screening of the 2020 5A state tournament, the Box Elder High School wrestling team took third place at the Layton Invitational.
Newcomer to the 5A classification, Payson, served notice on the other top teams at the tournament, including defending state champion Wasatch, by beating the Wasps by 20 points, 178-158.
It was a very tight battle for the next six spots—including a tie at sixth place—which were only separated by a total of six points in the 31-team tournament.
The Bees finished third behind Wasatch with 156 points led by Box Elder’s two individual champions, Bridger Ricks (113 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182). In all, the Bees had nine wrestlers make the podium.
I felt like we wrestled well overall, but still, have a long way to go,” said Box Elder coach Jed Craner. “The L.I.T [Layton Invitational] gave us a lot to build on, and we have already begun improving on those things we lacked.”
Craner said he pulled two wrestlers—Quinton Knight and Chandler Lamb—from the tournament due to minor injuries, and that those kids could have put the Bees past Wasatch.
Ricks, a sophomore and defending state champion, faced some stiff competition at the tournament, and after recording a major decision in his first match, earned narrow two-point victories in each of the subsequent rounds to claim the title. His opponents included Will Korth, the 4A state runner-up last year, and Quade Smith from Layton, last year’s 6A state champion.
“Bridger Ricks wrestled phenomenally,” Craner said.
Cochran opened his tournament with pins in each of the first two rounds, and followed that up with a 7-0 decision over Mountain Crest’s Brayden Guthrie. In the championship final, Cochran claimed a major decision Bingham’s Mason Christiansen.
The Bees’ heavyweights also made some hay, with Carson Lancaster (195) and Kellen Collier (285) both finishing third. Craner took particular note of Lancaster’s finish, saying that he “really stepped up” in the absence of Knight and Lamb.
In the middleweights, Caleb Marx was the Bees’ bright spot. If the Layton Invitational was a screening for the 5A state tournament, then the second-year wrestler’s fifth-place finish would match Craner’s pre-season prognostication about how Marx might fare.
Craner said that even though the tournament featured three of 5A’s top teams, there is still a long way to go before state.
“I think it will still be very interesting to see what happens when everyone on each team gets down to their target weight class,” Craner said. “I know for us, we will score a lot more points once those target weight classes are reached by a few of our wrestlers. Payson and Wasatch will still be very tough to beat, but our team will be up for the challenge come February.”
Also last week, the Bees won a dual against Ridgeline, 49-29, in a meet that was something of an “all or nothing” affair, with both teams combining for 10 wins by fall.
The Bees earned victories in nine of the 14 weights, with seven of those coming by fall, including from Cochran (182), Lancaster (220), Collier (285), Ricks (113) Wyatt Romriell (120), Isaac Richards (132), and Charlie Donaldson (145).
Of the five bouts in which Ridgline came out on top, one was a Box Elder forfeit at 106 pounds.
December 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In what some might consider as a screening of the 2020 5A state tournament, the Box Elder High School wrestling team took third place at the Layton Invitational.
Newcomer to the 5A classification, Payson, served notice on the other top teams at the tournament, including defending state champion Wasatch, by beating the Wasps by 20 points, 178-158.
It was a very tight battle for the next six spots—including a tie at sixth place—which were only separated by a total of six points in the 31-team tournament.
The Bees finished third behind Wasatch with 156 points led by Box Elder’s two individual champions, Bridger Ricks (113 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182). In all, the Bees had nine wrestlers make the podium.
I felt like we wrestled well overall, but still, have a long way to go,” said Box Elder coach Jed Craner. “The L.I.T [Layton Invitational] gave us a lot to build on, and we have already begun improving on those things we lacked.”
Craner said he pulled two wrestlers—Quinton Knight and Chandler Lamb—from the tournament due to minor injuries, and that those kids could have put the Bees past Wasatch.
Ricks, a sophomore and defending state champion, faced some stiff competition at the tournament, and after recording a major decision in his first match, earned narrow two-point victories in each of the subsequent rounds to claim the title. His opponents included Will Korth, the 4A state runner-up last year, and Quade Smith from Layton, last year’s 6A state champion.
“Bridger Ricks wrestled phenomenally,” Craner said.
Cochran opened his tournament with pins in each of the first two rounds, and followed that up with a 7-0 decision over Mountain Crest’s Brayden Guthrie. In the championship final, Cochran claimed a major decision Bingham’s Mason Christiansen.
The Bees’ heavyweights also made some hay, with Carson Lancaster (195) and Kellen Collier (285) both finishing third. Craner took particular note of Lancaster’s finish, saying that he “really stepped up” in the absence of Knight and Lamb.
In the middleweights, Caleb Marx was the Bees’ bright spot. If the Layton Invitational was a screening for the 5A state tournament, then the second-year wrestler’s fifth-place finish would match Craner’s pre-season prognostication about how Marx might fare.
Craner said that even though the tournament featured three of 5A’s top teams, there is still a long way to go before state.
“I think it will still be very interesting to see what happens when everyone on each team gets down to their target weight class,” Craner said. “I know for us, we will score a lot more points once those target weight classes are reached by a few of our wrestlers. Payson and Wasatch will still be very tough to beat, but our team will be up for the challenge come February.”
Also last week, the Bees won a dual against Ridgeline, 49-29, in a meet that was something of an “all or nothing” affair, with both teams combining for 10 wins by fall.
The Bees earned victories in nine of the 14 weights, with seven of those coming by fall, including from Cochran (182), Lancaster (220), Collier (285), Ricks (113) Wyatt Romriell (120), Isaac Richards (132), and Charlie Donaldson (145).
Of the five bouts in which Ridgline came out on top, one was a Box Elder forfeit at 106 pounds.
The Bees’ big finish
Syracuse’s Carson Roundtree grimaces as he battles against the efforts of Box Elder’s Colton Ward to pin him. Despite a dominant performance by Ward in the 113 pound match, he was unable to secure the win by fall, but ended the bout early with a technical fall, and helped the Bees to a one-point victory, 38-37.
Final bout fall gives Bees one-point win in nail-biting season opener
December 4, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
The Box Elder High School wrestling team faced a 10-point deficit with just two weights left in their dual against Syracuse last week.
Luckily for the Bees, the next two weights featured two of the team’s returning state placers, including state champion Bridger Ricks, who did just enough with a technical fall and a fall to squeak by Syracuse, 38-37, in an exciting beginning to the 2019-2020 season.
While it might be easy to point to the heroics of Colton Ward and Ricks in the last two weights, given the narrow margin of victory some credit should be given to Jacob Richards, who, in a difficult match at 152 pounds, battled hard to not give up the fall, and limited his loss to a four-point major decision.
It was a back and forth affair early on in the dual; The Bees’ Wyatt Romriell (126 pounds) opened the meet with a win by decision, to which Syracuse’s Gunnar Brown responded with a three team points over the Bees’ Garrett Murray. Syracuse and Box Elder both scored wins by fall in the next two weights, leaving the teams tied at nine.
Syracuse then reeled off a string of four wins—three by fall—that left the Bees looking to play catch up, being down 9-31.
In the next six matches, the Bees posted four wins by fall and a technical fall. Beginning at 195 pounds ending with Ricks’ win at 120, those six matches bore out head coach Jed Craner’s analysis of his team. In a story last week, Craner said he was confident in the ability of his light and heavy weights to score points.
This week the Bees have a dual at home against Ridgeline today, Wednesday, Dec. 4, and will compete in the Layton Invitational this weekend.
Final bout fall gives Bees one-point win in nail-biting season opener
December 4, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
The Box Elder High School wrestling team faced a 10-point deficit with just two weights left in their dual against Syracuse last week.
Luckily for the Bees, the next two weights featured two of the team’s returning state placers, including state champion Bridger Ricks, who did just enough with a technical fall and a fall to squeak by Syracuse, 38-37, in an exciting beginning to the 2019-2020 season.
While it might be easy to point to the heroics of Colton Ward and Ricks in the last two weights, given the narrow margin of victory some credit should be given to Jacob Richards, who, in a difficult match at 152 pounds, battled hard to not give up the fall, and limited his loss to a four-point major decision.
It was a back and forth affair early on in the dual; The Bees’ Wyatt Romriell (126 pounds) opened the meet with a win by decision, to which Syracuse’s Gunnar Brown responded with a three team points over the Bees’ Garrett Murray. Syracuse and Box Elder both scored wins by fall in the next two weights, leaving the teams tied at nine.
Syracuse then reeled off a string of four wins—three by fall—that left the Bees looking to play catch up, being down 9-31.
In the next six matches, the Bees posted four wins by fall and a technical fall. Beginning at 195 pounds ending with Ricks’ win at 120, those six matches bore out head coach Jed Craner’s analysis of his team. In a story last week, Craner said he was confident in the ability of his light and heavy weights to score points.
This week the Bees have a dual at home against Ridgeline today, Wednesday, Dec. 4, and will compete in the Layton Invitational this weekend.
Bees show off depth, versatility at Purple and White
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team showed off their skills last Friday at the Purple and White scrimmage in their final tune-up before taking the court in their first preseason game last night on the road against Green Canyon.
After showcasing their dunking abilities and fun-loving demeanors during warmups, the teams were all business on the court after the first tip with each side wanting to earn some bragging rights over their fellow teammates for the upcoming year.
In the end, the White team came away with a 10 point victory, 53-43.
Much more than a result, the Bees showed they have the depth and versatility this season to compete with some of the best in the region and will be looking to get back on top of Region 5 as their last region championship came two years ago in 2017.
This year’s incarnation of the team should feature an inside-out attack highlighted by junior forward Parker Buchanan, who averaged just over 18 points and seven rebounds per game last year.
Senior point guard Riley Dahlgren will be back at the helm of the offense coming off a junior campaign where he averaged 10 points and three assists per outing.
Dahlgren will have a few fellow seniors running with him as Clay Mortensen and Bentley Miles on the wings while Jaron Mckee and Spencer Huff will man the post along side Buchanan.
All of these players contributed at the varsity level last season and will look to have even bigger roles this year as the team looks to improve on their 4-16 overall mark from a season ago.
Following the Thanksgiving break, the team will host Weber in the Bees’ home opener on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Bees will head to Provo on Friday and be back at home the following Tuesday night to take on Logan.
The rivalry game against Bear River will be held Dec. 20 in Brigham City and the team will get their final preseason game Jan. 7 at home against Mountain Crest before beginning region play on Jan. 10 on the road against Farmington.
The Bees will finish their regular season at home on Feb. 14 against Bonneville.
With the implementation of the RPI system this year, every team will make it to the state tournament. The first two rounds will be held at the home sites of the higher ranked team with the quarterfinals and beyond being held at Weber State University.
Before the state tournament begins, the Bees will have to contend with the likes of Bountiful, who is ranked number two in the 5A classification behind Olympus by the Deseret News preseason poll, Woods Cross, who comes in at number seven in the Deseret News poll, and Farmington, who checks in at number nine.
Bees’ volleyball sweep Wasatch in opening round, drop next two to exit state tournament
Tegan Mecham (No. 14) gives an exuberant jump as she and her teammates celebrate a win over Wasatch in the first round of the state tournament last week. The Bees could not keep the momentum going, however, and went three and out in the tournament.
November 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team won their opening round match of the state tournament last Tuesday night when they made quick work of the Wasatch Wasps, winning in straight sets 25-10, 25-9, 25-21.
But the Bees lost their next two games to exit the state tournament.
Following the win over Wasatch, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “Games one and two were about as well as I have seen our girls play. They limited their mistakes, the serve-receive passing was great, and they looked really focused and ready to take on anyone at the state tournament.”
Senior middle blocker Tiffany Hortin lead the offensive attack with nine kills and seven blocks against the Wasps, while the Bees also kept the visitors off balance from the service line, racking up 12 aces on the night, with three different players scoring three aces each.
But the Bees couldn’t build off their momentum too much on Thursday as the team suffered a defeat at the hands of Park City before being bounced from the tournament by region rival Woods Cross.
When asked about the team’s performance at the tournament, Harding said, “I felt like our girls had a little bit of nervousness coming into it. They weren’t nervous about any of the opponents, but just the atmosphere of the state tournament is different and we weren’t really able to calm ourselves down and get into a rhythm. That lead to some unforced errors that ultimately caught up to us and cost us.”
In the first match of the day, the Bees and Miners kicked off the tournament with a very competitive first set, which the Miners ultimately took 26-24.
The Miners found some rhythm in the second set and won 25-12 before the Bees staved off the consolation bracket for one more set when they took the third, 25-22. But they couldn’t overtake the Miners, the fifth-ranked team in 5A as Park City closed out the match in the fourth frame with a 25-23 win.
Of the Miners, Harding said, “They were a really good ball club. We knew it was going to be a tough match coming in and we just didn’t make quite enough plays and came up short.”
The loss sent the Bees into the consolation bracket where they faced the Wildcats, who were beaten by Salem Hills in the second round.
The Bees and Wildcats split their regular season series with each team winning at home, and it was the Bees who came out as the early aggressors and took the first set 25-18.
From there, the Wildcats were able to find the powerful offense that propelled them to a straight-set win over the Bees last month, and took the next three sets 25-12, 25-22, 25-19.
Coach Harding spoke highly of the Wildcats.
“I feel like [the Wildcats] have been one of the best teams in the state all year,” Harding said. “They are a very tall team with a big block and explosive hitters.”
The loss ended the season for the Bees. They ended with a 12-16 overall mark on the year.
The win moved the Wildcats on to face off against Bountiful, who lost their second-round match against Skyline. The Braves took that match in straight sets and went on to take sixth place at the tournament with one more win over Alta last Friday.
In other tournament news, top-ranked Farmington was the only team to get past the second round from Region 5. The Phoenix beat Murray, Skyline and Salem Hills, all in straight sets and looked poised to hoist their first ever state championship trophy until they ran into second-seeded Mountain View.
The Bruins would not be denied their place in history and took the championship in four sets 25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 25-14.
November 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team won their opening round match of the state tournament last Tuesday night when they made quick work of the Wasatch Wasps, winning in straight sets 25-10, 25-9, 25-21.
But the Bees lost their next two games to exit the state tournament.
Following the win over Wasatch, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “Games one and two were about as well as I have seen our girls play. They limited their mistakes, the serve-receive passing was great, and they looked really focused and ready to take on anyone at the state tournament.”
Senior middle blocker Tiffany Hortin lead the offensive attack with nine kills and seven blocks against the Wasps, while the Bees also kept the visitors off balance from the service line, racking up 12 aces on the night, with three different players scoring three aces each.
But the Bees couldn’t build off their momentum too much on Thursday as the team suffered a defeat at the hands of Park City before being bounced from the tournament by region rival Woods Cross.
When asked about the team’s performance at the tournament, Harding said, “I felt like our girls had a little bit of nervousness coming into it. They weren’t nervous about any of the opponents, but just the atmosphere of the state tournament is different and we weren’t really able to calm ourselves down and get into a rhythm. That lead to some unforced errors that ultimately caught up to us and cost us.”
In the first match of the day, the Bees and Miners kicked off the tournament with a very competitive first set, which the Miners ultimately took 26-24.
The Miners found some rhythm in the second set and won 25-12 before the Bees staved off the consolation bracket for one more set when they took the third, 25-22. But they couldn’t overtake the Miners, the fifth-ranked team in 5A as Park City closed out the match in the fourth frame with a 25-23 win.
Of the Miners, Harding said, “They were a really good ball club. We knew it was going to be a tough match coming in and we just didn’t make quite enough plays and came up short.”
The loss sent the Bees into the consolation bracket where they faced the Wildcats, who were beaten by Salem Hills in the second round.
The Bees and Wildcats split their regular season series with each team winning at home, and it was the Bees who came out as the early aggressors and took the first set 25-18.
From there, the Wildcats were able to find the powerful offense that propelled them to a straight-set win over the Bees last month, and took the next three sets 25-12, 25-22, 25-19.
Coach Harding spoke highly of the Wildcats.
“I feel like [the Wildcats] have been one of the best teams in the state all year,” Harding said. “They are a very tall team with a big block and explosive hitters.”
The loss ended the season for the Bees. They ended with a 12-16 overall mark on the year.
The win moved the Wildcats on to face off against Bountiful, who lost their second-round match against Skyline. The Braves took that match in straight sets and went on to take sixth place at the tournament with one more win over Alta last Friday.
In other tournament news, top-ranked Farmington was the only team to get past the second round from Region 5. The Phoenix beat Murray, Skyline and Salem Hills, all in straight sets and looked poised to hoist their first ever state championship trophy until they ran into second-seeded Mountain View.
The Bruins would not be denied their place in history and took the championship in four sets 25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 25-14.
Roller coaster season kept Box Elder football fans on the edge of their seats
November 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team had a roller coaster season of highs and lows that kept fans and spectators on the edge of their seats right up to the final whistle in many games.
In the end, the team finished with a 3-8 overall record and were knocked out in the first round of the state playoffs by Alta.
The Bees’ record is somewhat deceiving this year as the team came out on the short end of five games that were decided by seven points or less.
When asked about all those close losses this season, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said, “It was a season of great games that we came out on the losing end of a lot of those. In every one, it seemed like there was just a mistake or two that cost us and we didn’t respond from that, but man, it was a season of competitive football.”
Gunter continued that “Every team we played, except one, advanced to the second round of the playoffs and that speaks to our competitive schedule. We didn’t have any freebies this year.”
That competitive schedule started the first game of the season when the Bees hit the road to take on 6A power Kearns, who finished as the number five ranked team in 6A and advanced to the 6A quarterfinals before getting beat by Lone Peak.
The Bees took their first of what would be serval close losses as the Cougars came away with the win, 34-30.
Keeping the Golden Spike trophy in Brigham City is a priority for the team every year and the Spike stayed put as the Bees had their best offensive showing of the season in the 54-34 win over Bear River.
The team also picked up an emotional win on homecoming that stuck out for senior tight end Logan Holgate, who was on the receiving end of a 50-yard pass from quarterback Parker Buchanan that won the game.
“That was really cool,” Holgate said.
Holgate finished as the team’s leading receiver this year as he hauled in 30 receptions for 706 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Holgate also used his size and athleticism to lead his team on the defensive side of the ball, coming up with a team-leading 118 tackles, including 15 tackles for a loss.
Another bright spot this season was the emergence of junior defensive end Gavin Hansen, who wreaked havoc in the opponent’s backfield week in and week out. Hansen recorded 15 sacks this season, which was more than anyone else in the 5A classification and was second only to Herriman’s Kula Mana, Jr. in the entire state in any classification.
Hansen attributed his success primarily to instinct and hard work when he said, “It’s just kind of like a killer instinct, I guess. I’m just a ball hawk and I want to go get the ball.”
Hansen went on to say, “I just try to bring the hype to our team. I try to hype everyone up on the team when we make big plays and get everyone on board with having that big energy and emotion.”
In his second season under center, Buchanan more than doubled his output from a year ago with both his arm and his legs as he passed for 1,702 yards and 15 touchdowns and also rushed for 375 yards and another seven scores.
When asked about his improvement this season, Buchanan said, “I learned this year how to stay composed when you get down. We were down a lot in games this year and I learned not to freak out and just stay composed and keep playing through it.”
While looking ahead to next year, coach Gunter said, “We have kind of a small junior class this year, but I’m really counting on those guys that are there to lead in the off-season, be great in their other sports they play, and really building their teammates. That’s really going to be the key for us next year because, again, it’s a smaller group, we’ve got to build the other guys up around us. We have some key guys returning, which helps, but if they don’t bring along the other guys, then it’s tough. If they do, that will really give us a chance to be successful.”
The Box Elder High School football team had a roller coaster season of highs and lows that kept fans and spectators on the edge of their seats right up to the final whistle in many games.
In the end, the team finished with a 3-8 overall record and were knocked out in the first round of the state playoffs by Alta.
The Bees’ record is somewhat deceiving this year as the team came out on the short end of five games that were decided by seven points or less.
When asked about all those close losses this season, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said, “It was a season of great games that we came out on the losing end of a lot of those. In every one, it seemed like there was just a mistake or two that cost us and we didn’t respond from that, but man, it was a season of competitive football.”
Gunter continued that “Every team we played, except one, advanced to the second round of the playoffs and that speaks to our competitive schedule. We didn’t have any freebies this year.”
That competitive schedule started the first game of the season when the Bees hit the road to take on 6A power Kearns, who finished as the number five ranked team in 6A and advanced to the 6A quarterfinals before getting beat by Lone Peak.
The Bees took their first of what would be serval close losses as the Cougars came away with the win, 34-30.
Keeping the Golden Spike trophy in Brigham City is a priority for the team every year and the Spike stayed put as the Bees had their best offensive showing of the season in the 54-34 win over Bear River.
The team also picked up an emotional win on homecoming that stuck out for senior tight end Logan Holgate, who was on the receiving end of a 50-yard pass from quarterback Parker Buchanan that won the game.
“That was really cool,” Holgate said.
Holgate finished as the team’s leading receiver this year as he hauled in 30 receptions for 706 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Holgate also used his size and athleticism to lead his team on the defensive side of the ball, coming up with a team-leading 118 tackles, including 15 tackles for a loss.
Another bright spot this season was the emergence of junior defensive end Gavin Hansen, who wreaked havoc in the opponent’s backfield week in and week out. Hansen recorded 15 sacks this season, which was more than anyone else in the 5A classification and was second only to Herriman’s Kula Mana, Jr. in the entire state in any classification.
Hansen attributed his success primarily to instinct and hard work when he said, “It’s just kind of like a killer instinct, I guess. I’m just a ball hawk and I want to go get the ball.”
Hansen went on to say, “I just try to bring the hype to our team. I try to hype everyone up on the team when we make big plays and get everyone on board with having that big energy and emotion.”
In his second season under center, Buchanan more than doubled his output from a year ago with both his arm and his legs as he passed for 1,702 yards and 15 touchdowns and also rushed for 375 yards and another seven scores.
When asked about his improvement this season, Buchanan said, “I learned this year how to stay composed when you get down. We were down a lot in games this year and I learned not to freak out and just stay composed and keep playing through it.”
While looking ahead to next year, coach Gunter said, “We have kind of a small junior class this year, but I’m really counting on those guys that are there to lead in the off-season, be great in their other sports they play, and really building their teammates. That’s really going to be the key for us next year because, again, it’s a smaller group, we’ve got to build the other guys up around us. We have some key guys returning, which helps, but if they don’t bring along the other guys, then it’s tough. If they do, that will really give us a chance to be successful.”
Soccer club finally finds place to call ‘home’
BE United founder and director of coaching, Nate Bywater, stands inside the soccer club’s indoor practice facility, which he said is not his “pie in the sky” version, but “a step in the right direction.”
November 6, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
In the decade and a half that the BE United soccer club has been officially in existence, and as it has grown to include more than 350 members in its competitive program and 40 volunteer coaches, it has never had an official home.
But all that changed last week when the club celebrated the completion of an indoor practice facility at 2825 S. Highway 89 in Perry with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 28.
“It’s not our ‘pie in the sky,’ version, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said BE United’s founder and director of coaching, Nate Bywater about the 5,400 square foot practice field and attached office space that will act as the first official headquarters and mailing address for the club.“When I started the club in ‘05, this was one of my bigger milestones, or dreams, to kind of make this a sustainable organization, with our own facility, our own headquarters, our own whatever, that kind of puts a little more legitimacy to what we’re doing.”
Also, Bywater hopes it will help his club teams be more competitive against teams from bigger cities with their own indoor facilities.
A press release about the ribbon cutting—which was characterized as a “huge milestone” for the club—quoted Bywater saying, “This is another step we’ve taken to add to our amazing culture and create a space that will allow our kids to continue to excel at this amazing sport. With the great coaches we have in the club and the players’ desire to perfect their sport, having this field house allows us to give more options to our families throughout the year to do just that. Culture is a huge part of having a successful club and part of that is having facilities that promote our athletes’ desire to play more and get better...and this helps them immensely.”
The club is leasing the space from Stokes Construction, whose owner, Ryan Stokes, is using a portion of the building to store equipment. The lease will be paid from a fee included with club dues. The turf and netting were paid for using money the club had saved over the years. Club sponsors and donors facilitated installation of the turf and certain equipment that will be kept at the field house.
More than 100 people attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening on Monday, and teams are already taking advantage of a facility that Bywater said “was at the top of everybody’s list” in the local athletic community.
“If you look at the schedule right now, we’re back, to back, to back [with teams],” Bywater said.
The club is hoping to subsidize the cost of the lease by renting the space to other teams—or for other events, such as birthday parties—when the space is available. According to Bywater, an athletic training company out of Farmington is already in discussion with BE United about using the space to expand its operation further into Northern Utah.
But even more than that, Bywater said, he hopes the facility will be viewed as an investment not just into BE United players, or soccer players generally, but to any youth athlete looking to improve their skills and abilities.
“Having something like this for athletes to come and do their thing is a huge plus,” Bywater said. “Certainly, this is the [BE] United field house...but we’re about the athlete. We know...we don’t just have soccer players on our teams. We have football, basketball, softball, volleyball players and wrestlers and dancers; they just happen to really like soccer, too. We’re all about,’Hey, what can we provide for these kids? What kind of culture can we create with regards to being supportive of those kids who are athletes and who want to be athletes?’”
Any coach or team interested in learning more about reserving the facility can email the club at beunitedsoccer@gmail.com.
November 6, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
In the decade and a half that the BE United soccer club has been officially in existence, and as it has grown to include more than 350 members in its competitive program and 40 volunteer coaches, it has never had an official home.
But all that changed last week when the club celebrated the completion of an indoor practice facility at 2825 S. Highway 89 in Perry with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 28.
“It’s not our ‘pie in the sky,’ version, but it’s a step in the right direction,” said BE United’s founder and director of coaching, Nate Bywater about the 5,400 square foot practice field and attached office space that will act as the first official headquarters and mailing address for the club.“When I started the club in ‘05, this was one of my bigger milestones, or dreams, to kind of make this a sustainable organization, with our own facility, our own headquarters, our own whatever, that kind of puts a little more legitimacy to what we’re doing.”
Also, Bywater hopes it will help his club teams be more competitive against teams from bigger cities with their own indoor facilities.
A press release about the ribbon cutting—which was characterized as a “huge milestone” for the club—quoted Bywater saying, “This is another step we’ve taken to add to our amazing culture and create a space that will allow our kids to continue to excel at this amazing sport. With the great coaches we have in the club and the players’ desire to perfect their sport, having this field house allows us to give more options to our families throughout the year to do just that. Culture is a huge part of having a successful club and part of that is having facilities that promote our athletes’ desire to play more and get better...and this helps them immensely.”
The club is leasing the space from Stokes Construction, whose owner, Ryan Stokes, is using a portion of the building to store equipment. The lease will be paid from a fee included with club dues. The turf and netting were paid for using money the club had saved over the years. Club sponsors and donors facilitated installation of the turf and certain equipment that will be kept at the field house.
More than 100 people attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening on Monday, and teams are already taking advantage of a facility that Bywater said “was at the top of everybody’s list” in the local athletic community.
“If you look at the schedule right now, we’re back, to back, to back [with teams],” Bywater said.
The club is hoping to subsidize the cost of the lease by renting the space to other teams—or for other events, such as birthday parties—when the space is available. According to Bywater, an athletic training company out of Farmington is already in discussion with BE United about using the space to expand its operation further into Northern Utah.
But even more than that, Bywater said, he hopes the facility will be viewed as an investment not just into BE United players, or soccer players generally, but to any youth athlete looking to improve their skills and abilities.
“Having something like this for athletes to come and do their thing is a huge plus,” Bywater said. “Certainly, this is the [BE] United field house...but we’re about the athlete. We know...we don’t just have soccer players on our teams. We have football, basketball, softball, volleyball players and wrestlers and dancers; they just happen to really like soccer, too. We’re all about,’Hey, what can we provide for these kids? What kind of culture can we create with regards to being supportive of those kids who are athletes and who want to be athletes?’”
Any coach or team interested in learning more about reserving the facility can email the club at beunitedsoccer@gmail.com.
Volleyball team downs Braves in season final
November 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team picked up a much-needed boost of confidence heading into the state tournament as the team traveled to Bountiful last Tuesday and picked up a five-set win in both teams’ last match of the regular season.
The first set was hotly contested from the outset, though the Bees showed a lot of mental toughness down the stretch to pick up the first frame 25-22.
The Braves came out firing in the second set and jumped out to an 18-3 lead before the Bees started clawing back thanks to some solid play coupled with some mistakes by the Braves.
According to Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding, that set gave the team the confidence they needed to finish out the match and win, 25-23.
“We were down...in game two, but we stayed positive and chipped away at the lead,” Harding said. “[The Braves] also had a lot of unforced errors, but we kept putting ourselves in good positions to be successful, so that was great to see.”
The Braves weren’t going to go down quietly and took the third set 25-10 before grinding out a 25-22 win in the fourth to force a fifth and deciding game.
The fifth set also stayed tight for much of the way until more unforced errors finally did in the Braves as the Bees took the final frame 15-12.
After the match, coach Harding complimented her team’s ability to come back after making a mistake and stay focused on the task at hand.
“We came out calm, yet excited and that was good to see,” Harding said. “We had good energy and the girls just let their mistakes roll off their back. They kept their heads in it the whole way. That all put us in a great position. That kind of win is what we needed rolling into the state tournament.”
Not everything went the Bees’ way last week, however. Senior outside hitter Jenna Mortensen suffered a broken hand in practice and won’t be able to participate for the remainder of the season.
The final RPI rankings landed the Bees at 12th in 5A, which gave them a first round match at home last night against Wasatch (results not available by press time).
The Wasps came into the match with an 8-14 overall record and finished in fifth place in Region 8, good enough to be ranked 20th in the RPI.
With the new format of the state tournament this year, the Bees needed a win last night to advance to the second and subsequent rounds of the state tournament, which starts tomorrow at the UCCU Events Center on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
The winner between the Bees and Wasps will square off against the winner between Park City and East tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
Once the second round begins, the tournament will look much like it has in years past with teams getting the chance to play multiple games whether they win or lose.
The championship match will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m.
In other news from Region 5, top-seeded Farmington earned a bye into the second round, along with second-place Mountain View and third-ranked Timpview. The Braves finished ranked ninth in the RPI and squared off yesterday at home against Payson. Woods Cross finished just behind the Bees at number 13 and got a home match against Orem.
At the bottom of the region, Viewmont ended up ranked 25th and traveled to Skyline for their first round match last night while Bonneville ended up ranked 27th and took on Lehi in the first round.
See next week’s edition for complete results from the 2019 5A state volleyball tournament.
November 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team picked up a much-needed boost of confidence heading into the state tournament as the team traveled to Bountiful last Tuesday and picked up a five-set win in both teams’ last match of the regular season.
The first set was hotly contested from the outset, though the Bees showed a lot of mental toughness down the stretch to pick up the first frame 25-22.
The Braves came out firing in the second set and jumped out to an 18-3 lead before the Bees started clawing back thanks to some solid play coupled with some mistakes by the Braves.
According to Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding, that set gave the team the confidence they needed to finish out the match and win, 25-23.
“We were down...in game two, but we stayed positive and chipped away at the lead,” Harding said. “[The Braves] also had a lot of unforced errors, but we kept putting ourselves in good positions to be successful, so that was great to see.”
The Braves weren’t going to go down quietly and took the third set 25-10 before grinding out a 25-22 win in the fourth to force a fifth and deciding game.
The fifth set also stayed tight for much of the way until more unforced errors finally did in the Braves as the Bees took the final frame 15-12.
After the match, coach Harding complimented her team’s ability to come back after making a mistake and stay focused on the task at hand.
“We came out calm, yet excited and that was good to see,” Harding said. “We had good energy and the girls just let their mistakes roll off their back. They kept their heads in it the whole way. That all put us in a great position. That kind of win is what we needed rolling into the state tournament.”
Not everything went the Bees’ way last week, however. Senior outside hitter Jenna Mortensen suffered a broken hand in practice and won’t be able to participate for the remainder of the season.
The final RPI rankings landed the Bees at 12th in 5A, which gave them a first round match at home last night against Wasatch (results not available by press time).
The Wasps came into the match with an 8-14 overall record and finished in fifth place in Region 8, good enough to be ranked 20th in the RPI.
With the new format of the state tournament this year, the Bees needed a win last night to advance to the second and subsequent rounds of the state tournament, which starts tomorrow at the UCCU Events Center on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
The winner between the Bees and Wasps will square off against the winner between Park City and East tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
Once the second round begins, the tournament will look much like it has in years past with teams getting the chance to play multiple games whether they win or lose.
The championship match will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m.
In other news from Region 5, top-seeded Farmington earned a bye into the second round, along with second-place Mountain View and third-ranked Timpview. The Braves finished ranked ninth in the RPI and squared off yesterday at home against Payson. Woods Cross finished just behind the Bees at number 13 and got a home match against Orem.
At the bottom of the region, Viewmont ended up ranked 25th and traveled to Skyline for their first round match last night while Bonneville ended up ranked 27th and took on Lehi in the first round.
See next week’s edition for complete results from the 2019 5A state volleyball tournament.
Alta scores game-winner over Box Elder on controversial call
Falling to the ground, Box Elder’s Zeke Martinez flips the ball to a teammate behind him as the Bees tried a desperation hook-and-ladder play in the final seconds of their first-round loss to Alta in the 5A State Tournament.
October 30, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Alta High School senior quarterback Cinco Lucero threw three touchdown passes, two of which went to top receiver Daniel Thomason, as the Alta Hawks knocked Box Elder out of the 5A football playoffs in the first round last Friday by a score of 27-21.
Before the game even started, the Bees knew they would have their hands full with the Hawks, especially in the defensive secondary. Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said, “[The Hawks] are a really good team and they like to throw it a lot, so we’ll need to come ready for that.”
Despite knowing some of their tendencies, the Bees had a tough time handling the Hawks receivers as the team racked up 526 yards of total offense, including 386 yards passing on 24 completions from Lucero.
Thomason proved especially difficult to cover as he was the recipient of 12 of those completions for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
The defenses on both sides of the field held strong in the first quarter as both offenses were stopped on fourth down before the Hawks broke the initial deadlock early in the second quarter when Lucero hit Thomason for a 29-yard score.
The Bees responded later in the second with a nine-play, 67-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Parker Buchanan to Nate Wheatley from 21 yards out that tied the score.
The Hawks got the last laugh of the first half and their next drive was aided by a defensive pass interference penalty on fourth down with just 49 seconds left on the clock.
That penalty kept the drive alive and four plays later, Lucero connected with Jaden Kinnersley from three yards out for the go-ahead score.
The Hawks kept things rolling right after halftime as Lucero again found Thomason, this time with a 78-yard bomb that put the home team up 21-7 early in the third quarter.
The Hawks again threatened later in the third, but the Bees’ defense came up with a big takeaway when Trevin Johnson stepped in front of a pass from Lucero and came away with the interception.
The Bees quickly turned the pick into points as Wheatley found some running room around the end and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14 after three periods of play.
Wheatley finished as the top rusher on the team with 81 yards and one touchdown on just two carries.
Alta looked to have another solid drive in the works early in the fourth quarter until the Bees defense came up with another timely turnover as Wheatley plucked a long pass from Lucero out of the air and kept the Bees comeback hopes alive.
But the Bees’ offense fizzled down the stretch, and the Hawks put the final nail in the coffin on a controversial call.
That call came after Lucero found Thomason at the 10 yard line. The ball escaped Thomason’s control, and members of both teams milled around, thinking it was an incomplete pass. However, officials never blew their whistle—ruling the play a fumble—and as both sidelines yelled at their team to claim possession of the ball, Thomason picked the ball off the turf and ran it in for the score.
“It was a key point in game,” said coach Gunter, who added that he thought the film clearly showed it was an incomplete pass, however, “It wasn’t called incomplete on the field and we needed to pick it up or cover it. We take pride in pursuit to football and we had five guys there.”
The ensuing extra point was blocked by the Bees to keep the score at 27-14 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.
Needing some offense quickly, the Bees went to the air and on their next drive, Buchanan found senior tight end Logan Holgate deep down field for a 46 yard touchdown that set the final margin.
“Even though that [the fumble call] was a bad situation, our guys moved on...and scored to give us a chance to still win the game, instead of blaming or quitting. Even on the last play there was no quit in our team.”
Holgate led all Box Elder receivers with three catches for 82 yards and one touchdown while Buchanan finished the night completing 11 of 22 passes for 180 yards and two scores.
With the win, the Hawks advance in the playoffs and will take on Provo, who knocked off Payson 35-3 in their opening round game, in the second round.
The loss marks the end of the road for the Bees as they finished with a 3-8 mark on the season.
In other playoff news from around Region 5, Bountiful beat Maple Mountain 28-18 and gets a second-round game against top-ranked Salem Hills this Friday. Bonneville edged out Spanish Fork 14-9 and will take on Farmington on Friday while Viewmont got blasted 66-6 by Orem.
Woods Cross was the last team to qualify for a first round bye and will get their second round game on Friday against Lehi.
The playoffs will run until Nov. 22, when the 5A championship game will be held at Rice-Eccles stadium at the University of Utah, starting at 6:30 p.m.
October 30, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Alta High School senior quarterback Cinco Lucero threw three touchdown passes, two of which went to top receiver Daniel Thomason, as the Alta Hawks knocked Box Elder out of the 5A football playoffs in the first round last Friday by a score of 27-21.
Before the game even started, the Bees knew they would have their hands full with the Hawks, especially in the defensive secondary. Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said, “[The Hawks] are a really good team and they like to throw it a lot, so we’ll need to come ready for that.”
Despite knowing some of their tendencies, the Bees had a tough time handling the Hawks receivers as the team racked up 526 yards of total offense, including 386 yards passing on 24 completions from Lucero.
Thomason proved especially difficult to cover as he was the recipient of 12 of those completions for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
The defenses on both sides of the field held strong in the first quarter as both offenses were stopped on fourth down before the Hawks broke the initial deadlock early in the second quarter when Lucero hit Thomason for a 29-yard score.
The Bees responded later in the second with a nine-play, 67-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Parker Buchanan to Nate Wheatley from 21 yards out that tied the score.
The Hawks got the last laugh of the first half and their next drive was aided by a defensive pass interference penalty on fourth down with just 49 seconds left on the clock.
That penalty kept the drive alive and four plays later, Lucero connected with Jaden Kinnersley from three yards out for the go-ahead score.
The Hawks kept things rolling right after halftime as Lucero again found Thomason, this time with a 78-yard bomb that put the home team up 21-7 early in the third quarter.
The Hawks again threatened later in the third, but the Bees’ defense came up with a big takeaway when Trevin Johnson stepped in front of a pass from Lucero and came away with the interception.
The Bees quickly turned the pick into points as Wheatley found some running room around the end and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14 after three periods of play.
Wheatley finished as the top rusher on the team with 81 yards and one touchdown on just two carries.
Alta looked to have another solid drive in the works early in the fourth quarter until the Bees defense came up with another timely turnover as Wheatley plucked a long pass from Lucero out of the air and kept the Bees comeback hopes alive.
But the Bees’ offense fizzled down the stretch, and the Hawks put the final nail in the coffin on a controversial call.
That call came after Lucero found Thomason at the 10 yard line. The ball escaped Thomason’s control, and members of both teams milled around, thinking it was an incomplete pass. However, officials never blew their whistle—ruling the play a fumble—and as both sidelines yelled at their team to claim possession of the ball, Thomason picked the ball off the turf and ran it in for the score.
“It was a key point in game,” said coach Gunter, who added that he thought the film clearly showed it was an incomplete pass, however, “It wasn’t called incomplete on the field and we needed to pick it up or cover it. We take pride in pursuit to football and we had five guys there.”
The ensuing extra point was blocked by the Bees to keep the score at 27-14 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.
Needing some offense quickly, the Bees went to the air and on their next drive, Buchanan found senior tight end Logan Holgate deep down field for a 46 yard touchdown that set the final margin.
“Even though that [the fumble call] was a bad situation, our guys moved on...and scored to give us a chance to still win the game, instead of blaming or quitting. Even on the last play there was no quit in our team.”
Holgate led all Box Elder receivers with three catches for 82 yards and one touchdown while Buchanan finished the night completing 11 of 22 passes for 180 yards and two scores.
With the win, the Hawks advance in the playoffs and will take on Provo, who knocked off Payson 35-3 in their opening round game, in the second round.
The loss marks the end of the road for the Bees as they finished with a 3-8 mark on the season.
In other playoff news from around Region 5, Bountiful beat Maple Mountain 28-18 and gets a second-round game against top-ranked Salem Hills this Friday. Bonneville edged out Spanish Fork 14-9 and will take on Farmington on Friday while Viewmont got blasted 66-6 by Orem.
Woods Cross was the last team to qualify for a first round bye and will get their second round game on Friday against Lehi.
The playoffs will run until Nov. 22, when the 5A championship game will be held at Rice-Eccles stadium at the University of Utah, starting at 6:30 p.m.
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Box Elder volleyball team loses in straight sets to revenge-minded Woods Cross squad
October 30, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer The Box Elder High School volleyball team got a rude awakening in their road match at Woods Cross last Thursday—the Bees’ only one of the week—as the Wildcats avenged a defeat earlier in the season with a straight set win. In their earlier match, each team found some success against the other in spurts, with the Bees getting the last spurt in the fifth set to ultimately grab the win. This time around, however, the Wildcats were able to maintain momentum while closing down some of the holes the Bees exploited in the first match. Woods Cross’ freshman standout, Olivia Ruy, led both sides with 10 kills as the Wildcats took the first two sets 25-19, 25-17. Needing to make a run, the Bees fired back in the third set, though the Wildcats matched them point for point until the score was tied at 24. The Wildcats found enough of a run to score two straight points and took the third set 26-24 to secure the match. The win moves the Wildcats to 9-10 overall on the season while the Bees fall to 10-15 with just one match, which came last night on the road against Bountiful (results not available by press time), before beginning the state tournament on Tuesday. The final RPI poll for the state tournament won’t be available until Friday when the final seedings will be announced. With the changes to the playoff format and use of the RPI ranking system, this year, the first round matches will be held at the home site of the higher ranked team. From there, the winners will advance to the second round and beyond, which will be held at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem beginning next Thursday, Nov. 7. The tournament will wrap up on Saturday with the championship match scheduled to start at 4 p.m. |
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Nate Wheatley finds a hole in the line which he turned into a 19-yard touchdown run for Box Elder’s first touchdown of the game. Wheatley had 24 yards on four carries on the ground, and 28 yards on four receptions in the game.
Bees give up 28 unanswered points in regular-season finale loss to Murray
The Box Elder High School football team dropped their final regular season game last Wednesday, 28-14, at the hands of the Murray Spartans.
The Bees’ defense couldn’t find an answer for sophomore quarterback Kyler Nielsen, who threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The Bees’ drew first blood when senior speedster Nate Wheatley capped off the Bees’ opening drive with a 19-yard touchdown run.
From there, however, the Spartans took control and rattled off 28 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
Nielsen connected with his favorite target, Owen Madsen, early in the second quarter for the first of Madsen’s three touchdown catches in the game to tie the game at seven.
Nielsen hit Madsen again for a 45-yard strike midway through the third quarter to give the Spartans the lead. A blocked extra point left the score at 13-7.
The Spartans then showed off their big play ability as Nielsen found senior wideout Autjoe Soe deep down the field for a 72-yard touchdown. A failed two-point conversion try kept the Bees within striking distance at 19-7.
However, the Spartans seemed to put the game out of reach when Nielsen again found Madsen, this time for a 71-yard touchdown. Another failed two-point try pushed the lead to 25-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Madsen finished the game with seven catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
The Spartans tacked on a 43-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter before the Bees were able to again find the end zone as junior quarterback Parker Buchanan plowed in from eight yards out to set the final margin.
The win moves the Spartans to 7-3 on the year while the Bees finish the regular season with a 3-7 mark.
This Friday, the Bees will head to Sandy to take on Alta in the first round of the state tournament.
Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter feels fortunate to have another game this week thanks to the newly implemented RPI system. When asked about the playoffs, coach Gunter said, “We’re treating this week like the start of a new season. In years past, under the old system, we wouldn’t be playing this week, so we feel fortunate to have another chance to get out there and show what we can do.”
Four of the Bees seven losses this season came by less than seven points, so the team still feels confident that they can have success against teams from around the state. Coach Gunter said, “I think it comes down to the guys being able to trust each other a little more, trust that your teammate will get his job done and trust the system. If we’re all able to trust each other a little more this week, we’ll come out okay.”
The Hawks come into the game with a 4-4 mark on the year, finished in fourth place in Region 7 and were ranked 15th in the new RPI rankings in the 5A classification. The Bees finished ranked 18th by the RPI.
The Hawks have looked to air it out all season and are led by quarterback Cinco Lucero, who has amassed over 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air this season.
Most of the playoff games this week are set to start at 4 p.m. on Friday, but the Bees and Hawks won’t kick off until 7 p.m. because has been selected as the Game of the Week and will be televised on KJZZ.
The Bees’ defense couldn’t find an answer for sophomore quarterback Kyler Nielsen, who threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The Bees’ drew first blood when senior speedster Nate Wheatley capped off the Bees’ opening drive with a 19-yard touchdown run.
From there, however, the Spartans took control and rattled off 28 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
Nielsen connected with his favorite target, Owen Madsen, early in the second quarter for the first of Madsen’s three touchdown catches in the game to tie the game at seven.
Nielsen hit Madsen again for a 45-yard strike midway through the third quarter to give the Spartans the lead. A blocked extra point left the score at 13-7.
The Spartans then showed off their big play ability as Nielsen found senior wideout Autjoe Soe deep down the field for a 72-yard touchdown. A failed two-point conversion try kept the Bees within striking distance at 19-7.
However, the Spartans seemed to put the game out of reach when Nielsen again found Madsen, this time for a 71-yard touchdown. Another failed two-point try pushed the lead to 25-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Madsen finished the game with seven catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
The Spartans tacked on a 43-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter before the Bees were able to again find the end zone as junior quarterback Parker Buchanan plowed in from eight yards out to set the final margin.
The win moves the Spartans to 7-3 on the year while the Bees finish the regular season with a 3-7 mark.
This Friday, the Bees will head to Sandy to take on Alta in the first round of the state tournament.
Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter feels fortunate to have another game this week thanks to the newly implemented RPI system. When asked about the playoffs, coach Gunter said, “We’re treating this week like the start of a new season. In years past, under the old system, we wouldn’t be playing this week, so we feel fortunate to have another chance to get out there and show what we can do.”
Four of the Bees seven losses this season came by less than seven points, so the team still feels confident that they can have success against teams from around the state. Coach Gunter said, “I think it comes down to the guys being able to trust each other a little more, trust that your teammate will get his job done and trust the system. If we’re all able to trust each other a little more this week, we’ll come out okay.”
The Hawks come into the game with a 4-4 mark on the year, finished in fourth place in Region 7 and were ranked 15th in the new RPI rankings in the 5A classification. The Bees finished ranked 18th by the RPI.
The Hawks have looked to air it out all season and are led by quarterback Cinco Lucero, who has amassed over 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air this season.
Most of the playoff games this week are set to start at 4 p.m. on Friday, but the Bees and Hawks won’t kick off until 7 p.m. because has been selected as the Game of the Week and will be televised on KJZZ.
Men’s basketball league registration ongoing
The Brigham City Recreation Department will accept registrations for its men’s basketball league until Nov. 20.
The cost to register a team is $395 for the season, which includes eight games and a double elimination tournament to be played between Dec. 2 and March 17.
Register on line at www.bcutah.org, or by calling 435-734-6607.
Hunters should be vigilant for toxic algal blooms
The state’s Division of Water Quality has issued warnings to hunters participating in waterfowl hunts to avoid harmful algal blooms on Utah waterbodies.
There are currently 30 waterbodies under warning advisories across Utah. In Box Elder County, only Mantua Reservoir is affected by a warning advisory, with the north beach area under a more serious danger advisory.
The Division of Water Quality will stop monitoring for harmful algal blooms on Oct. 31, as temperatures continue to decrease and weather conditions worsen during fall and winter. However, despite some notions that harmful algal blooms only occur during hot summer weather, they can actually persist throughout the fall and winter and continue to pose a potential threat to humans and pets.
Blooms form when naturally occurring cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, multiply to high densities and visibly discolor water and form scum, and mats. Harmful algal blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint, grass clippings or water that has a green or blue-green hue.
Cyanobacteria can produce three kinds of toxins: liver, nerve and skin toxins. Stay away from any water that looks like it might be affected by a harmful algal bloom. Also, be sure to clean waterfowl and any fish well and discard all guts.
Hunters should also keep their dogs away from potentially affected water. The toxins have proved to be fatal in pets. For pets suspected of having been exposed to an algal bloom, seek immediate veterinary care. However, even with proper veterinary care, most exposures are fatal.
Find more information about harmful algal blooms at www.habs.utah.gov.
The Brigham City Recreation Department will accept registrations for its men’s basketball league until Nov. 20.
The cost to register a team is $395 for the season, which includes eight games and a double elimination tournament to be played between Dec. 2 and March 17.
Register on line at www.bcutah.org, or by calling 435-734-6607.
Hunters should be vigilant for toxic algal blooms
The state’s Division of Water Quality has issued warnings to hunters participating in waterfowl hunts to avoid harmful algal blooms on Utah waterbodies.
There are currently 30 waterbodies under warning advisories across Utah. In Box Elder County, only Mantua Reservoir is affected by a warning advisory, with the north beach area under a more serious danger advisory.
The Division of Water Quality will stop monitoring for harmful algal blooms on Oct. 31, as temperatures continue to decrease and weather conditions worsen during fall and winter. However, despite some notions that harmful algal blooms only occur during hot summer weather, they can actually persist throughout the fall and winter and continue to pose a potential threat to humans and pets.
Blooms form when naturally occurring cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, multiply to high densities and visibly discolor water and form scum, and mats. Harmful algal blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint, grass clippings or water that has a green or blue-green hue.
Cyanobacteria can produce three kinds of toxins: liver, nerve and skin toxins. Stay away from any water that looks like it might be affected by a harmful algal bloom. Also, be sure to clean waterfowl and any fish well and discard all guts.
Hunters should also keep their dogs away from potentially affected water. The toxins have proved to be fatal in pets. For pets suspected of having been exposed to an algal bloom, seek immediate veterinary care. However, even with proper veterinary care, most exposures are fatal.
Find more information about harmful algal blooms at www.habs.utah.gov.
Bees edged by Lakers in region football finale
Box Elder running back Trevin Johnson busts through the line for extra yards in the second half against Bonneville. Johnson finished with 47 yards rushing and a touchdown, 20 yards on one reception, and two tackles for loss on defense.
October 16, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Bonneville senior quarterback Brock Samuels tossed two of his three touchdown passes in the second quarter as the Bonneville High School football team came away with a 28-25 win over Box Elder last Friday night in Brigham City.
The Bees improved in several statistical categories over their past outings and racked up more than 300 yards of total offense while running 66 plays and possessing the ball more than 10 minutes longer than the Lakers did on the night.
However, the Lakers overcame those shortcomings by playing some very opportunistic defense and forcing three turnovers—including one in the waning moments of the fourth quarter that ended a potentially game-winning drive for the Bees—while the Lakers didn’t give the ball away once.
The Bees got on the scoreboard first on a 22-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb late in the first quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff, Bonneville sophomore running back Kord Shaw burst through the line of scrimmage and went 60 yards for a touchdown.
Shaw finished the game as the leading rusher on either side of the field with 102 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.
On the final play of the first period, Samuels found Shaw deep down the sideline and Shaw corralled a 41-yard pass over the top of the Box Elder defense for a touchdown.
Following a Bonneville punt in the second quarter that was partially blocked, senior Laker cornerback James Gustaveson jumped a pass from Bees quarterback Parker Buchanan and set the Lakers up inside the 20 with the interception.
Two plays later, Samuels hit Caleb Nielson from nine yards out to push their lead to 21-3 midway through the second quarter.
With just a minute remaining before intermission, the Bees mounted a drive that was capped off with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Buchanan to senior tight end Logan Holgate that cut the Lakers’ advantage to 21-10.
Buchanan ended up completing 16 of 25 passing attempts for 193 yards with one touchdown.
Holgate was the leading receiver as he hauled in four passes for 73 yards and one score.
The Bees kept the offense clicking on the first drive of the third quarter and went 72 yards in 10 plays, with Trevin Johnson punching it in the end zone from one yard out.
Both defenses stiffened and neither side could move the score until the Lakers put together a drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Samuels hitting Carson Jones from a yard out to move the lead to 28-17 with just under nine minutes left in regulation.
Samuels finished the night completing 10 of 17 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
As has been the case all season, the Bees weren’t going to roll over easily and answered back with a drive that Buchanan capped off with a one-yard lunge to cut the lead to 28-25.
The Bees’ defense then forced a three-and-out to give their offense one last chance to steal the win. After moving the ball into Laker territory, Buchanan was hit in the backfield and lost the ball, which the Lakers recovered to preserve the win.
The win improves the Lakers to 5-4 on the season while the loss drops the Bees to 3-6.
The Bees will take the field one last time in the regular season, tonight Wednesday, Oct. 16, on the road against Murray before finding out who their first opponent will be in the state tournament, which is scheduled to start next Friday and Saturday at the home field of the higher ranked team according to the RPI ranking.
The Spartans come into the game with a 6-3 record on the year, though they’ll be looking to get back on track after dropping their last two contests to Brighton and Highland. The Spartans have relied on senior quarterback Jarrett Henriksen, who has tossed 18 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards so far this season.
The game against the Spartans is scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m.
October 16, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Bonneville senior quarterback Brock Samuels tossed two of his three touchdown passes in the second quarter as the Bonneville High School football team came away with a 28-25 win over Box Elder last Friday night in Brigham City.
The Bees improved in several statistical categories over their past outings and racked up more than 300 yards of total offense while running 66 plays and possessing the ball more than 10 minutes longer than the Lakers did on the night.
However, the Lakers overcame those shortcomings by playing some very opportunistic defense and forcing three turnovers—including one in the waning moments of the fourth quarter that ended a potentially game-winning drive for the Bees—while the Lakers didn’t give the ball away once.
The Bees got on the scoreboard first on a 22-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb late in the first quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff, Bonneville sophomore running back Kord Shaw burst through the line of scrimmage and went 60 yards for a touchdown.
Shaw finished the game as the leading rusher on either side of the field with 102 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.
On the final play of the first period, Samuels found Shaw deep down the sideline and Shaw corralled a 41-yard pass over the top of the Box Elder defense for a touchdown.
Following a Bonneville punt in the second quarter that was partially blocked, senior Laker cornerback James Gustaveson jumped a pass from Bees quarterback Parker Buchanan and set the Lakers up inside the 20 with the interception.
Two plays later, Samuels hit Caleb Nielson from nine yards out to push their lead to 21-3 midway through the second quarter.
With just a minute remaining before intermission, the Bees mounted a drive that was capped off with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Buchanan to senior tight end Logan Holgate that cut the Lakers’ advantage to 21-10.
Buchanan ended up completing 16 of 25 passing attempts for 193 yards with one touchdown.
Holgate was the leading receiver as he hauled in four passes for 73 yards and one score.
The Bees kept the offense clicking on the first drive of the third quarter and went 72 yards in 10 plays, with Trevin Johnson punching it in the end zone from one yard out.
Both defenses stiffened and neither side could move the score until the Lakers put together a drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Samuels hitting Carson Jones from a yard out to move the lead to 28-17 with just under nine minutes left in regulation.
Samuels finished the night completing 10 of 17 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
As has been the case all season, the Bees weren’t going to roll over easily and answered back with a drive that Buchanan capped off with a one-yard lunge to cut the lead to 28-25.
The Bees’ defense then forced a three-and-out to give their offense one last chance to steal the win. After moving the ball into Laker territory, Buchanan was hit in the backfield and lost the ball, which the Lakers recovered to preserve the win.
The win improves the Lakers to 5-4 on the season while the loss drops the Bees to 3-6.
The Bees will take the field one last time in the regular season, tonight Wednesday, Oct. 16, on the road against Murray before finding out who their first opponent will be in the state tournament, which is scheduled to start next Friday and Saturday at the home field of the higher ranked team according to the RPI ranking.
The Spartans come into the game with a 6-3 record on the year, though they’ll be looking to get back on track after dropping their last two contests to Brighton and Highland. The Spartans have relied on senior quarterback Jarrett Henriksen, who has tossed 18 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards so far this season.
The game against the Spartans is scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m.
Bees fall to Phoenix, win wild sweep over Vikings
Ally Bullard gently guides a shot over the net and to the opposite side of the court for a point in the Bees’ win over Viewmont.
October 16, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team started round two of region play last week, taking a loss against Farmington on the road on Tuesday, before bouncing back with a straight-set win over Viewmont back at home on Thursday.
Despite the loss on Tuesday, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said following the match against Farmington, “Up to this point, this was the best these girls have played. I mean, we hung with them the entire match. Our defense was amazing, our blocks looked good. It was a really great match for us.”
Harding continued, “But at the same time, I felt like we only had up to two offensive hitters at any point in time. We’ve got to have three or four options for our offense to be successful. So, we’re competing and we’re even taking a set, but I still feel like our offense is average right now. And that’s an amazing thing right now because we played awesome and I still see that we’re not where we can be.”
Farmington, the top-ranked team in the 5A classification flexed their muscles against the visiting Bees and took the first two games 25-15, 25-15 before the Bees found enough rhythm to steal game three 25-19.
Game four was tight to the end until the home team found a rally and took the match 25-19.
With the Vikings in town on Thursday, the Bees came in as the favorites and took the first two sets 25-20, 25-18 before a wild third set that was hotly contested the whole way before the Bees finally found a two-point run to get the win 26-24. In the first set, the Bees were up 15-1 before Viewmont woke up and went on a 19-9 run.
After the match, Harding said, “I feel like tonight, our offense finally took a step forward. To their credit, [the Vikings] were digging up balls they had no business getting and their defense was amazing. That gave them some energy that got their block going, and they were just out there having fun. When you’re up against a team that truly has nothing to lose and is just having fun, it’s a level playing field and we saw that tonight.”
The week moves the Bees to a 9-12 mark overall on the season with just four matches remaining before beginning the state tournament the first week of November.
The Bees played a home match last night against Bonneville (results not available by press time). The Bees got the best of the Lakers in straight sets last month in Washington Terrace.
Tonight, the Bees will host 3A powerhouse Morgan before taking to the road next week against Woods Cross and Bountiful to finish out their region schedule.
The match against the Trojans is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
October 16, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team started round two of region play last week, taking a loss against Farmington on the road on Tuesday, before bouncing back with a straight-set win over Viewmont back at home on Thursday.
Despite the loss on Tuesday, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said following the match against Farmington, “Up to this point, this was the best these girls have played. I mean, we hung with them the entire match. Our defense was amazing, our blocks looked good. It was a really great match for us.”
Harding continued, “But at the same time, I felt like we only had up to two offensive hitters at any point in time. We’ve got to have three or four options for our offense to be successful. So, we’re competing and we’re even taking a set, but I still feel like our offense is average right now. And that’s an amazing thing right now because we played awesome and I still see that we’re not where we can be.”
Farmington, the top-ranked team in the 5A classification flexed their muscles against the visiting Bees and took the first two games 25-15, 25-15 before the Bees found enough rhythm to steal game three 25-19.
Game four was tight to the end until the home team found a rally and took the match 25-19.
With the Vikings in town on Thursday, the Bees came in as the favorites and took the first two sets 25-20, 25-18 before a wild third set that was hotly contested the whole way before the Bees finally found a two-point run to get the win 26-24. In the first set, the Bees were up 15-1 before Viewmont woke up and went on a 19-9 run.
After the match, Harding said, “I feel like tonight, our offense finally took a step forward. To their credit, [the Vikings] were digging up balls they had no business getting and their defense was amazing. That gave them some energy that got their block going, and they were just out there having fun. When you’re up against a team that truly has nothing to lose and is just having fun, it’s a level playing field and we saw that tonight.”
The week moves the Bees to a 9-12 mark overall on the season with just four matches remaining before beginning the state tournament the first week of November.
The Bees played a home match last night against Bonneville (results not available by press time). The Bees got the best of the Lakers in straight sets last month in Washington Terrace.
Tonight, the Bees will host 3A powerhouse Morgan before taking to the road next week against Woods Cross and Bountiful to finish out their region schedule.
The match against the Trojans is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Fourth quarter lifts Wildcats past Bees
Trevin Johnson carries the ball downfield. He scored two of Box Elder’s touchdowns in the Bee’s loss on Friday.
October 9, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff writer
In their third straight game decided by one score or less, the Box Elder High School football team came up just short in a road game last Friday against Woods Cross as the Wildcats found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter to come away with a 27-24 win.
Wildcats’ sophomore standout Luke Hyde moved from his usual position at wide receiver and played under center as quarterback against the Bees. While only picking up 15 yards rushing on the night, Hyde found some yardage when it counted most as he scrambled into the end zone from five yards out with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter for what would be the game-winning score.
It was tough sledding for the Bees all night as the offense amassed just 157 yards from scrimmage while the Wildcats racked up 429, including 252 rushing yards by their committee of running backs.
Despite all their success on the ground, the Wildcats capped their opening drive of the game with a four-yard touchdown pass from Hyde to Braden Freestone. The Bees’ special teams unit blocked the extra point try to keep the score 6-0 after one quarter.
In his first start as a quarterback, Hyde completed 13 of 16 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The Bees took their first lead of the game on their first drive of the second quarter when running back Trevin Johnson plowed across the goal line from four yards out for his first touchdown of the season.
Senior linebacker Logan Holgate recovered a fumble on the Wildcats’ next possession that later set up a 23-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb. The score put the Bees up 10-6 heading into the halftime break.
The Wildcats didn’t waste any time getting the lead back when senior running back Carson Miller busted through the line and went 51 yards for the score on just the third play of the third quarter.
The Bees squashed a later Wildcat drive when senior cornerback Bentley Miles came up with the team’s only interception of the game. That momentum swing lead to Johnson’s second touchdown run, again from four yards out, and a 17-13 lead heading into the final period.
Johnson finished the game with 28 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns.
But the Wildcats took the lead for good early in the fourth when Miller found the end zone for the second time in the game, this time from nine yards out.
Miller ended with a career-high 151 yards rushing on 11 carries with two touchdowns.
The offense for the Bees stalled out in the fourth and the Wildcats capitalized when Hyde capped off their next drive with his touchdown run.
The fireworks weren’t done yet, though, as Nate Wheatley found a crease in the Wildcat kickoff coverage and went 80 yards to the house on the ensuing kick to set the score at 27-24.
After that, the Bees weren’t able to recover an on-side kick attempt and the Wildcats were able to run out the clock to hold on for the win.
The win moves the Wildcats to 6-2 on the year while the Bees drop to 3-5.
Within Region 5, the latest 5A RPI rankings land the Bees at number 17 behind Bonneville (15th), Woods Cross (ninth), and Farmington (sixth), and ahead of Bountiful (18th), and Viewmont (19th).
The Bees will play their last home game Friday when they’ll host the Lakers.
Bonneville comes into the game with a 4-4 mark, and will be looking to improve on their number 15 ranking for the last time before the state playoffs begin after fall break.
The Bees will have a game next Wednesday on the road against Murray.
October 9, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff writer
In their third straight game decided by one score or less, the Box Elder High School football team came up just short in a road game last Friday against Woods Cross as the Wildcats found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter to come away with a 27-24 win.
Wildcats’ sophomore standout Luke Hyde moved from his usual position at wide receiver and played under center as quarterback against the Bees. While only picking up 15 yards rushing on the night, Hyde found some yardage when it counted most as he scrambled into the end zone from five yards out with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter for what would be the game-winning score.
It was tough sledding for the Bees all night as the offense amassed just 157 yards from scrimmage while the Wildcats racked up 429, including 252 rushing yards by their committee of running backs.
Despite all their success on the ground, the Wildcats capped their opening drive of the game with a four-yard touchdown pass from Hyde to Braden Freestone. The Bees’ special teams unit blocked the extra point try to keep the score 6-0 after one quarter.
In his first start as a quarterback, Hyde completed 13 of 16 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The Bees took their first lead of the game on their first drive of the second quarter when running back Trevin Johnson plowed across the goal line from four yards out for his first touchdown of the season.
Senior linebacker Logan Holgate recovered a fumble on the Wildcats’ next possession that later set up a 23-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb. The score put the Bees up 10-6 heading into the halftime break.
The Wildcats didn’t waste any time getting the lead back when senior running back Carson Miller busted through the line and went 51 yards for the score on just the third play of the third quarter.
The Bees squashed a later Wildcat drive when senior cornerback Bentley Miles came up with the team’s only interception of the game. That momentum swing lead to Johnson’s second touchdown run, again from four yards out, and a 17-13 lead heading into the final period.
Johnson finished the game with 28 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns.
But the Wildcats took the lead for good early in the fourth when Miller found the end zone for the second time in the game, this time from nine yards out.
Miller ended with a career-high 151 yards rushing on 11 carries with two touchdowns.
The offense for the Bees stalled out in the fourth and the Wildcats capitalized when Hyde capped off their next drive with his touchdown run.
The fireworks weren’t done yet, though, as Nate Wheatley found a crease in the Wildcat kickoff coverage and went 80 yards to the house on the ensuing kick to set the score at 27-24.
After that, the Bees weren’t able to recover an on-side kick attempt and the Wildcats were able to run out the clock to hold on for the win.
The win moves the Wildcats to 6-2 on the year while the Bees drop to 3-5.
Within Region 5, the latest 5A RPI rankings land the Bees at number 17 behind Bonneville (15th), Woods Cross (ninth), and Farmington (sixth), and ahead of Bountiful (18th), and Viewmont (19th).
The Bees will play their last home game Friday when they’ll host the Lakers.
Bonneville comes into the game with a 4-4 mark, and will be looking to improve on their number 15 ranking for the last time before the state playoffs begin after fall break.
The Bees will have a game next Wednesday on the road against Murray.
Bees split region games, compete at Claim Jumper Invitational
Box Elder's Jenna Mortensen lays down the kill past a defender in the Bee’s 5 set win over Woods Cross.
October 9, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff writer
In an action-packed week, the Box Elder High School volleyball team picked up a region win on Tuesday over Woods Cross, lost in four sets to Bountiful on Thursday, and played four matches over the weekend at the Claim Jumper Invitational tournament hosted by Bingham High School.
The match against the Wildcats was a rollercoaster affair as the Bees as the team had a strong start, hit some lulls in the middle, and found enough energy at the end to pull out a five-set victory.
The Bees took the first set 25-14 and looked to be cruising, but dropped the second set 15-25.
Both sides picked up their intensity in the third and fought for every point, with the Bees finally finding two straight at the end to take the set 25-23.
The Wildcats came back in the fourth and kept the Bees on their heels, winning the frame 25-17 to force a deciding fifth set.
In the last set, the Bees regrouped and found better system play to take the victory 15-9.
Thursday night against the Braves the Bees struggled to find consistent offense against some big hitters on the other side of the net.
The Braves took the first set 25-16 behind the offense of freshman standout Jordyn Harvey, who finished the night with 16 kills, and junior outside hitter Brynlee Kuipers, who finished 10 kills in the win.
The Bees looked much more composed in the second set and built an eight-point advantage at 15-7 before the Braves started chipping away at a comeback.
The Bees had three chances to finish out the set, but couldn’t find the final point and the Braves stormed back to steal the frame 26-24.
The third set played out much like the second where the Bees again built a big lead, only to see it slip away late. Fighting for their lives, the Bees found a small run and took the set 28-26 to force a fourth set.
But too many unforced errors and too much offense from Bountiful ultimately did the Bees in as the Braves took game four 25-11 to secure the win.
The Bees didn’t have much time to regroup as the team was right back on the court Friday night in Salt Lake at the Claim Jumper Invitational.
The team split two games on Friday, getting a win over Tooele (25-14, 22-25, 15-11), before falling to Syracuse in straight sets, 25-15, 25-10.
Saturday was no kinder to the team and the Bees took two more losses. The first loss came in straight sets to Mountain View by a score of 25-21, 25-21.
The afternoon match against Green Canyon started out better and saw the Bees win the first set 25-16.
Then things started to unravel and the Wolves took the second set 25-13. Both teams fought hard for the win and kept the final frame tight, but the Wolves found the plays down the stretch to get the win 16-14.
The week moves the Bees to a 7-11 overall mark on the year, which lands them at number 12 in the 5A classification RPI poll.
The Bees started the week off with a big test against top-ranked Farmington last night on the road (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow night, Thursday, Oct. 10, the team will be at home to take on Viewmont. The Bees will be looking to complete a season sweep over the Vikings after picking up a straight-set win last month in Bountiful. That match is set to start at 6 p.m.
October 9, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff writer
In an action-packed week, the Box Elder High School volleyball team picked up a region win on Tuesday over Woods Cross, lost in four sets to Bountiful on Thursday, and played four matches over the weekend at the Claim Jumper Invitational tournament hosted by Bingham High School.
The match against the Wildcats was a rollercoaster affair as the Bees as the team had a strong start, hit some lulls in the middle, and found enough energy at the end to pull out a five-set victory.
The Bees took the first set 25-14 and looked to be cruising, but dropped the second set 15-25.
Both sides picked up their intensity in the third and fought for every point, with the Bees finally finding two straight at the end to take the set 25-23.
The Wildcats came back in the fourth and kept the Bees on their heels, winning the frame 25-17 to force a deciding fifth set.
In the last set, the Bees regrouped and found better system play to take the victory 15-9.
Thursday night against the Braves the Bees struggled to find consistent offense against some big hitters on the other side of the net.
The Braves took the first set 25-16 behind the offense of freshman standout Jordyn Harvey, who finished the night with 16 kills, and junior outside hitter Brynlee Kuipers, who finished 10 kills in the win.
The Bees looked much more composed in the second set and built an eight-point advantage at 15-7 before the Braves started chipping away at a comeback.
The Bees had three chances to finish out the set, but couldn’t find the final point and the Braves stormed back to steal the frame 26-24.
The third set played out much like the second where the Bees again built a big lead, only to see it slip away late. Fighting for their lives, the Bees found a small run and took the set 28-26 to force a fourth set.
But too many unforced errors and too much offense from Bountiful ultimately did the Bees in as the Braves took game four 25-11 to secure the win.
The Bees didn’t have much time to regroup as the team was right back on the court Friday night in Salt Lake at the Claim Jumper Invitational.
The team split two games on Friday, getting a win over Tooele (25-14, 22-25, 15-11), before falling to Syracuse in straight sets, 25-15, 25-10.
Saturday was no kinder to the team and the Bees took two more losses. The first loss came in straight sets to Mountain View by a score of 25-21, 25-21.
The afternoon match against Green Canyon started out better and saw the Bees win the first set 25-16.
Then things started to unravel and the Wolves took the second set 25-13. Both teams fought hard for the win and kept the final frame tight, but the Wolves found the plays down the stretch to get the win 16-14.
The week moves the Bees to a 7-11 overall mark on the year, which lands them at number 12 in the 5A classification RPI poll.
The Bees started the week off with a big test against top-ranked Farmington last night on the road (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow night, Thursday, Oct. 10, the team will be at home to take on Viewmont. The Bees will be looking to complete a season sweep over the Vikings after picking up a straight-set win last month in Bountiful. That match is set to start at 6 p.m.
Homecoming celebration
Logan Holgate rushes from the field after recording a sack on defense to end the game with a 21-14 win last Friday. On the previous play, when Holgate was playing receiver for the Bees’ offense, he hauled in a 45-yard catch to put the Bees ahead.
Last-second strike gives Bees dramatic homecoming victory over Bountiful
October 2, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
With a tied score, just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and nearly half the field standing between them the end zone, it looked like Box Elder High School’s homecoming football game was headed to overtime.
But just as he had all night, quarterback Parker Buchanan got it done for the Bees, finding receiver Logan Holgate with a 45-yard bomb with five seconds left that gave the Bees the lead for good in their 21-14 win over Bountiful.
Buchanan was flushed out of the pocket with time winding down and uncorked a bomb that Holgate plucked out of the sky from over a defender and nearly walked it into the end zone from about five yards out.
Buchanan had a big night, all three of the Bees’ touchdowns, completing two through the air and another on the ground to Box Elder secure their first region win of the season.
“We kept competing together even through the difficult times,” Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter wrote in an email. “It gave us a chance to win and we had some players make plays when it counted. We had our defense, special teams and offense working together.”
Gunter cited as an example the Bees’ second to last offensive possession, where they were forced to punt. Punter Keaton Lamb pinned Bountiful on their five, and the defense made a stand, forcing Bountiful to punt. The offense then took over and put the ball in the end zone for the winning score.
However, neither team could break through until late in the second quarter when Bountiful quarterback Peyton Beck found some room to run for the Braves and scampered to the end zone from 18 yards out.
The Bees leveled the score on their next drive as Buchanan ripped off a 25-yard run before capping the drive with a 20-yard scramble and score.
A Box Elder turnover set up a Braves’ touchdown late in the third quarter after Bees’ running back Trevin Johnson fumbled at the 30-yard line and the ball was recovered by Bountiful.
Four plays later, Bountiful senior tail back Jared McCann plowed in from three yards out to give the Braves a 14-7 lead after three periods.
The Bees drew level again when Buchanan found senior speedster Nate Wheatley. Wheatley ran the reception the majority of 80 yards for a touchdown.
Both defenses stayed strong and forced a series of punts until the Bees broke through just before the final whistle.
Buchanan finished the night completing 7 of 12 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns.
Wheatley led all receivers with two catches for 99 yards and a touchdown while Holgate corralled three passes for 64 yards and a score in the win.
Defensively, junior lineman Gavin Hansen blew up play after play and finished the game with 11 solo tackles, five of which were for loss, including two quarterback sacks.
“Gavin Hansen has been so consistent every week and he had a special game on Friday,” Gunter wrote. “He is a hard worker and it shows up every Friday night. He is very quick off the ball and causes QBs to hurry their throw. He had 11 tackles this week and seemed to be everywhere. He is a great example of SWARM, which is our acronym for our defense.”
Holgate also made a big impact from his linebacker spot and racked up nine tackles, four of which were for a loss. One of those brought about a dramatic end to the game, as Holgate sacked Beck one play after he pulled in the game-winning catch.
While the Bees did most of their damage through the air, the Braves got the biggest contribution from their ground game as McCann tallied 97 yards on 21 carries with one touchdown.
The win improves the Bees to 3-4 overall on the season and lands them at number 18 in the 5A RPI rankings this week.
The Bees will be on the road this week to take on Woods Cross. The Wildcats come into the game with a 5-2 record overall, though they have dropped their last two games to region opponents Farmington and Bonneville after opening the season with five straight wins.
The Wildcats will again look to lean on senior quarterback Carter Weierman, who has tallied 1,733 yards passing and 21 touchdowns so far this season. His favorite target is sophomore standout Luke Hyde, who has amassed 646 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through seven games.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m.
Last-second strike gives Bees dramatic homecoming victory over Bountiful
October 2, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
With a tied score, just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and nearly half the field standing between them the end zone, it looked like Box Elder High School’s homecoming football game was headed to overtime.
But just as he had all night, quarterback Parker Buchanan got it done for the Bees, finding receiver Logan Holgate with a 45-yard bomb with five seconds left that gave the Bees the lead for good in their 21-14 win over Bountiful.
Buchanan was flushed out of the pocket with time winding down and uncorked a bomb that Holgate plucked out of the sky from over a defender and nearly walked it into the end zone from about five yards out.
Buchanan had a big night, all three of the Bees’ touchdowns, completing two through the air and another on the ground to Box Elder secure their first region win of the season.
“We kept competing together even through the difficult times,” Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter wrote in an email. “It gave us a chance to win and we had some players make plays when it counted. We had our defense, special teams and offense working together.”
Gunter cited as an example the Bees’ second to last offensive possession, where they were forced to punt. Punter Keaton Lamb pinned Bountiful on their five, and the defense made a stand, forcing Bountiful to punt. The offense then took over and put the ball in the end zone for the winning score.
However, neither team could break through until late in the second quarter when Bountiful quarterback Peyton Beck found some room to run for the Braves and scampered to the end zone from 18 yards out.
The Bees leveled the score on their next drive as Buchanan ripped off a 25-yard run before capping the drive with a 20-yard scramble and score.
A Box Elder turnover set up a Braves’ touchdown late in the third quarter after Bees’ running back Trevin Johnson fumbled at the 30-yard line and the ball was recovered by Bountiful.
Four plays later, Bountiful senior tail back Jared McCann plowed in from three yards out to give the Braves a 14-7 lead after three periods.
The Bees drew level again when Buchanan found senior speedster Nate Wheatley. Wheatley ran the reception the majority of 80 yards for a touchdown.
Both defenses stayed strong and forced a series of punts until the Bees broke through just before the final whistle.
Buchanan finished the night completing 7 of 12 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns.
Wheatley led all receivers with two catches for 99 yards and a touchdown while Holgate corralled three passes for 64 yards and a score in the win.
Defensively, junior lineman Gavin Hansen blew up play after play and finished the game with 11 solo tackles, five of which were for loss, including two quarterback sacks.
“Gavin Hansen has been so consistent every week and he had a special game on Friday,” Gunter wrote. “He is a hard worker and it shows up every Friday night. He is very quick off the ball and causes QBs to hurry their throw. He had 11 tackles this week and seemed to be everywhere. He is a great example of SWARM, which is our acronym for our defense.”
Holgate also made a big impact from his linebacker spot and racked up nine tackles, four of which were for a loss. One of those brought about a dramatic end to the game, as Holgate sacked Beck one play after he pulled in the game-winning catch.
While the Bees did most of their damage through the air, the Braves got the biggest contribution from their ground game as McCann tallied 97 yards on 21 carries with one touchdown.
The win improves the Bees to 3-4 overall on the season and lands them at number 18 in the 5A RPI rankings this week.
The Bees will be on the road this week to take on Woods Cross. The Wildcats come into the game with a 5-2 record overall, though they have dropped their last two games to region opponents Farmington and Bonneville after opening the season with five straight wins.
The Wildcats will again look to lean on senior quarterback Carter Weierman, who has tallied 1,733 yards passing and 21 touchdowns so far this season. His favorite target is sophomore standout Luke Hyde, who has amassed 646 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through seven games.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m.
Bees’ volleyball team grabs wins over Vikings, Lakers
October 2, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a busy week for the Box Elder High school volleyball team, the girls did what their coaches asked, to stay focused and come both physically and mentally prepared for each match as the team picked up a pair of straight-set wins on the road over Viewmont last Tuesday, and Bonneville on Thursday.
The match against the Vikings proved tougher than the Bees might have first anticipated as the Viewmont entered the match with just a 2-16 overall record and an RPI ranking of 28 out of 29 teams in the 5A classification.
Despite that, game one came down to the wire as neither side could gain much of an edge. The Bees finally strung together two straight points late and took the win 26-24.
After that win, the Bees’ confidence grew and generated momentum while the Vikings looked dazed from the loss and the Bees took the next set 25-4.
The Vikings regrouped some in the final frame, but the Bees had enough firepower to complete the sweep by a score of 25-19.
On Thursday night, the Bees started out strong before the Lakers could find much in the way of offense.
The Bees jumped ahead early and never looked back in the first set, taking it 25-15.
The momentum really swung the Bee’s way in the second set as the Lakers struggled to find any sort of rhythm and the Bees ran away with a 25-7 win.
Bonneville made a surge in the third set with some better system play, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the sweep as the Bees took the third frame 25-21.
Following the week, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding expressed her pride about the team when she said, “What a week! To have two away games over homecoming week is mentally tough and physically challenging. These girls were focused, goal-driven, and outstanding this week. We accomplished some big statistical goals and that’s exactly what we needed to move on and get ready to play Woods Cross and Bountiful.”
The Bees played the first of two scheduled home games when they hosted the Wildcats last night (results not available by press time).
Bountiful will be in town on Thursday night with the match scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The week landed the Bees ranked 14th in the RPI poll. Farmington picked up two more wins to stay ranked number one while the Braves start out the week ranked number 11. The Wildcats sit at number 17 while the Lakers come in at number 24 and the Vikings bring up the rear at number 28.
October 2, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a busy week for the Box Elder High school volleyball team, the girls did what their coaches asked, to stay focused and come both physically and mentally prepared for each match as the team picked up a pair of straight-set wins on the road over Viewmont last Tuesday, and Bonneville on Thursday.
The match against the Vikings proved tougher than the Bees might have first anticipated as the Viewmont entered the match with just a 2-16 overall record and an RPI ranking of 28 out of 29 teams in the 5A classification.
Despite that, game one came down to the wire as neither side could gain much of an edge. The Bees finally strung together two straight points late and took the win 26-24.
After that win, the Bees’ confidence grew and generated momentum while the Vikings looked dazed from the loss and the Bees took the next set 25-4.
The Vikings regrouped some in the final frame, but the Bees had enough firepower to complete the sweep by a score of 25-19.
On Thursday night, the Bees started out strong before the Lakers could find much in the way of offense.
The Bees jumped ahead early and never looked back in the first set, taking it 25-15.
The momentum really swung the Bee’s way in the second set as the Lakers struggled to find any sort of rhythm and the Bees ran away with a 25-7 win.
Bonneville made a surge in the third set with some better system play, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the sweep as the Bees took the third frame 25-21.
Following the week, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding expressed her pride about the team when she said, “What a week! To have two away games over homecoming week is mentally tough and physically challenging. These girls were focused, goal-driven, and outstanding this week. We accomplished some big statistical goals and that’s exactly what we needed to move on and get ready to play Woods Cross and Bountiful.”
The Bees played the first of two scheduled home games when they hosted the Wildcats last night (results not available by press time).
Bountiful will be in town on Thursday night with the match scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The week landed the Bees ranked 14th in the RPI poll. Farmington picked up two more wins to stay ranked number one while the Braves start out the week ranked number 11. The Wildcats sit at number 17 while the Lakers come in at number 24 and the Vikings bring up the rear at number 28.
Football team edged by Vikings
September 25, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff writer
Quarterback Will Schultz connected with Kaden Smith for three touchdowns as the Viewmont High School football team outlasted Box Elder last Friday, 20-15.
Following the game, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter recognized that if a few key moments had gone differently, the outcome would have been different.
“We made some mistakes in the game and those cost us,” Gunter said. “We’re also working a process and I believe that if our team just keeps working the process and keeps improving, we’ll be okay.”
Coach Gunter went on to explain that the difference between winning and losing is very subtle when he said, “I really feel like we’re so close. There are just little plays here and there and if we can just keep improving, we’re going to win those close games and be on the other side of the story.”
The defenses set the tone of the game early and throughout as yardage came at a premium, especially for the Bees as they were held to just 162 yards from scrimmage while the Vikings gained 355.
Neither side could break a 0-0 deadlock until Schultz found Smith from six yards out for the duo’s first score of the night and a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Bees responded on their next possession and capped a 65-yard drive with quarterback Parker Buchanan finding tight end Logan Holgate for a 20-yard touchdown. Buchanan then found wideout Zeke Martinez on the two-point conversion to give the Bees a one-point edge heading into the halftime break.
The Vikings regained the lead for good in the third quarter when Schultz again hit Smith, this time from 15 yards out.
A failed extra point try left the score at 13-8 until later in the quarter when the Schultz/Smith combination hooked up for their final score from 32 yards away to move the margin to 20-8.
Schultz finished the night completing 11 of 20 passing attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns while Smith led all receivers in the game with six catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns.
As the Vikings tried to run out the clock late, the Bees’ defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Brayden Peterson. Two plays later, Buchanan found senior wide receiver Nate Wheatley who went 40 yards for a touchdown.
Buchanan ended his evening completing 7 of 16 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns while Wheatley lead the Bees receiving corps with three catches for 61 yards and one score.
The Bees got one more chance late to try and steal the win, but a deep pass by Buchanan was picked off by Smith to help the Vikings preserve the win.
The win improves the Vikings to 2-4 on the year while the loss drops the Bees to 2-4 overall.
This week brings homecoming festivities to Brigham City along with the team hosting Bountiful at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
The Braves come into the week with a 1-4, though they are coming off their first win of the season as they knocked off Bonneville, 29-14, last week. In the other Region 5 game last week, Farmington toppled Woods Cross 41-21.
Coming into the week, the Bees sit at 18th in the 5A classification according to the MaxPreps RPI system. The Phoenix are the highest ranked team from Region 5 at number two, while the Wildcats claim the fifth spot, the Lakers come in at number 16, the Braves are ranked 19th and the Vikings sit at 21.
Quarterback Will Schultz connected with Kaden Smith for three touchdowns as the Viewmont High School football team outlasted Box Elder last Friday, 20-15.
Following the game, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter recognized that if a few key moments had gone differently, the outcome would have been different.
“We made some mistakes in the game and those cost us,” Gunter said. “We’re also working a process and I believe that if our team just keeps working the process and keeps improving, we’ll be okay.”
Coach Gunter went on to explain that the difference between winning and losing is very subtle when he said, “I really feel like we’re so close. There are just little plays here and there and if we can just keep improving, we’re going to win those close games and be on the other side of the story.”
The defenses set the tone of the game early and throughout as yardage came at a premium, especially for the Bees as they were held to just 162 yards from scrimmage while the Vikings gained 355.
Neither side could break a 0-0 deadlock until Schultz found Smith from six yards out for the duo’s first score of the night and a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Bees responded on their next possession and capped a 65-yard drive with quarterback Parker Buchanan finding tight end Logan Holgate for a 20-yard touchdown. Buchanan then found wideout Zeke Martinez on the two-point conversion to give the Bees a one-point edge heading into the halftime break.
The Vikings regained the lead for good in the third quarter when Schultz again hit Smith, this time from 15 yards out.
A failed extra point try left the score at 13-8 until later in the quarter when the Schultz/Smith combination hooked up for their final score from 32 yards away to move the margin to 20-8.
Schultz finished the night completing 11 of 20 passing attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns while Smith led all receivers in the game with six catches for 94 yards and three touchdowns.
As the Vikings tried to run out the clock late, the Bees’ defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Brayden Peterson. Two plays later, Buchanan found senior wide receiver Nate Wheatley who went 40 yards for a touchdown.
Buchanan ended his evening completing 7 of 16 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns while Wheatley lead the Bees receiving corps with three catches for 61 yards and one score.
The Bees got one more chance late to try and steal the win, but a deep pass by Buchanan was picked off by Smith to help the Vikings preserve the win.
The win improves the Vikings to 2-4 on the year while the loss drops the Bees to 2-4 overall.
This week brings homecoming festivities to Brigham City along with the team hosting Bountiful at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
The Braves come into the week with a 1-4, though they are coming off their first win of the season as they knocked off Bonneville, 29-14, last week. In the other Region 5 game last week, Farmington toppled Woods Cross 41-21.
Coming into the week, the Bees sit at 18th in the 5A classification according to the MaxPreps RPI system. The Phoenix are the highest ranked team from Region 5 at number two, while the Wildcats claim the fifth spot, the Lakers come in at number 16, the Braves are ranked 19th and the Vikings sit at 21.
Box Elder's Lucas Taylor pulls in a catch while taking a big hit from a Farmington defender. This catch set up a touchdown that Taylor would run in.
Turnovers doom Bees against Phoenix
Sept. 18, 2019 · By Jeremy Jones · Staff writer
Turnovers and a seemingly infinite three feet played critical roles in the Box Elder High School football team’s 8-25 loss to Farmington in the Bees’ region opener.
Four interceptions and two lost fumbles for the Bees created a significant hurdle for the Bees, but solid defensive play kept the Phoenix from stealing too much momentum, early.
Where the momentum took a big swing was a series in the third quarter where the Bees, down 8-13, had two plays to go one yard to take the lead.
But that one yard proved too long for the Bees.
“We had some amazing defensive stands time after time,” said head coach Robbie Gunter. “They [the defense] did a great job getting us the ball back again and again. Even after some offensive mistakes, the defense played great. Then we still had a chance to win that stinking game, but we didn’t punch it in and I feel like that was a pretty pivotal point in the game.”
Following that series, Farmington outscored the Bees 12-0.
The Phoenix drew first blood on the second play of the game with some gadgetry as senior wideout Carver Lopez took what looked like a screen pass, then stepped back and found fellow senior Andrew Quinton wide open down the field for a 65-yard touchdown.
The Bees’ offense answered on their next possession with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run from senior running back Lucas Taylor. Quarterback and placeholder Parker Buchanan scrambled in for a two-point conversion to give the Bees an 8-7 lead.
From there, miscues began plaguing the Bees as the team started the second quarter with an interception that set the Phoenix up on the 45-yard line.
The defense erased that mistake on the next play as Box Elder senior cornerback Bentley Miles won a jump ball on the 15-yard line to keep the Bees in the lead.
But the Phoenix took the lead back for good when quarterback Wyatt Evertsen connected with a streaking Jeremy Wilcox down the middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown. The point after attempt was pushed wide to keep the score at 13-8.
The Bees looked to be gaining some momentum just before the halftime break, but were stopped short when a Buchanan pass was intercepted at the 10 yard line to keep the visitors up at the intermission.
The third quarter didn’t start out any better for the Bees as the Phoenix forced and recovered a fumble at the 29-yard line on just the second play from scrimmage to set themselves up to add to their lead.
But the Bees defense stood strong, forcing a field goal attempt and then blocked it to stay within one score.
A botched punt gave the Phoenix good field position in scoring territory, but the Bees defense recorded their second takeaway of the night when junior Gavin Hansen pounced on a loose ball to get the Bees’ offense back on the field.
On their ensuing drive, the Bees drove the length of the field and had two cracks at the end zone from inside the one yard line, but were turned back both times and came away empty handed.
A second lost fumble by the Bees midway through the fourth quarter set up another touchdown pass from Evertsen to Wilcox, this time from 25 yards out, to push the lead to 19-8.
Evertsen finished the night completing 12 of 27 passing attempts for 177 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Wilcox led all receivers in the game with six catches for 140 yards and the two touchdowns.
The Phoenix added one more touchdown late from running back Cannon Toone as he broke through the line and scampered in from 38 yards out to set the final margin. Toone ended with 86 yards on 17 carries.
Buchanan and Harrison Hodgson each got 13 carries for the Bees and Hodgson picked up 59 yards on the night while Buchanan totaled 56. Through the air, Buchanan completed 11 of 31 passes for 135 yards.
Despite the loss, coach Gunter said he was impressed with the team’s fighting spirit and optimism until the final whistle.
“Our kids played hard and they never quit,” Gunter said. “I was so impressed with their never quit attitude. Right to the end, they were competing and that was great to see.”
The win moves the Phoenix to 4-1 on the year while the Bees drop to 2-3 overall.
The Bees will be on the road this Friday night when they take on Woods Cross.
The Wildcats have sprinted out to a 5-0 record so far and picked up a 41-24 win over Bountiful last week in both team’s region opener.
The Wildcats will be looking for another big game from senior quarterback Carter Weierman, who has tallied over 1,400 yards through the air and 18 touchdown passes to date. Weierman’s favorite target so far has been sophomore standout Luke Hyde, who has hauled in 38 catches for 538 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Turnovers and a seemingly infinite three feet played critical roles in the Box Elder High School football team’s 8-25 loss to Farmington in the Bees’ region opener.
Four interceptions and two lost fumbles for the Bees created a significant hurdle for the Bees, but solid defensive play kept the Phoenix from stealing too much momentum, early.
Where the momentum took a big swing was a series in the third quarter where the Bees, down 8-13, had two plays to go one yard to take the lead.
But that one yard proved too long for the Bees.
“We had some amazing defensive stands time after time,” said head coach Robbie Gunter. “They [the defense] did a great job getting us the ball back again and again. Even after some offensive mistakes, the defense played great. Then we still had a chance to win that stinking game, but we didn’t punch it in and I feel like that was a pretty pivotal point in the game.”
Following that series, Farmington outscored the Bees 12-0.
The Phoenix drew first blood on the second play of the game with some gadgetry as senior wideout Carver Lopez took what looked like a screen pass, then stepped back and found fellow senior Andrew Quinton wide open down the field for a 65-yard touchdown.
The Bees’ offense answered on their next possession with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run from senior running back Lucas Taylor. Quarterback and placeholder Parker Buchanan scrambled in for a two-point conversion to give the Bees an 8-7 lead.
From there, miscues began plaguing the Bees as the team started the second quarter with an interception that set the Phoenix up on the 45-yard line.
The defense erased that mistake on the next play as Box Elder senior cornerback Bentley Miles won a jump ball on the 15-yard line to keep the Bees in the lead.
But the Phoenix took the lead back for good when quarterback Wyatt Evertsen connected with a streaking Jeremy Wilcox down the middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown. The point after attempt was pushed wide to keep the score at 13-8.
The Bees looked to be gaining some momentum just before the halftime break, but were stopped short when a Buchanan pass was intercepted at the 10 yard line to keep the visitors up at the intermission.
The third quarter didn’t start out any better for the Bees as the Phoenix forced and recovered a fumble at the 29-yard line on just the second play from scrimmage to set themselves up to add to their lead.
But the Bees defense stood strong, forcing a field goal attempt and then blocked it to stay within one score.
A botched punt gave the Phoenix good field position in scoring territory, but the Bees defense recorded their second takeaway of the night when junior Gavin Hansen pounced on a loose ball to get the Bees’ offense back on the field.
On their ensuing drive, the Bees drove the length of the field and had two cracks at the end zone from inside the one yard line, but were turned back both times and came away empty handed.
A second lost fumble by the Bees midway through the fourth quarter set up another touchdown pass from Evertsen to Wilcox, this time from 25 yards out, to push the lead to 19-8.
Evertsen finished the night completing 12 of 27 passing attempts for 177 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Wilcox led all receivers in the game with six catches for 140 yards and the two touchdowns.
The Phoenix added one more touchdown late from running back Cannon Toone as he broke through the line and scampered in from 38 yards out to set the final margin. Toone ended with 86 yards on 17 carries.
Buchanan and Harrison Hodgson each got 13 carries for the Bees and Hodgson picked up 59 yards on the night while Buchanan totaled 56. Through the air, Buchanan completed 11 of 31 passes for 135 yards.
Despite the loss, coach Gunter said he was impressed with the team’s fighting spirit and optimism until the final whistle.
“Our kids played hard and they never quit,” Gunter said. “I was so impressed with their never quit attitude. Right to the end, they were competing and that was great to see.”
The win moves the Phoenix to 4-1 on the year while the Bees drop to 2-3 overall.
The Bees will be on the road this Friday night when they take on Woods Cross.
The Wildcats have sprinted out to a 5-0 record so far and picked up a 41-24 win over Bountiful last week in both team’s region opener.
The Wildcats will be looking for another big game from senior quarterback Carter Weierman, who has tallied over 1,400 yards through the air and 18 touchdown passes to date. Weierman’s favorite target so far has been sophomore standout Luke Hyde, who has hauled in 38 catches for 538 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Bees' Volleyball thrashed by Thunderbirds
Sept. 18, 2019 · By Jeremy Jones · Staff writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team went through a humbling experience last Wednesday night on the road against Timpview as the Bees lost in straight sets to the Thunderbirds, 25-10, 25-21, 25-15.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “[The Thunderbirds] came out strong and we were kind of taken aback by them. We didn’t respond with the same aggression and fire as we needed to. Games two and three were better, but we still never got in any rhythm.”
So far this season, the Bees have been relying on their strong block up front to set up their offense, but came away with just one kill block the whole night against the hard-hitting Thunderbirds, who improved their overall record to 4-1 with the win.
The Bees did get seven kills from junior Gracie Gunderson and another five from senior Mayu Warner while also recording two aces from Jenna Mortensen.
On the defensive side of the net, Teagan Mecham and Breanne McClellan each came up with 13 digs on the back line to lead the team and setter Ally Bullard served up 18 assists.
The loss drops the Bees to 3-6 overall on the year and gives the team plenty of opportunities and talking points in practice this week as they prepare to open region play tomorrow night at home against Farmington.
When asked about how practice would go this week, coach Harding said, “The good thing about a loss like this is that we know where we need to improve. It may not be next week, but we will continue to get better. We have a lot of potential and these girls are determined to get better. We have no place to go but up from here.”
The official state rankings for volleyball will first be posted tomorrow morning, but a sneak peek from Max Preps has the Bees ranked number 12 out of 29 teams in the 5A classification ahead of their clash with the Phoenix.
That same chart has the Phoenix ranked number one in 5A as they have rattled off 10 straight victories to start the year and are led by senior outside hitter Hannah Howard, who has tallied 87 kills so far this season.
The match against the Phoenix is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
In other Region 5 rankings, the Max Preps computers put Bountiful at ninth in 5A; Woods Cross lands at number 15; new arrival but familiar foe, Bonneville, comes in ranked number 18; and Viewmont sits at number 27.
The Box Elder High School volleyball team went through a humbling experience last Wednesday night on the road against Timpview as the Bees lost in straight sets to the Thunderbirds, 25-10, 25-21, 25-15.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “[The Thunderbirds] came out strong and we were kind of taken aback by them. We didn’t respond with the same aggression and fire as we needed to. Games two and three were better, but we still never got in any rhythm.”
So far this season, the Bees have been relying on their strong block up front to set up their offense, but came away with just one kill block the whole night against the hard-hitting Thunderbirds, who improved their overall record to 4-1 with the win.
The Bees did get seven kills from junior Gracie Gunderson and another five from senior Mayu Warner while also recording two aces from Jenna Mortensen.
On the defensive side of the net, Teagan Mecham and Breanne McClellan each came up with 13 digs on the back line to lead the team and setter Ally Bullard served up 18 assists.
The loss drops the Bees to 3-6 overall on the year and gives the team plenty of opportunities and talking points in practice this week as they prepare to open region play tomorrow night at home against Farmington.
When asked about how practice would go this week, coach Harding said, “The good thing about a loss like this is that we know where we need to improve. It may not be next week, but we will continue to get better. We have a lot of potential and these girls are determined to get better. We have no place to go but up from here.”
The official state rankings for volleyball will first be posted tomorrow morning, but a sneak peek from Max Preps has the Bees ranked number 12 out of 29 teams in the 5A classification ahead of their clash with the Phoenix.
That same chart has the Phoenix ranked number one in 5A as they have rattled off 10 straight victories to start the year and are led by senior outside hitter Hannah Howard, who has tallied 87 kills so far this season.
The match against the Phoenix is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
In other Region 5 rankings, the Max Preps computers put Bountiful at ninth in 5A; Woods Cross lands at number 15; new arrival but familiar foe, Bonneville, comes in ranked number 18; and Viewmont sits at number 27.
One play makes big difference in loss to Wolves
Box Elder head coach Robbie Gunter has an animated discussion with officials after a 13-yard run by quarterback Parker Buchanan that was signaled as a touchdown at the goal line, was reversed by other officials.
First half touchdown changed to fumble ‘distracted’ Box Elder players, coach says
September 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team suffered a setback in their final preseason game last Friday night when the Bees hosted Green Canyon and saw the Wolves rattle off their fourth straight win of the season 27-9.
The game was a tale of two halves for the Bees that swung on one play late in the second quarter. Prior to the play, Box Elder had held the Wolves’ star offensive player largely in check, while the offense held a 9-6 and was gaining momentum.
That momentum was on full display when the Bees made a quick drive in the waning seconds of the half, capped off by a 13-yard run from Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan that was initially signaled as a touchdown by the closest official, but that was eventually ruled a fumble by other officials.
From that point on, the Bees were never the same.
“It had a big impact, and it needs to not,” said Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter about the play. “There were some kids really distracted by it. We need to do a better job of turning the page.”
In the second half, the Wolves’ offense broke open an otherwise tight contest. It was then that Green Canyon’s junior quarterback, Jacob Lundin, started working his magic for the visitors, producing two touchdowns through the air and another with his legs that put the game out of reach for the Bees.
Box Elder linebacker Logan Holgate had done a good job containing Lundin in the first half, but in the second, Lundin started operating out of the shotgun, putting the Bees into pass coverage. If there was no one open, Lundin used his legs, “and that kid’s smart enough to run away from Logan,” Gunter said.
Lundin passed for 147 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 95 yards and one score on the night.
On the other side of the field, the Bees struggled to complete drives and a couple of turnovers further hurt any comeback efforts.
The Bees grabbed the first lead of the game on a 20-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb, then added to their advantage early in the second quarter when quarterback Parker Buchanan connected with tight end Logan Holgate for a 50-yard strike. A botched snap on the extra point, and a failed attempt to turn the mistake into two points left the score 9-0.
Buchanan finished the game completing 8 of 20 passes for 119 yards with the one score. Holgate’s touchdown was his lone catch of the night while Bentley Miles and Trevin Johnson each hauled in three passes to lead the team.
Johnson also lead the rushing attack for the Bees, gaining 71 yards on 10 carries, followed by Harrison Hodgson, who picked up 41 yards on nine attempts.
The Wolves then cut into the lead on their next possession as Lundin hit his first touchdown pass of the game to senior wideout Tanner Watson from five yards out.
After the break, the Bees looked to grab some momentum as junior linebacker Kellen Collier pounced on a fumble to kill the opening drive of the half.
But the Bees couldn’t manufacture much and, following a punt, the Wolves drove 67 yards, capped by a 37 yard pass from Lundin to junior tight end Jacob Regen to put the visitors up for the first time in the contest.
Regen ended up leading all receivers in the game with four catches for 81 yards and one touchdown.
The Bees found some success on the ground during their next possession, but fumbled near midfield and the turnover set the Wolves up for their next score, which Lundin did with his legs as he scampered 35 yards into the end zone.
The Wolves put the final nail in the coffin in the fourth quarter, when, on 3rd and 20, Lundin was able to find Watson again, this time for a 35-yard touchdown score that set the final margin of the game.
The loss drops the Bees to 2-2 while the Wolves kept their perfect record in tact, improving to 4-0 to start the year.
This Friday, the Bees will again be at home to open region play against Farmington. The Phoenix have posted a 3-1 record through their preseason with their lone loss coming at the hands of Lone Peak last week.
According to the latest MaxPreps RPI rankings, the Bees land at number 13 out of 26 5A teams while the Phoenix have jumped up to number two following their strong start to the season.
The Phoenix will be looking to keep their potent aerial attack rolling against the Bees behind senior quarterback Wyatt Evertsen, who has already racked up 675 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air this season and has yet to throw an interception.
In comparison, Buchanan has tallied 641 yards and seven touchdowns so far, also with no interceptions to start the year. Holgate has been his leading target with 10 catches for 278 yards and five touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Holgate is leading the team from his linebacker position with 25 tackles while Gavin Hansen has tallied 24 tackles including a team-high five quarterback sacks.
The game against the Phoenix is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
First half touchdown changed to fumble ‘distracted’ Box Elder players, coach says
September 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team suffered a setback in their final preseason game last Friday night when the Bees hosted Green Canyon and saw the Wolves rattle off their fourth straight win of the season 27-9.
The game was a tale of two halves for the Bees that swung on one play late in the second quarter. Prior to the play, Box Elder had held the Wolves’ star offensive player largely in check, while the offense held a 9-6 and was gaining momentum.
That momentum was on full display when the Bees made a quick drive in the waning seconds of the half, capped off by a 13-yard run from Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan that was initially signaled as a touchdown by the closest official, but that was eventually ruled a fumble by other officials.
From that point on, the Bees were never the same.
“It had a big impact, and it needs to not,” said Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter about the play. “There were some kids really distracted by it. We need to do a better job of turning the page.”
In the second half, the Wolves’ offense broke open an otherwise tight contest. It was then that Green Canyon’s junior quarterback, Jacob Lundin, started working his magic for the visitors, producing two touchdowns through the air and another with his legs that put the game out of reach for the Bees.
Box Elder linebacker Logan Holgate had done a good job containing Lundin in the first half, but in the second, Lundin started operating out of the shotgun, putting the Bees into pass coverage. If there was no one open, Lundin used his legs, “and that kid’s smart enough to run away from Logan,” Gunter said.
Lundin passed for 147 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 95 yards and one score on the night.
On the other side of the field, the Bees struggled to complete drives and a couple of turnovers further hurt any comeback efforts.
The Bees grabbed the first lead of the game on a 20-yard field goal by Keaton Lamb, then added to their advantage early in the second quarter when quarterback Parker Buchanan connected with tight end Logan Holgate for a 50-yard strike. A botched snap on the extra point, and a failed attempt to turn the mistake into two points left the score 9-0.
Buchanan finished the game completing 8 of 20 passes for 119 yards with the one score. Holgate’s touchdown was his lone catch of the night while Bentley Miles and Trevin Johnson each hauled in three passes to lead the team.
Johnson also lead the rushing attack for the Bees, gaining 71 yards on 10 carries, followed by Harrison Hodgson, who picked up 41 yards on nine attempts.
The Wolves then cut into the lead on their next possession as Lundin hit his first touchdown pass of the game to senior wideout Tanner Watson from five yards out.
After the break, the Bees looked to grab some momentum as junior linebacker Kellen Collier pounced on a fumble to kill the opening drive of the half.
But the Bees couldn’t manufacture much and, following a punt, the Wolves drove 67 yards, capped by a 37 yard pass from Lundin to junior tight end Jacob Regen to put the visitors up for the first time in the contest.
Regen ended up leading all receivers in the game with four catches for 81 yards and one touchdown.
The Bees found some success on the ground during their next possession, but fumbled near midfield and the turnover set the Wolves up for their next score, which Lundin did with his legs as he scampered 35 yards into the end zone.
The Wolves put the final nail in the coffin in the fourth quarter, when, on 3rd and 20, Lundin was able to find Watson again, this time for a 35-yard touchdown score that set the final margin of the game.
The loss drops the Bees to 2-2 while the Wolves kept their perfect record in tact, improving to 4-0 to start the year.
This Friday, the Bees will again be at home to open region play against Farmington. The Phoenix have posted a 3-1 record through their preseason with their lone loss coming at the hands of Lone Peak last week.
According to the latest MaxPreps RPI rankings, the Bees land at number 13 out of 26 5A teams while the Phoenix have jumped up to number two following their strong start to the season.
The Phoenix will be looking to keep their potent aerial attack rolling against the Bees behind senior quarterback Wyatt Evertsen, who has already racked up 675 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air this season and has yet to throw an interception.
In comparison, Buchanan has tallied 641 yards and seven touchdowns so far, also with no interceptions to start the year. Holgate has been his leading target with 10 catches for 278 yards and five touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Holgate is leading the team from his linebacker position with 25 tackles while Gavin Hansen has tallied 24 tackles including a team-high five quarterback sacks.
The game against the Phoenix is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
Bees’ volleyball sweeps Bear River, goes 1-5 at challenging Utah County tournament
Senior middle blocker Tiffany Hortin puts up a block against Bear River. Hortin had 11 kills and five blocks, which were both game highs.
September 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team started an action-packed week with a straight-set win over rival Bear River on Tuesday night, then played three matches on Friday and another two on Saturday as a part of the Rocky Mountain Classic tournament, which was co-hosted by Lehi and American Fork high schools.
Despite the straight set win over the Bears, the Bees seemed to struggle more than they might have thought coming into the match, getting the win 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.
The Bees were led by senior middle blocker Tiffany Hortin, who came up with 11 kills on the night along with five blocks, which were both game highs.
After the match, Bees head coach Kristine Harding said, “Getting a win is always good, but, as far as our side, it wasn’t very clean tonight. I think we were out of system more than we were in system. I felt that, overall, it was a very average game for us.”
The average play from Tuesday may have served as a little foreshadowing of things to come for the Bees as the team dropped five out of six matches at the Rocky Mountain Classic tournament with the lone win coming over Desert Hills on Friday.
The Bees first squared off against Century High School from Pocatello, Idaho, and lost in three sets 25-17, 19-25, 15-8. They bounced back with a hard-fought win over the Thunder after dropping the first set, 16-25, 27-26, 15-13.
But the team couldn’t keep the momentum in their favor and dropped another three-set battle to Mountain Ridge 25-13, 23-25, 9-15, to close out the day on Friday.
Saturday was no kinder to the Bees as the team dropped an intense match to Bountiful 25-24, 25-22, then couldn’t quite find enough points to overcome 6A powerhouse Davis as the team lost in three sets 26-24, 18-25, 9-15.
The Bees then finished their tournament against Morgan on Saturday night. The defending 3A state champion Trojans have been able to punch above their weight for years and proved that this year is no different, beating the Bees in straight sets 25-15, 25-19.
The week’s results move the Bees to a 3-5 record overall in the preseason with one match to go tonight on the road against Timpview before starting region play next Thursday back at home against Farmington.
The Thunderbirds enter the match with a 2-1 record so far on the year and are hoping their mixture of youth and experience can propel them farther than their sixth-place finish a year ago at the state tournament.
The match against the Thunderbirds is set to start at 6 p.m.
September 11, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team started an action-packed week with a straight-set win over rival Bear River on Tuesday night, then played three matches on Friday and another two on Saturday as a part of the Rocky Mountain Classic tournament, which was co-hosted by Lehi and American Fork high schools.
Despite the straight set win over the Bears, the Bees seemed to struggle more than they might have thought coming into the match, getting the win 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.
The Bees were led by senior middle blocker Tiffany Hortin, who came up with 11 kills on the night along with five blocks, which were both game highs.
After the match, Bees head coach Kristine Harding said, “Getting a win is always good, but, as far as our side, it wasn’t very clean tonight. I think we were out of system more than we were in system. I felt that, overall, it was a very average game for us.”
The average play from Tuesday may have served as a little foreshadowing of things to come for the Bees as the team dropped five out of six matches at the Rocky Mountain Classic tournament with the lone win coming over Desert Hills on Friday.
The Bees first squared off against Century High School from Pocatello, Idaho, and lost in three sets 25-17, 19-25, 15-8. They bounced back with a hard-fought win over the Thunder after dropping the first set, 16-25, 27-26, 15-13.
But the team couldn’t keep the momentum in their favor and dropped another three-set battle to Mountain Ridge 25-13, 23-25, 9-15, to close out the day on Friday.
Saturday was no kinder to the Bees as the team dropped an intense match to Bountiful 25-24, 25-22, then couldn’t quite find enough points to overcome 6A powerhouse Davis as the team lost in three sets 26-24, 18-25, 9-15.
The Bees then finished their tournament against Morgan on Saturday night. The defending 3A state champion Trojans have been able to punch above their weight for years and proved that this year is no different, beating the Bees in straight sets 25-15, 25-19.
The week’s results move the Bees to a 3-5 record overall in the preseason with one match to go tonight on the road against Timpview before starting region play next Thursday back at home against Farmington.
The Thunderbirds enter the match with a 2-1 record so far on the year and are hoping their mixture of youth and experience can propel them farther than their sixth-place finish a year ago at the state tournament.
The match against the Thunderbirds is set to start at 6 p.m.
Bees make fourth-quarter stand to beat Mountain Crest
Logan Holgate pulls in a perfectly-placed pass from quarterback Parker Buchanan in the first quarter and finishes the play for a 42-yard touchdown. Holgate had five catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Volleyball sweeps Sky View in first outing
September 4, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor The Box Elder High School volleyball team started off their 2019 campaign with a straight-set victory over Sky View last Thursday in Smithfield. Immediately following the match, Bees head coach Kristine Harding said, “Anytime you walk into Sky View’s gym, you know it’s going to be a battle.” That battle proved true in the first frame, where the teams fought tooth and nail for each point with neither side able to build much of a lead. The Bees finally caught a break on a few mistakes from the Bobcats and were able to capitalize to grab the first set, 26-24. The Bobcats came out as the aggressors in the second set and built a five-point lead, 15-10. The lead held at 18-13 before Harding called a timeout to make a couple of tweaks. During that same timeout, coach Harding said their message was simple. She said, “I just reminded the girls that we play to win, not to lose. Don’t get timid. Play aggressive.” That message seemed to resonate as the Bees came out and ripped off seven straight points to erase the deficit and take a 20-18 lead. From that point, the Bobcats were never the same as the Bees took the second set, 25-20, and rolled through the third set, 25-13. Harding complimented the team’s mental toughness in the win. “When those long rallies go on, and [the Bobcats] win one and we win one, it’s just good volleyball,” Harding said. “But at some point, you could see that [the Bobcats] were getting torn down a little bit and it was good to see that we did not change our level of play. If anything, we got more confident and stronger as the match went on. It can always snowball two different ways and it was great to see our girls stay focused and not get rattled during some of those low times.” When asked about those low times in the match, coach Harding said, “It’ll be probably a couple of weeks before we really have our varsity rotation down. We’re still tweaking, we’re still moving. We’ve got girls playing in a couple of new positions where they haven’t played before. So we’ll still be working on that as a team going forward, but, overall, it was a great first match to our season.” Last night, the Bees hosted rival Bear River in the team’s home opener (results not available by press time). The team will be off the rest of this week and not take the court again until next Wednesday, when they head south to Provo to take on Timpview before kicking off region play the following week at home against Farmington. The match against the Thunderbirds is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. |
September 4, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team held Mountain Crest scoreless in the fourth quarter to earn their second win of the season, 21-15, over the Mustangs. The game was tight from wire to wire and neither team was up by more than one score the entire game. The game was also very statistically tight as the Bees just edged out the Mustangs in total yardage 274 to 263. The methods to gaining those yards looked very different on each side of the field as the Bees did more damage through the air, racking up 198 passing yards with two touchdowns, while the Mustangs were more effective on the ground, gaining 199 yards and scoring their two touchdowns with the running game. The Mustangs opened the game with a little trickery as they squibbed the opening kickoff, and recovered it, on the Bees’ 26-yard line. Six plays later, senior running back Hunter Schroeder plowed in from five yards out for the first score of the game. Feeling lucky with their trick plays, the Mustangs pulled out another gadget as wideout and place kicker Brandon Arnell took the snap on the extra point try and found Trae Fuller open in the end zone for a two-point conversion. The Bees struck back later in the first quarter when junior quarterback Parker Buchanan connected with tight end Logan Holgate for 42 yards and Holgate’s third touchdown of the season. A successful extra point trimmed the lead to 8-7 at the end of the first quarter. The defenses on both sides took over in the second quarter as neither offense could break through before the half. To start the period, the Mustangs had a drive squashed by a fumble that was recovered by Holgate. On their ensuing possession, the Bees drove 68 yards over 11 plays, but couldn’t come away with any points as a 26-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. It looked like the Bees were going to take the lead just before the halftime whistle when senior cornerback Bentley Miles stepped in front of a pass from Mustang quarterback Taden Burbank and returned the interception 55 yards for a touchdown. However, offsetting personal foul penalties during the return wiped the points off the board and left the Mustangs leading by one point, 8-7, at intermission. The Mustangs found some fireworks from Schroeder midway through the third period when he found some daylight on the edge and went 59 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Schroeder finished with 155 yards rushing on 20 carries with the two scores. Box Elder senior defensive back, Brayden Petersen, put a stop to the next drive by the Mustangs by coming up with an interception near midfield that set up an eventual touchdown run by Buchanan to again cut the lead to a point, 15-14. The Bees took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter when Buchanan again found Holgate, this time for a 23-yard strike and a 21-15 lead. Holgate lead all receivers with five catches for 131 yards with the two touchdowns. Buchanan finished the night completing 10 of 16 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, both to Holgate. Needing to make something happen, the Mustangs went to the air again on their next possession, but again only found purple jerseys as Lucas Taylor came up with the team’s third interception of the night to kill the comeback attempt. The Mustang defense did all they could to keep things interesting as they forced and recovered a fumble by Buchanan in the backfield to give the offense one more chance. But the Bees’ defense held and forced a four-and-out to preserve the win. The loss keeps the Mustangs winless on the year at 0-3 while the win moves the Bees to 2-1 in the preseason. This Friday, the Bees will be back at home for their final non-region test against Green Canyon before starting region play next week at home against Farmington. The Wolves come into the contest hot, easily winning their first three games of the year by more than 20 points each. The Wolves are led by do-it-all junior quarterback Jacob Lundin, who has eclipsed 400 yards both rushing and passing so far this season and has accounted for nine total touchdowns. The game against the Wolves is set to kick off at 7 p.m. |
Courtesy photo
Benjamin Johns makes an athletic play on the way to beating current world No. 1 and defending U.S. Open champion Tyson McGuffin in the Tournament of Champions professional division men’s singles finals. |
Courtesy Facebook
Twelve-year-old Anna Waters (left) holds a check for $500 for taking silver in the women’s professional singles competition. Anna Waters and her mother, Leigh, took first in the women’s professional doubles division, earning the teenager a total of $2,000. |
Tournament of Champions receives rave reviews in first year under city ownership
August 28, 2019 • Sean Hales & Jeremy Jones • Staff Writers
In its first year under the ownership of Brigham City, and organized and run by the city’s Community Activities and Services Department, the Tournament of Champions received rave reviews from pickleball fans and competitors.
According to Tournament Director Kyle Klein, competitors from 35 U.S. states and eight countries from around the world made up the field of 576 of the top pickleballers who competed for nearly 200 medals and $60,000 in prize money over the four-day event. While exact room totals are not known, tournament sponsor, Holiday Inn was booked solid over the course of the tournament.
“We are excited to be known around the country as one of the ‘majors’ of pickleball,” Klein wrote in an email. The Tournament of Champions is considered one of the “big three” tournaments held in the U.S. every year. This is the fifth year of the tournament originally founded by Ogden-area philanthropist John Gullo.
“This year’s tournament was a huge success,” Klein wrote. “The city’s involvement improved many aspects of the tournament including the overall appearance, the items the players received, the upgrade to championship court [covered spectator seating], the hosting of a banquet, and many other details. The players around the country were very impressed with many commenting this is their favorite tournament they have come to.”
The tournament also included significant media coverage, with live-streamed matches on all courts, and a hosted broadcast of matches on the championship court.
“I watched most of the tournament on line and am so proud of Brigham City for hosting such a professional event,” wrote Dawn Hollingsworth on social media. “We had some amazing talent here this weekend.”
Competitor Daniel Howard appeared to concur with Hollingsworth’s comment when he wrote, “While other dudes are elsewhere winning regional events, I have been at TOC [Tournament of Champions] in Utah getting my butt kicked. But I still loves (just about) every minute of it.”
Some of that talent included the top-ranked player in the world and defending U.S. Open champion, 28-year-old Tyson McGuffin of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. One of his rivals, 20-year-old Benjamin Johns from Gettysburg, Maryland, cleaned up the awards, winning the men’s singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles events.
Ahead of the gold medal match against McGuffin, Johns said, “I’m feeling really comfortable playing today. In this tournament, not a lot of people sign up just for the heck of it because it’s one of the three major tournaments we have during the year. So you don’t really get easy matches. But I love this venue and I’m feeling really good.”
Johns had to square off against McGuffin twice in order to claim the men’s singles championship in the double elimination bracket, and handled the pressure of playing the top player in the world with style as he beat McGuffin in straight games 11-6, 11-5, in their first encounter, then took home the championship a few hours later with an 11-8, 11-4 win.
In the men’s doubles tournament, Johns teamed up with singles bronze medalist Kyle Yates and the pair didn’t drop a game until the championship round, where they squared off against the team of Daniel Moore and Matt Wright. Johns and Yates took the first game 12-10, then lost 9-11 before taking home the gold medal with 11-5 and 15-6 wins in the final two games.
Johns completed the trifecta when he teamed up with fellow pro Jessie Irvine to compete in the mixed doubles tournament and that tandem were dealt one loss by the team of Yates and Simone Jardim.
Those same teams would meet again in the final with Johns and Irvine coming out on top when it mattered most 11-3, 13-11, 15-10.
All told, Johns, a former competitive tennis and ping pong player in his youth, took home $5,300 in winnings.
Pickleball is not just for former high-level tennis players in their prime, or older athletes who wants to keep competing; 12-year-old Anna Leigh Waters made the professional division medal stand twice, and earned a total of $2,000 in prize money. Anna plays with her mother, Leigh, and the two took home the gold in women’s doubles. Anna also took home the silver in women’s singles.
In the men’s senior division, which comprises players 50 years and older, Paul Olin took home the gold over Scott Moore 11-2, 4-11, 11-4 while the team of Brian Staub and Kevin Booth outlasted Scott Burr and Steve Kennedy 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 to take home the men’s senior double gold.
Booth and his partner Kris Anderson were also victorious in the senior’s mixed doubles event, beating out Moore and his partner Lisa Naumu 4-11, 11-8, 11-9.
On the women’s side, Lucy Kovalova, who is originally from Slovakia and now resides in Wichita, Kansas, took home the gold medal in the women’s singles.
In the women’s senior ranks, former-professional-tennis-star-turned-pickleball-pro, Cammy MacGregor, proved a dominant force, winning gold in both the singles and doubles tournaments.
As it turned out, many stars of the pickleball circuit were high-level tennis players before switching over to hitting a plastic ball.
Scott Moore also has a background in tennis but refers to himself as “a racquet sports junkie” as he has played competitive table tennis, badminton and squash before finding pickleball roughly seven years ago.
Bees keep the Spike in shoot out
Nathan Wheatley celebrates as he comes off the field at the end of Box Elder’s 54-34 victory over Bear River. Wheatley had six runs for 78 yards and a touchdown, one 27-yard reception, one interception, and 111 yards in kick returns that regularly gave the Bees’ offense good field position.
August 28, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Players, students, and fans alike celebrated with embraces and high-fives long after the final whistle last Friday in Brigham City as the Box Elder High School football team celebrated their second straight triumph over rival Bear River, 54-34.
Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said after the game that one of his team’s keys is to win the turnover battle, which the Bees did in a big way against the Bears, coming up with four interceptions on the night while not giving the ball away once. That included two on the Bears’ first two drives of the game as the Bees went up 21-0 before six minutes had expired in the first quarter.
“[Winning the turnover battle] is one of our pillars and is part of our plan to win. That’s key for us and it was fun to do that today and see those plans come together.”
Gunter went on to say, “I love how hard our kids compete. Our guys just kept competing and kept working and I love that. When you get up on a team, it’s easier to play with energy, but even when things started to go bad and [the Bears] got some points, our kids were resilient and just kept at it. That was great to see tonight.”
The beginning of the game was a near polar opposite start for the Bees compared to their first game of the season, when the team dug themselves an early hole that they couldn’t climb out of.
Against the Bears, the Bees were on the attack from the opening kick, which senior speedster Nate Wheatley fielded and went 74 yards before being tackled at the 24 yard line.
Four plays later, junior quarterback Parker Buchanan connected with senior Lucas Taylor for three yards and the first score of the game.
Senior cornerback Bentley Miles helped the Bees stretch their lead on the first play from scrimmage for the Bears, picking off a pass in the flat and scampering 20 yards for a touchdown.
The Bees got their second takeaway of the night when defensive anchor Kellen Collier dropped back in pass coverage and came up with an interception on the Bears’ second possession.
Smelling blood in the water, the Bees went deep and Buchanan found tight end Logan Holgate over the middle for a 48 yard strike and a 21-0 lead.
The Bears finally found an answer and some momentum late in the first period as senior quarterback Ren Fonnesbeck capped a long drive with a two-yard dive to cut the lead to 21-7.
After holding the Bees on fourth down, the Bears cooked up another long drive that Fonnesbeck again finished with a two-yard run to bring the lead to just one score, 21-14.
Fonnesbeck finished the night with 25 yards on the ground on nine carries with two touchdowns.
On their next drive, it was the Bees’ turn to chew up some clock as the team took the next seven minutes of game clock to travel 80 yards and get a touchdown, capped off by a two-yard run by Buchanan.
The Bears were forced to punt on their next possession and Miles provided more fireworks, picking up a bouncing ball after a squibbed punt and racing 41 yards into the end zone.
The Bears were desperately looking to build some momentum before the halftime break and got a spark from senior wideout Colt Lish, as he was able to outrun the Bees’ defense down the sideline and snagged an over-the-shoulder grab for a 41-yard score to set the halftime margin at 34-21 in favor of the Bees.
The Bees continued to dominate the turnover margin in the game at the beginning of the second half when Collier came up with another interception to squash the Bear’s first possession of the half.
Just two plays later, Buchanan again found Holgate, this time in the corner of the end zone, for a 13-yard touchdown pass. A failed extra point attempt left the score 40-21.
Holgate lead the Bees’ receiving corps with both of his catches going for touchdowns and totaling 61 yards in the game.
Buchanan finished the night a very efficient 11-of-18 for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
Later in the third quarter, the Bears answered on the ground as junior running back Kace Jones found a seam up the middle 17 yards for the score.
Jones scored again on the Bears’ next possession, after holding the Bees on fourth down, to pull within one score, 40-34, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Jones lead the Bears ground game with 43 yards on four carries with two touchdowns.
The Bees again wanted to use up some game clock and manufactured a drive of just over six minutes on their next possession, finished off with a six-yard touchdown run by senior back Harrison Hodgson.
Hodgson finished the night as the workhorse for the Bees ground game with 54 yards on a team-high 21 carries with one touchdown. Buchanan led the rushing attack with 87 yards and Wheatley put up 78 yards as the Bees churned out 234 yards rushing. Wheatley also had 111 yards on three kick returns as the special teams and defense continued to give the offense good field position. Leading the defensive effort up front Gavin Hansen with seven solo tackles, three of which were sacks.
In need of some big plays quickly, the Bears tried to get a big chunk back on their next play, only to turn the ball over again as Wheatley got underneath a long pass from Fonnesbeck and came up with an interception to all but seal the victory for the Bees.
But Wheatley’s night wasn’t quite over yet as he took a handoff on an inside trap, made one player miss, and was off to the races for a 54-yard touchdown run that set the final margin of the game.
When asked about his big performance in a rivalry game, Wheatley said, “I feel on top of the world right now. This is what I’ve dreamt of since I was a little kid, coming out and pounding the Bears my senior year. I’ll always remember this forever.”
The win moves the Bees to 1-1 on the year while the Bears were dealt their first loss and drop to 1-1.
This Friday, the Bees will be back on the road as they head north to Cache Valley to take on Mountain Crest. The Mustangs have struggled offensively over the course of their first two games, generating just one touchdown in each, and sit at 0-2 ahead of the contest.
The game against the Mustangs is scheduled to kickoff in Hyrum at 7 p.m.
August 28, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Players, students, and fans alike celebrated with embraces and high-fives long after the final whistle last Friday in Brigham City as the Box Elder High School football team celebrated their second straight triumph over rival Bear River, 54-34.
Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said after the game that one of his team’s keys is to win the turnover battle, which the Bees did in a big way against the Bears, coming up with four interceptions on the night while not giving the ball away once. That included two on the Bears’ first two drives of the game as the Bees went up 21-0 before six minutes had expired in the first quarter.
“[Winning the turnover battle] is one of our pillars and is part of our plan to win. That’s key for us and it was fun to do that today and see those plans come together.”
Gunter went on to say, “I love how hard our kids compete. Our guys just kept competing and kept working and I love that. When you get up on a team, it’s easier to play with energy, but even when things started to go bad and [the Bears] got some points, our kids were resilient and just kept at it. That was great to see tonight.”
The beginning of the game was a near polar opposite start for the Bees compared to their first game of the season, when the team dug themselves an early hole that they couldn’t climb out of.
Against the Bears, the Bees were on the attack from the opening kick, which senior speedster Nate Wheatley fielded and went 74 yards before being tackled at the 24 yard line.
Four plays later, junior quarterback Parker Buchanan connected with senior Lucas Taylor for three yards and the first score of the game.
Senior cornerback Bentley Miles helped the Bees stretch their lead on the first play from scrimmage for the Bears, picking off a pass in the flat and scampering 20 yards for a touchdown.
The Bees got their second takeaway of the night when defensive anchor Kellen Collier dropped back in pass coverage and came up with an interception on the Bears’ second possession.
Smelling blood in the water, the Bees went deep and Buchanan found tight end Logan Holgate over the middle for a 48 yard strike and a 21-0 lead.
The Bears finally found an answer and some momentum late in the first period as senior quarterback Ren Fonnesbeck capped a long drive with a two-yard dive to cut the lead to 21-7.
After holding the Bees on fourth down, the Bears cooked up another long drive that Fonnesbeck again finished with a two-yard run to bring the lead to just one score, 21-14.
Fonnesbeck finished the night with 25 yards on the ground on nine carries with two touchdowns.
On their next drive, it was the Bees’ turn to chew up some clock as the team took the next seven minutes of game clock to travel 80 yards and get a touchdown, capped off by a two-yard run by Buchanan.
The Bears were forced to punt on their next possession and Miles provided more fireworks, picking up a bouncing ball after a squibbed punt and racing 41 yards into the end zone.
The Bears were desperately looking to build some momentum before the halftime break and got a spark from senior wideout Colt Lish, as he was able to outrun the Bees’ defense down the sideline and snagged an over-the-shoulder grab for a 41-yard score to set the halftime margin at 34-21 in favor of the Bees.
The Bees continued to dominate the turnover margin in the game at the beginning of the second half when Collier came up with another interception to squash the Bear’s first possession of the half.
Just two plays later, Buchanan again found Holgate, this time in the corner of the end zone, for a 13-yard touchdown pass. A failed extra point attempt left the score 40-21.
Holgate lead the Bees’ receiving corps with both of his catches going for touchdowns and totaling 61 yards in the game.
Buchanan finished the night a very efficient 11-of-18 for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
Later in the third quarter, the Bears answered on the ground as junior running back Kace Jones found a seam up the middle 17 yards for the score.
Jones scored again on the Bears’ next possession, after holding the Bees on fourth down, to pull within one score, 40-34, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Jones lead the Bears ground game with 43 yards on four carries with two touchdowns.
The Bees again wanted to use up some game clock and manufactured a drive of just over six minutes on their next possession, finished off with a six-yard touchdown run by senior back Harrison Hodgson.
Hodgson finished the night as the workhorse for the Bees ground game with 54 yards on a team-high 21 carries with one touchdown. Buchanan led the rushing attack with 87 yards and Wheatley put up 78 yards as the Bees churned out 234 yards rushing. Wheatley also had 111 yards on three kick returns as the special teams and defense continued to give the offense good field position. Leading the defensive effort up front Gavin Hansen with seven solo tackles, three of which were sacks.
In need of some big plays quickly, the Bears tried to get a big chunk back on their next play, only to turn the ball over again as Wheatley got underneath a long pass from Fonnesbeck and came up with an interception to all but seal the victory for the Bees.
But Wheatley’s night wasn’t quite over yet as he took a handoff on an inside trap, made one player miss, and was off to the races for a 54-yard touchdown run that set the final margin of the game.
When asked about his big performance in a rivalry game, Wheatley said, “I feel on top of the world right now. This is what I’ve dreamt of since I was a little kid, coming out and pounding the Bears my senior year. I’ll always remember this forever.”
The win moves the Bees to 1-1 on the year while the Bears were dealt their first loss and drop to 1-1.
This Friday, the Bees will be back on the road as they head north to Cache Valley to take on Mountain Crest. The Mustangs have struggled offensively over the course of their first two games, generating just one touchdown in each, and sit at 0-2 ahead of the contest.
The game against the Mustangs is scheduled to kickoff in Hyrum at 7 p.m.
Bees’ early special teams errors leads to season-opening loss against Kearns
Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan runs in one of the Bees’ second half touchdowns against Kearns. After giving up a 20-point advantage to the Cougars early in the first half, the Bees out scored them 21-7 in the second. Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan runs in one of the Bees’ second half touchdowns against Kearns. After giving up a 20-point advantage to the Cougars early in the first half, the Bees out scored them 21-7 in the second.
August 21, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A few big plays early in the game by 6A powerhouse, Kearns, proved to be the difference in the Box Elder High School football team’s opening game of the season as the Cougars earned a 34-30 win over the Bees.
Two special teams’ mistakes gave Kerns a 13-0 lead with about two and a half minutes expired from the game.
Kearns’ senior running back Isaiah Afatasi started the game off with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown just 15 seconds into the season. The Bees were able to block the extra point try to keep the score 6-0.
However, on their ensuing possession, the Bees were forced to punt, which was blocked by the Cougars’ Jeff Bassa, who scooped up the loose ball and scampered 13 yards for the score.
In the second quarter, Bassa scored again, this time as a wide receiver, when quarterback Dakota Lynde found the junior open in the end zone for a seven yard score.
The Bees finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter when Parker Buchanan found senior tight end Logan Holgate over the middle for a 19 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-7.
But the Cougars weren’t content with the margin and, after converting a long pass on fourth down to keep the drive alive, Lynde connected with Afatasi for a 20-yard strike to push the lead to 27-7.
The Bees got one final possession before the halftime whistle and went to the air, desperate for some points. A few completions and a pass interference penalty set up a 22-yard field goal try that junior placekicker Keaton Lamb booted through the uprights as time expired to set the halftime score at 27-10.
With a little momentum in their favor, the Bees received the second half kickoff and were set up on the 50 yard line after a big return from senior speedster Nate Wheatley.
The offense drove the final 50 yards and capped the possession with a 3-yard touchdown run by Buchanan.
A fired up Bees defense held the Cougars to a three-and-out on their next possession while the offense kept things rolling with another touchdown when Buchanan found Wheatley through the air for a 20-yard score to cut the lead down to 27-24.
Both defenses stiffened until midway through the final quarter, when a short punt gave the Cougars excellent field position and they capitalized, finishing a four-play, 30-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Tanaki Leha.
The Bees answered back on their ensuing drive with a one-yard dive by Buchanan, which was set up by a 34-yard completion to Wheatley.
The Bees attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Cougars as the home team held on for the win.
On the stat sheet, Buchanan completed 16-of-27 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked up two rushing scores.
Wheatley hauled in four passes for 68 yards with one touchdown while Holgate nabbed three passes for 86 yards with one score.
On the other side of the field, Lynde completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Lynde’s most effective target proved to be junior tight end Jack Kelly, who caught four passes totaling 101 yards.
Neither side could establish much on the ground as the Bees totaled just 36 yards rushing while the Cougars were held to only 19 yards on 23 carries.
This Friday, the Bees will look to get their home stadium rocking as they host cross county rival Bear River. The Bees will be looking to keep the Golden Spike trophy in Brigham City as they picked up a 29-7 win last season.
The Bears will look to keep their balanced offensive attack rolling after picking up a 27-14 win over Juan Diego last week in their season opener.
The game against the Bears is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
August 21, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A few big plays early in the game by 6A powerhouse, Kearns, proved to be the difference in the Box Elder High School football team’s opening game of the season as the Cougars earned a 34-30 win over the Bees.
Two special teams’ mistakes gave Kerns a 13-0 lead with about two and a half minutes expired from the game.
Kearns’ senior running back Isaiah Afatasi started the game off with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown just 15 seconds into the season. The Bees were able to block the extra point try to keep the score 6-0.
However, on their ensuing possession, the Bees were forced to punt, which was blocked by the Cougars’ Jeff Bassa, who scooped up the loose ball and scampered 13 yards for the score.
In the second quarter, Bassa scored again, this time as a wide receiver, when quarterback Dakota Lynde found the junior open in the end zone for a seven yard score.
The Bees finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter when Parker Buchanan found senior tight end Logan Holgate over the middle for a 19 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-7.
But the Cougars weren’t content with the margin and, after converting a long pass on fourth down to keep the drive alive, Lynde connected with Afatasi for a 20-yard strike to push the lead to 27-7.
The Bees got one final possession before the halftime whistle and went to the air, desperate for some points. A few completions and a pass interference penalty set up a 22-yard field goal try that junior placekicker Keaton Lamb booted through the uprights as time expired to set the halftime score at 27-10.
With a little momentum in their favor, the Bees received the second half kickoff and were set up on the 50 yard line after a big return from senior speedster Nate Wheatley.
The offense drove the final 50 yards and capped the possession with a 3-yard touchdown run by Buchanan.
A fired up Bees defense held the Cougars to a three-and-out on their next possession while the offense kept things rolling with another touchdown when Buchanan found Wheatley through the air for a 20-yard score to cut the lead down to 27-24.
Both defenses stiffened until midway through the final quarter, when a short punt gave the Cougars excellent field position and they capitalized, finishing a four-play, 30-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Tanaki Leha.
The Bees answered back on their ensuing drive with a one-yard dive by Buchanan, which was set up by a 34-yard completion to Wheatley.
The Bees attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Cougars as the home team held on for the win.
On the stat sheet, Buchanan completed 16-of-27 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked up two rushing scores.
Wheatley hauled in four passes for 68 yards with one touchdown while Holgate nabbed three passes for 86 yards with one score.
On the other side of the field, Lynde completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Lynde’s most effective target proved to be junior tight end Jack Kelly, who caught four passes totaling 101 yards.
Neither side could establish much on the ground as the Bees totaled just 36 yards rushing while the Cougars were held to only 19 yards on 23 carries.
This Friday, the Bees will look to get their home stadium rocking as they host cross county rival Bear River. The Bees will be looking to keep the Golden Spike trophy in Brigham City as they picked up a 29-7 win last season.
The Bears will look to keep their balanced offensive attack rolling after picking up a 27-14 win over Juan Diego last week in their season opener.
The game against the Bears is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
World's top pickleballers set to descend on Brigham City for Tournament of Champions
Courtesy photo
Tyson McGuffin, the top-ranked professional pickleball player in the world, will try to defend his spot at the Tournament of Champions next week in Brigham City.
Updated: Aug. 14, 11:08 a.m.
UPDATE SUMMARY: Schedule for tournament matches added.
August 14, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Next week, many of the top pickleballers in the nation, including Tyson McGuffin, the top-ranked professional player in the world, will gather at Rees Pioneer Park in Brigham City Aug. 21-25 for the Tournament of Champions.
As many as 600 professional and amateur players will be competing for their share of over $100,000 in prize money, with nearly half of that coming from tournament sponsor Selkirk Sport, a leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and gear.
Pickleball as a sport is gaining a lot of popularity throughout the United States as more and more tournaments are popping up around the country and people of all ages and abilities are finding their footing in the fledgling sport.
In an interview with the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington, McGuffin himself admitted that pickleball had a much quicker learning curve than most sports and that probably is adding to the accelerated growth. McGuffin said, “One of the things about pickleball is that the learning curve is very quick. I can take a beginner and in a couple of weeks, I can have them playing, hitting a 20-ball rally and understanding how to score. Trying to do that in tennis would take a year.”
When asked in the interview what pickleball even is, McGuffin summed it up by saying, “I’ve heard people say it’s like ping-pong on steroids.”
McGuffin made the transition from tennis to pickleball in 2015 after playing tennis at the collegiate level and later became the head tennis pro at the North Park Athletic Club in Washington state.
In talking about why he switched over, McGuffin said, “There are so many tennis players who have plateaued at their level and they recognize they aren’t going to get better, so they pick up pickleball for the challenge.”
The game flow of a pickleball match does look like a cross between tennis and ping-pong to the casual observer as the court measures 44 feet by 20 feet and is played with a plastic ball and wooden paddles, like ping-pong.
The scoring system differs from tennis in that only the team or individual serving can score a point. In doubles play, each player on a team gets a chance to serve before passing the ball over to the other side. So two sideouts are required before losing serve.
On a local level, the sport has flourished in Brigham City in recent years and the addition of the permanent courts at Rees Pioneer Park has only stoked that fire.
In 2019 alone, there have already been winter leagues, tournament preparation leagues, multiple tournaments with both singles and doubles play, and professionally taught lessons that ran throughout the summer.
The Tournament of Champions originally started in Ogden and has been hosted in Brigham City since 2014. It also is one of only three tournaments in the nation that has been rated as a Tier 1 tournament by the United States of America Pickleball Association.
Matches will begin on the morning of Aug. 21 and run through Saturday, Aug. 25. The gold medal matches will start around 5 p.m. and admission is free to the public for the entire tournament.
Ahead of the tournament, the Brigham City recreation department will be offering a beginners pickleball class on Monday, Aug. 19. The cost is $5 per person. On Tuesday night, the city’s recreation department will be hosting an intermediate class for doubles play that will cost $20 per team. Registration for both events is available through the recreation office.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Matches for the Tournament of Champions start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Aug. 22. Matches start at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 34.
Gold medal matches will start approximately at:
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Men's singles: 3 p.m.
Sr. men's singles: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 22
Sr. women's doubles: 4 p.m.
Women's doubles: 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 23
Sr. mixed doubles: 4:15 p.m.
Mixed doubles: 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Sr. women's singles: 2 p.m.
Women's singles: 3:30 p.m.
Sr. men's doubles: 5 p.m.
Men's doubles: 6:30 p.m.
Tyson McGuffin, the top-ranked professional pickleball player in the world, will try to defend his spot at the Tournament of Champions next week in Brigham City.
Updated: Aug. 14, 11:08 a.m.
UPDATE SUMMARY: Schedule for tournament matches added.
August 14, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Next week, many of the top pickleballers in the nation, including Tyson McGuffin, the top-ranked professional player in the world, will gather at Rees Pioneer Park in Brigham City Aug. 21-25 for the Tournament of Champions.
As many as 600 professional and amateur players will be competing for their share of over $100,000 in prize money, with nearly half of that coming from tournament sponsor Selkirk Sport, a leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and gear.
Pickleball as a sport is gaining a lot of popularity throughout the United States as more and more tournaments are popping up around the country and people of all ages and abilities are finding their footing in the fledgling sport.
In an interview with the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington, McGuffin himself admitted that pickleball had a much quicker learning curve than most sports and that probably is adding to the accelerated growth. McGuffin said, “One of the things about pickleball is that the learning curve is very quick. I can take a beginner and in a couple of weeks, I can have them playing, hitting a 20-ball rally and understanding how to score. Trying to do that in tennis would take a year.”
When asked in the interview what pickleball even is, McGuffin summed it up by saying, “I’ve heard people say it’s like ping-pong on steroids.”
McGuffin made the transition from tennis to pickleball in 2015 after playing tennis at the collegiate level and later became the head tennis pro at the North Park Athletic Club in Washington state.
In talking about why he switched over, McGuffin said, “There are so many tennis players who have plateaued at their level and they recognize they aren’t going to get better, so they pick up pickleball for the challenge.”
The game flow of a pickleball match does look like a cross between tennis and ping-pong to the casual observer as the court measures 44 feet by 20 feet and is played with a plastic ball and wooden paddles, like ping-pong.
The scoring system differs from tennis in that only the team or individual serving can score a point. In doubles play, each player on a team gets a chance to serve before passing the ball over to the other side. So two sideouts are required before losing serve.
On a local level, the sport has flourished in Brigham City in recent years and the addition of the permanent courts at Rees Pioneer Park has only stoked that fire.
In 2019 alone, there have already been winter leagues, tournament preparation leagues, multiple tournaments with both singles and doubles play, and professionally taught lessons that ran throughout the summer.
The Tournament of Champions originally started in Ogden and has been hosted in Brigham City since 2014. It also is one of only three tournaments in the nation that has been rated as a Tier 1 tournament by the United States of America Pickleball Association.
Matches will begin on the morning of Aug. 21 and run through Saturday, Aug. 25. The gold medal matches will start around 5 p.m. and admission is free to the public for the entire tournament.
Ahead of the tournament, the Brigham City recreation department will be offering a beginners pickleball class on Monday, Aug. 19. The cost is $5 per person. On Tuesday night, the city’s recreation department will be hosting an intermediate class for doubles play that will cost $20 per team. Registration for both events is available through the recreation office.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Matches for the Tournament of Champions start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Aug. 22. Matches start at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 34.
Gold medal matches will start approximately at:
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Men's singles: 3 p.m.
Sr. men's singles: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 22
Sr. women's doubles: 4 p.m.
Women's doubles: 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 23
Sr. mixed doubles: 4:15 p.m.
Mixed doubles: 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Sr. women's singles: 2 p.m.
Women's singles: 3:30 p.m.
Sr. men's doubles: 5 p.m.
Men's doubles: 6:30 p.m.
Bees football opens 2019-2020 season this week in Kearns
August 14, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Despite the continued soaring temperatures the last couple of weeks, fall is in the air as the Box Elder High School football team finishes up preparations for their first game of the 2019 campaign on the road against Kearns on Friday.
Coming off a 7-4 season, including a 4-1 mark in region play last year, the Bees will look quite a bit different this year with just three returning starters on each side of the ball.
Those returning starters should be key components for this season as junior quarterback Parker Buchanan will again be calling the signals, senior wideout Nate Wheatley should offer some big play potential on the outside, and junior lineman Kellen Collier will look to anchor the line.
On the defensive side, Logan Holgate will be back in his spot at linebacker while Wheatley and Bentley Miles will look to lock down their opponent’s receivers on the corners.
While the Bees posted a solid record last year and finished tied for first in the region, the team was bounced from the playoffs in the first round and will be looking for a deeper run this season.
Unlike prior years, the playoff run will begin from the opening kickoff of the first game as the state of Utah has implemented the MaxPreps RPI rating system starting this year for all high school team sports.
The RPI system will rate each team based on a computer algorithm and take into account the strength of each win or loss to come up with the playoff seedings, not necessarily just the top teams in each region.
Another change is that every team will participate in the playoffs, regardless of their record. In the 5A classification, the bracket will give the top three overall teams a bye in the first round while everyone else will be matched up, with the number four team playing the bottom team, etc.
When asked about the new RPI system, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I’ve studied it in other states that are already using it and it seems like an equitable way to get everyone involved in the playoffs and also to get the top teams into the later rounds.”
Gunter also said it changes things by putting just as much weight on preseason games as it does region games.
“Before, we used our preseason games to kind of gauge where we were at and get ready for region because that was the most important thing,” Gunter said. “Now, the season really starts on that first game, so we’re going to need to be ready right from the get go.”
The Bees will have their hands full, especially on the defensive side of the ball, this Friday as the Cougars return most of their playmakers from a year ago and that team was the fifth-highest scoring team in 6A.
The game against the Cougars is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
Next week, the Bees will have their home opener against rival Bear River, then travel to Hyrum to take on Mountain Crest.
The team will wrap up their non-region schedule at home on Sept. 6 against Green Canyon before starting region play against Farmington.
The Bees then get Viewmont on the road, Bountiful at home, Woods Cross on the road, then finish up region play on Oct. 11 against Bonneville, who is back in Region 5 this season after spending the last two years in the 4A classification.
The final game of the season will be on the road against Murray on Wednesday, Oct.16, before the team heads into the 5A playoffs.
All games are scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
August 14, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Despite the continued soaring temperatures the last couple of weeks, fall is in the air as the Box Elder High School football team finishes up preparations for their first game of the 2019 campaign on the road against Kearns on Friday.
Coming off a 7-4 season, including a 4-1 mark in region play last year, the Bees will look quite a bit different this year with just three returning starters on each side of the ball.
Those returning starters should be key components for this season as junior quarterback Parker Buchanan will again be calling the signals, senior wideout Nate Wheatley should offer some big play potential on the outside, and junior lineman Kellen Collier will look to anchor the line.
On the defensive side, Logan Holgate will be back in his spot at linebacker while Wheatley and Bentley Miles will look to lock down their opponent’s receivers on the corners.
While the Bees posted a solid record last year and finished tied for first in the region, the team was bounced from the playoffs in the first round and will be looking for a deeper run this season.
Unlike prior years, the playoff run will begin from the opening kickoff of the first game as the state of Utah has implemented the MaxPreps RPI rating system starting this year for all high school team sports.
The RPI system will rate each team based on a computer algorithm and take into account the strength of each win or loss to come up with the playoff seedings, not necessarily just the top teams in each region.
Another change is that every team will participate in the playoffs, regardless of their record. In the 5A classification, the bracket will give the top three overall teams a bye in the first round while everyone else will be matched up, with the number four team playing the bottom team, etc.
When asked about the new RPI system, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I’ve studied it in other states that are already using it and it seems like an equitable way to get everyone involved in the playoffs and also to get the top teams into the later rounds.”
Gunter also said it changes things by putting just as much weight on preseason games as it does region games.
“Before, we used our preseason games to kind of gauge where we were at and get ready for region because that was the most important thing,” Gunter said. “Now, the season really starts on that first game, so we’re going to need to be ready right from the get go.”
The Bees will have their hands full, especially on the defensive side of the ball, this Friday as the Cougars return most of their playmakers from a year ago and that team was the fifth-highest scoring team in 6A.
The game against the Cougars is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
Next week, the Bees will have their home opener against rival Bear River, then travel to Hyrum to take on Mountain Crest.
The team will wrap up their non-region schedule at home on Sept. 6 against Green Canyon before starting region play against Farmington.
The Bees then get Viewmont on the road, Bountiful at home, Woods Cross on the road, then finish up region play on Oct. 11 against Bonneville, who is back in Region 5 this season after spending the last two years in the 4A classification.
The final game of the season will be on the road against Murray on Wednesday, Oct.16, before the team heads into the 5A playoffs.
All games are scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
Team members of the undefeated Eagle Mountain Golf Course Junior PGA team are (front) Brady Fairbourn, Maxwell Isaacson, Brian Fairbourn, Brant Blacker, Karver Crozier (second row) Ian Capener, Cache Hilton, Colin Loveless, Kanyon DeRyke, and (top) Kimball Shepard. The team was perfect in region play in Northern Utah, and four members of the team will complete in the state championship today at Talons Cove.
Eagle Mountain PGA Juniors go undefeated in region, play for state championship today
August 8, 2919
In their inaugural season as part of the Utah PGA Junior series, the team from Eagle Mountain Golf Course in Brigham City made a big statement, going undefeated in the Northern Utah region and looking for a state championship title today as they play in a state-wide tournament at Talons Cove in Utah County.
According to coach and PGA professional Jake Blair, who has worked at Eagle Mountain for the past seven years, the team was initially created to get more kids involved playing golf competitively at younger ages.
“We kind of saw a gap and saw that kids were nervous to get involved playing in competitive tournaments. So they tended to shy away from it because they didn’t have any experience,” said Blair. “This program has made a huge difference and we’ve seen these kids improve by leaps and bounds just this year. It’s been a really great thing to watch.”
The tournament play format in the competition series is slightly different from traditional golf tournament in that it is played as a match-play scramble, with each player of a two-person team taking a shot, then the team deciding the best one, and both taking their next shot from that spot. The number of strokes taken does not accumulate throughout the whole round, as players are simply trying to win an individual hole.
Coach Blair said the scoring system really helps the kids be able to stay focused on the course and not get discouraged too early in a tournament. He said, “Even if you shoot a 10 and the other team shoots a four, all you have to worry about is trying to win the next hole. That has been a great way to keep kids excited about playing.”
The Eagle Mountain team has 11 total members this year and one of their biggest goals is to grow into having a second team that regularly competes as well.
Blair said, “Eight kids make up a team and we really want to have two teams competing out of Eagle Mountain, so that’s what we’re striving for right now.”
From the 11 members, Max Isaacson, Colin Loveland, Canyon DeRyke, and Brant Blacker were chosen to represent the team at the state championship.
With a strong enough finish, the team could compete in a multi-region tournament to try to qualify for the national tournament later in the year.
Blair himself feels right at home in the tournament atmosphere as he played on Sky View High School’s golf team as a youth, then went on to play on scholarship at Utah State University.
Blair also recognized the parents’ commitment when talking about the boys’ success when he said, “We have some really great parents supporting these boys. We go down to Salt Lake once a week for a tournament plus practicing a few days a week, it’s a big time commitment and our parents have been just outstanding.”
Eagle Mountain PGA Juniors go undefeated in region, play for state championship today
August 8, 2919
In their inaugural season as part of the Utah PGA Junior series, the team from Eagle Mountain Golf Course in Brigham City made a big statement, going undefeated in the Northern Utah region and looking for a state championship title today as they play in a state-wide tournament at Talons Cove in Utah County.
According to coach and PGA professional Jake Blair, who has worked at Eagle Mountain for the past seven years, the team was initially created to get more kids involved playing golf competitively at younger ages.
“We kind of saw a gap and saw that kids were nervous to get involved playing in competitive tournaments. So they tended to shy away from it because they didn’t have any experience,” said Blair. “This program has made a huge difference and we’ve seen these kids improve by leaps and bounds just this year. It’s been a really great thing to watch.”
The tournament play format in the competition series is slightly different from traditional golf tournament in that it is played as a match-play scramble, with each player of a two-person team taking a shot, then the team deciding the best one, and both taking their next shot from that spot. The number of strokes taken does not accumulate throughout the whole round, as players are simply trying to win an individual hole.
Coach Blair said the scoring system really helps the kids be able to stay focused on the course and not get discouraged too early in a tournament. He said, “Even if you shoot a 10 and the other team shoots a four, all you have to worry about is trying to win the next hole. That has been a great way to keep kids excited about playing.”
The Eagle Mountain team has 11 total members this year and one of their biggest goals is to grow into having a second team that regularly competes as well.
Blair said, “Eight kids make up a team and we really want to have two teams competing out of Eagle Mountain, so that’s what we’re striving for right now.”
From the 11 members, Max Isaacson, Colin Loveland, Canyon DeRyke, and Brant Blacker were chosen to represent the team at the state championship.
With a strong enough finish, the team could compete in a multi-region tournament to try to qualify for the national tournament later in the year.
Blair himself feels right at home in the tournament atmosphere as he played on Sky View High School’s golf team as a youth, then went on to play on scholarship at Utah State University.
Blair also recognized the parents’ commitment when talking about the boys’ success when he said, “We have some really great parents supporting these boys. We go down to Salt Lake once a week for a tournament plus practicing a few days a week, it’s a big time commitment and our parents have been just outstanding.”
Hiking trails showcase the beauty of BE County
Editor’s note: As a follow up to the walking paths article from July 10, we are highlighting some of the best rated hiking trails in the area.
July 24, 2019 • Loni Newby • Associate editor
Navigating trails has become simpler with the advent of apps and websites that serve as a review page and information host about public trails. This has increased the ease of access for those who seek the health benefits of hiking, as well as for those who simply enjoy the views.
Amber Davidsavor is an outdoor enthusiast, who hikes frequently with her husband and her children. She said that her kids began hiking as soon as they were able to walk, sometimes before they were able they were brought along the trail in a stroller. She doesn’t pursue lengthy trails, topping out at 5-6 miles round trip, she prefers trails that can be tackled in a half day or less so she will not run out of hydration or require an overnight stay.
Although she hikes frequently Davidsavor said that she is experienced but tackles moderate hikes, she is concerned less with the elevation gain than the overall length of the hike. She hikes for the experience, the together time and for the appreciation of nature.
When it comes to picking hikes, Davidsavor said, “We got an app called Alltrails,” based on GPS it will give a list of all trails and hikes around you just pick one that fits what you’re looking for in a hike. The Alltrails app is free and has compiled information from personal experience of hikers who contribute information about the difficulty level, any specific notes that would be helpful for other hikers and then pertinent information about elevation gains and trail length are also included.
Davidsavor weighed in on the current conditions of some of the more popular trails in Southern Box Elder County, as well as giving tips for local hikers.
“I hope when people go out on hikes, they love it and keep their trails nice and haul out their trash with them,” said Davidsavor. She also recommends hiking early, while being aware that larger wildlife is more active near dawn therefore caution should always be taken, “In general, anything on the west side of the mountain you’re going to want to get there early, like 5 [a.m.]. The air is cooler and it will be a much better experience.”
White Rock Trail Perry
White Rock Trail is a 5.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail above Perry that features beautiful wild flowers. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking and trail running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Davidsavor’s hiking party accessed the trail from an alternate entrance from an access road which led to steep inclines right off the bat. She noted that there are several areas which cross the irrigation canal, because of this water exposure and the steepness her recommendation is to avoid this hike for younger or inexperienced hikers. They crossed one rattlesnake and also heard movement in the bushes from what she would consider to be a large animal, although they weren’t able to see what was lurking. They had packed bear bells for warning, which makes the hikers sound like cattle and generally discourages large wildlife.
“The switchbacks at the top hike you through a meadow full of flowers, it was quiet and peaceful...the rock has a crack right in the middle that they were able to climb in,” said Davidsavor, “For lunch dropped below the rock there is a lovely little stream and we sat in a grove of trees and ate our lunch.”
It is recommended to tackle this trail early in the morning to avoid being overwhelmed by heat, because there is very little shade.
Brigham to Mantua
Brigham to Mantua Trail is a 4.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Brigham City, that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips and is best used from April until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The Davidsavors have an annual tradition with the Mantua to Brigham City hike. “This is the first hike we do every year, we usually park at Mantua by the gated access road. It takes you past the river along the side of the mountain,” said Davidsavor. In their history with the trail every single hike they have seen at least one snake, several rattlesnakes, and on one particular hike they saw five snakes within a twenty minute window. So hikers should be aware of their surroundings at all times.
There are several areas of the trail where makeshift plywood bridges have been installed to combat wear and erosion of the trail. The path follows a creek which is typically slow enough and shallow enough for wading. Although there are some steep drop-offs, this trail is typically friendly for school age children, as long as they can be assisted through any precarious areas.
Davidsavor said, the hike is pretty, with one area that has been unfortunately vandalized with graffiti on the overpass and the cement tunnel which goes under the highway.
Willard Canyon Hike
The Willard Canyon Hike goes up to the large waterfalls on the mountain which run extremely quickly and at high volume during the spring and early summer. Of the hikes highlighted this has the most potential to be dangerous with trail erosion and rock slides, but also has one of the best payoffs in terms of scenery.
“Park at the Quarry, have to wade across the river—plan on having wet feet for the hike. It splits and divides up at the bottom, hike up an access road trail up above the bench. Above the river quite a ways, you will come across several rock slides” said Amber Davidsavor. “I wouldn’t take small children up the Willard Waterfall Hike, there are a lot of rock slides.”
She has hiked this trail twice this year, and the most recent hike she noticed that someone had climbed up and slid down, which washed out the whole trail.
There is fast rushing water throughout this hike, which is one of the reasons she advises against bringing young children or even leashed dogs. “The water is moving really quick, and it is loud. Someone built a bridge across the river, but you need good balance, it’s missing a few boards,” said Davidsavor of her personal favorite hike, “You have to have a lot of respect, and a little bit of knowledge for foot placement, but it’s breathtaking, it’s my favorite in the Valley. It was so worth it.”
Hike to the B
One more local favorite, but a hike that Davidsavor hasn’t taken is the kid-friendly, relatively low shade, hike to the B on the mountain in Brigham City. The incline isn’t overwhelming for most hikers, but the drawback is that as a west facing climb has full sun exposure the majority of the day. It is best as a morning hike before the heat of the day gets overwhelming. The gravel path is well established and clearly marked with trail poles. There are limited areas of drop-off, so it can be taken by younger children and leashed dogs. The view of the valley and seeing the size of the large white boulders that make up the letter are the reported highlights of the trek. The annual Box Elder High School Homecoming tradition of lighting the B indicates that the trail can be traversed in low light as long as flashlights are used.
Editor’s note: As a follow up to the walking paths article from July 10, we are highlighting some of the best rated hiking trails in the area.
July 24, 2019 • Loni Newby • Associate editor
Navigating trails has become simpler with the advent of apps and websites that serve as a review page and information host about public trails. This has increased the ease of access for those who seek the health benefits of hiking, as well as for those who simply enjoy the views.
Amber Davidsavor is an outdoor enthusiast, who hikes frequently with her husband and her children. She said that her kids began hiking as soon as they were able to walk, sometimes before they were able they were brought along the trail in a stroller. She doesn’t pursue lengthy trails, topping out at 5-6 miles round trip, she prefers trails that can be tackled in a half day or less so she will not run out of hydration or require an overnight stay.
Although she hikes frequently Davidsavor said that she is experienced but tackles moderate hikes, she is concerned less with the elevation gain than the overall length of the hike. She hikes for the experience, the together time and for the appreciation of nature.
When it comes to picking hikes, Davidsavor said, “We got an app called Alltrails,” based on GPS it will give a list of all trails and hikes around you just pick one that fits what you’re looking for in a hike. The Alltrails app is free and has compiled information from personal experience of hikers who contribute information about the difficulty level, any specific notes that would be helpful for other hikers and then pertinent information about elevation gains and trail length are also included.
Davidsavor weighed in on the current conditions of some of the more popular trails in Southern Box Elder County, as well as giving tips for local hikers.
“I hope when people go out on hikes, they love it and keep their trails nice and haul out their trash with them,” said Davidsavor. She also recommends hiking early, while being aware that larger wildlife is more active near dawn therefore caution should always be taken, “In general, anything on the west side of the mountain you’re going to want to get there early, like 5 [a.m.]. The air is cooler and it will be a much better experience.”
White Rock Trail Perry
White Rock Trail is a 5.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail above Perry that features beautiful wild flowers. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking and trail running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Davidsavor’s hiking party accessed the trail from an alternate entrance from an access road which led to steep inclines right off the bat. She noted that there are several areas which cross the irrigation canal, because of this water exposure and the steepness her recommendation is to avoid this hike for younger or inexperienced hikers. They crossed one rattlesnake and also heard movement in the bushes from what she would consider to be a large animal, although they weren’t able to see what was lurking. They had packed bear bells for warning, which makes the hikers sound like cattle and generally discourages large wildlife.
“The switchbacks at the top hike you through a meadow full of flowers, it was quiet and peaceful...the rock has a crack right in the middle that they were able to climb in,” said Davidsavor, “For lunch dropped below the rock there is a lovely little stream and we sat in a grove of trees and ate our lunch.”
It is recommended to tackle this trail early in the morning to avoid being overwhelmed by heat, because there is very little shade.
Brigham to Mantua
Brigham to Mantua Trail is a 4.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Brigham City, that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips and is best used from April until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The Davidsavors have an annual tradition with the Mantua to Brigham City hike. “This is the first hike we do every year, we usually park at Mantua by the gated access road. It takes you past the river along the side of the mountain,” said Davidsavor. In their history with the trail every single hike they have seen at least one snake, several rattlesnakes, and on one particular hike they saw five snakes within a twenty minute window. So hikers should be aware of their surroundings at all times.
There are several areas of the trail where makeshift plywood bridges have been installed to combat wear and erosion of the trail. The path follows a creek which is typically slow enough and shallow enough for wading. Although there are some steep drop-offs, this trail is typically friendly for school age children, as long as they can be assisted through any precarious areas.
Davidsavor said, the hike is pretty, with one area that has been unfortunately vandalized with graffiti on the overpass and the cement tunnel which goes under the highway.
Willard Canyon Hike
The Willard Canyon Hike goes up to the large waterfalls on the mountain which run extremely quickly and at high volume during the spring and early summer. Of the hikes highlighted this has the most potential to be dangerous with trail erosion and rock slides, but also has one of the best payoffs in terms of scenery.
“Park at the Quarry, have to wade across the river—plan on having wet feet for the hike. It splits and divides up at the bottom, hike up an access road trail up above the bench. Above the river quite a ways, you will come across several rock slides” said Amber Davidsavor. “I wouldn’t take small children up the Willard Waterfall Hike, there are a lot of rock slides.”
She has hiked this trail twice this year, and the most recent hike she noticed that someone had climbed up and slid down, which washed out the whole trail.
There is fast rushing water throughout this hike, which is one of the reasons she advises against bringing young children or even leashed dogs. “The water is moving really quick, and it is loud. Someone built a bridge across the river, but you need good balance, it’s missing a few boards,” said Davidsavor of her personal favorite hike, “You have to have a lot of respect, and a little bit of knowledge for foot placement, but it’s breathtaking, it’s my favorite in the Valley. It was so worth it.”
Hike to the B
One more local favorite, but a hike that Davidsavor hasn’t taken is the kid-friendly, relatively low shade, hike to the B on the mountain in Brigham City. The incline isn’t overwhelming for most hikers, but the drawback is that as a west facing climb has full sun exposure the majority of the day. It is best as a morning hike before the heat of the day gets overwhelming. The gravel path is well established and clearly marked with trail poles. There are limited areas of drop-off, so it can be taken by younger children and leashed dogs. The view of the valley and seeing the size of the large white boulders that make up the letter are the reported highlights of the trek. The annual Box Elder High School Homecoming tradition of lighting the B indicates that the trail can be traversed in low light as long as flashlights are used.
Members of the BC United U12 girls’ team pose with their first-place medals after winning their league championship. The team set a goal at the beginning of the year to not only win their league, but to do it perfectly. They achieved that goal, as well, and in dominant fashion. In their eight regular season games, the team out-scored their opponents 42-9 and posted three shutouts. Team members are: (in no particular order) Alina Ventura, Oakley Norman, Allie Dahlgren, Baylee Simpson, Halle Jo Moffitt, Allie Glenn, Brooklynn Hadfield, Willa Huff, Maddie Johnson, Bekah McCalmant, Abby Julander, Annaliese Christensen, Izzy Rupper, and Desarae Elegante. Coaches are Kelly Nelson and Shalisa Elegante.
Making waves in Mantua with professional wakeboard tour
June 26, 2019 • Loni Newby • Associate editor
The Supra Pro Wakeboard Tour (PWT) made their second stop in Mantua on Saturday, which allowed professional athletes to showcase their talents on Mantua reservoir for local crowds, and plentiful fans from out of state.
Included in the competition were traditional wakeboarding as well as wakesurf competitions. The world’s top 16 ranked wakeboarders compete at four stops along the PWT.
This event marked the return of the Supra PWT in Mantua, after receiving a positive reception in 2017.
Features for fans included more tenting for shade, a large screen visible for live views from the boat during runs as well as replays, several food trucks and bounce houses for the children. Various sponsors also hosted booths and had equipment on display. There were local souvenir shirts sold to raise funds for an upcoming playground equipment purchase for the city of Mantua, the novelty shirts included a pronunciation guide “Man-A-Way.”
Athletes were frequently spotted outside of their designated area, chatting with fans and signing autographs. Also among the notables was Leo, the Real Salt Lake mascot.
“As usual the Town of Mantua and Brigham City were awesome to work with. The venue delivers a perfect backdrop for the riders, fans and photographers.” said Chris Bischoff, event organizer. “The [wake] was killer riding on the water and the competition saw some of the best riding of the year.”
Bischoff estimates that there were about 2,500 people in attendance throughout the competition, even though he noted some challenges with weather, as temperatures dipped.
For Bischoff the event was a success, and he also said that he was grateful for the local support.
Final standings for the day were: Cory Teunissen in first with a 90.67, Nic Rapa in second with an 89.17, and Tony Iacconi in third with 88.33.
June 26, 2019 • Loni Newby • Associate editor
The Supra Pro Wakeboard Tour (PWT) made their second stop in Mantua on Saturday, which allowed professional athletes to showcase their talents on Mantua reservoir for local crowds, and plentiful fans from out of state.
Included in the competition were traditional wakeboarding as well as wakesurf competitions. The world’s top 16 ranked wakeboarders compete at four stops along the PWT.
This event marked the return of the Supra PWT in Mantua, after receiving a positive reception in 2017.
Features for fans included more tenting for shade, a large screen visible for live views from the boat during runs as well as replays, several food trucks and bounce houses for the children. Various sponsors also hosted booths and had equipment on display. There were local souvenir shirts sold to raise funds for an upcoming playground equipment purchase for the city of Mantua, the novelty shirts included a pronunciation guide “Man-A-Way.”
Athletes were frequently spotted outside of their designated area, chatting with fans and signing autographs. Also among the notables was Leo, the Real Salt Lake mascot.
“As usual the Town of Mantua and Brigham City were awesome to work with. The venue delivers a perfect backdrop for the riders, fans and photographers.” said Chris Bischoff, event organizer. “The [wake] was killer riding on the water and the competition saw some of the best riding of the year.”
Bischoff estimates that there were about 2,500 people in attendance throughout the competition, even though he noted some challenges with weather, as temperatures dipped.
For Bischoff the event was a success, and he also said that he was grateful for the local support.
Final standings for the day were: Cory Teunissen in first with a 90.67, Nic Rapa in second with an 89.17, and Tony Iacconi in third with 88.33.
Softball team exits rainy state tourney in quarterfinals
June 5, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The season came to a soggy end for the Box Elder High School softball team last Friday in the quarterfinals of the state tournament when the Bees fell to Skyridge by a score of 13-3.
The game was scheduled to be played Tuesday morning, and the teams got in four innings before a rain delay was called. During the first half of the game, the Falcons built a 4-1 lead.
The remainder of the game was scheduled for Wednesday, but the rains continued and no games were played. Thursday was the same as field conditions stayed unplayable. On Friday morning, the sun came out for a bit and the Bees were able to take the field to finish out the game.
The playing conditions were still very sloppy and caused a struggle on the defensive end for both sides, though the Falcons did more to capitalize on the offensive side of the plate to cruise to the win.
After the game, Bees head coach Taleas Nelson said, “The playing conditions were really poor, especially on Friday for the end of the game, but both teams had to play in them, and we just didn’t step up like we needed to.”
The Bees finished the season with an 11-18 record overall on the year, including an 8-7 mark in region play, which was good enough for third place in Region 5.
The team was led offensively by senior slugger Mallory Merrill, who hit three home runs on the year. Junior infielder Jostlen Leggett hit two out of the park this season, including the final run for the Bees in their loss to the Falcons in the seventh inning.
The pitching staff for the Bees featured two freshman and a sophomore and were led by freshman Tegan Mecham, who picked up six wins on the year. Sophomore slinger Miya Quintero recorded three wins while freshman Kamryn Peterson picked up two wins on the season.
In looking ahead to next year, coach Nelson said, “We only graduate three seniors this year and had a lot of underclassmen that got a lot of varsity experience this season, so that should help them out a ton going forward into next year.”
Of those three seniors, coach Nelson said, “They’ve been great leaders both on and off the field for several years. Sydnie Blacker has been a starter for the last four years, then Mallory Merrill moved in when she was a sophomore and started for three years. And Kallie Bair has started for the last two years. They have all been just great teammates and are great people who will go on to do great things in their lives.”
Another change the Bees will face next year comes right at the top as coach Nelson has decided to step down as the head coach, which became official at the end of the season.
When asked about her experience coaching the team, she said, “It has been a dream come true for me to come back and coach at the school where I played and that turned me into the athlete and person that I am. I’ve had the chance to work with some of my old coaches and give back to the community that has given me so much. It’s been just a really great experience for me.”
In other news from the 5A tournament, Region 5 top seed Bountiful advanced all the way to the championship game for the second year in a row, but was again denied that elusive title as the Leopards from West high beat the Braves twice last Thursday to take home the title.
The Leopards were tripped up by Roy 2-1 in the quarterfinals and then had to beat Farmington and the Royals in a rematch in the semifinals before squaring off against the Braves.
June 5, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The season came to a soggy end for the Box Elder High School softball team last Friday in the quarterfinals of the state tournament when the Bees fell to Skyridge by a score of 13-3.
The game was scheduled to be played Tuesday morning, and the teams got in four innings before a rain delay was called. During the first half of the game, the Falcons built a 4-1 lead.
The remainder of the game was scheduled for Wednesday, but the rains continued and no games were played. Thursday was the same as field conditions stayed unplayable. On Friday morning, the sun came out for a bit and the Bees were able to take the field to finish out the game.
The playing conditions were still very sloppy and caused a struggle on the defensive end for both sides, though the Falcons did more to capitalize on the offensive side of the plate to cruise to the win.
After the game, Bees head coach Taleas Nelson said, “The playing conditions were really poor, especially on Friday for the end of the game, but both teams had to play in them, and we just didn’t step up like we needed to.”
The Bees finished the season with an 11-18 record overall on the year, including an 8-7 mark in region play, which was good enough for third place in Region 5.
The team was led offensively by senior slugger Mallory Merrill, who hit three home runs on the year. Junior infielder Jostlen Leggett hit two out of the park this season, including the final run for the Bees in their loss to the Falcons in the seventh inning.
The pitching staff for the Bees featured two freshman and a sophomore and were led by freshman Tegan Mecham, who picked up six wins on the year. Sophomore slinger Miya Quintero recorded three wins while freshman Kamryn Peterson picked up two wins on the season.
In looking ahead to next year, coach Nelson said, “We only graduate three seniors this year and had a lot of underclassmen that got a lot of varsity experience this season, so that should help them out a ton going forward into next year.”
Of those three seniors, coach Nelson said, “They’ve been great leaders both on and off the field for several years. Sydnie Blacker has been a starter for the last four years, then Mallory Merrill moved in when she was a sophomore and started for three years. And Kallie Bair has started for the last two years. They have all been just great teammates and are great people who will go on to do great things in their lives.”
Another change the Bees will face next year comes right at the top as coach Nelson has decided to step down as the head coach, which became official at the end of the season.
When asked about her experience coaching the team, she said, “It has been a dream come true for me to come back and coach at the school where I played and that turned me into the athlete and person that I am. I’ve had the chance to work with some of my old coaches and give back to the community that has given me so much. It’s been just a really great experience for me.”
In other news from the 5A tournament, Region 5 top seed Bountiful advanced all the way to the championship game for the second year in a row, but was again denied that elusive title as the Leopards from West high beat the Braves twice last Thursday to take home the title.
The Leopards were tripped up by Roy 2-1 in the quarterfinals and then had to beat Farmington and the Royals in a rematch in the semifinals before squaring off against the Braves.
Hungry spectators line up at the food trucks at the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard tour stop in Mantua in 2017. About 2,500-3,000 people from all over the Western U.S. attended the event.
Pro wakeboard tour coming back to Mantua
Mantua Reservoir will host a stop of the Supra Boats Professional Wakeboard Tour on Saturday, June 22, following what tour organizers said was a “solid gold debut” at the approximately 500-acre venue in 2017.
The reservoir “received rave reviews from competitors and fans alike” after the first event.
“The Mantua Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in 2017 was one of the best we have had in years,” Pro Wakeboard Tour Director of Operations Chris Bischoff wrote in an email. “The town of Mantua was very supportive and welcomed the event back this year. Mantua Reservoir is an excellent lake for wakeboarding and wakesurfing with a great view for all of the spectators.”
The last tour stop in Mantua was very well attended with an estimated 2,500-3,000 spectators.
In addition to the professional wakeboarding and wakesurfing events, there will be activities for kids, giveaways, vendor and sponsor booths, and multiple food trucks on site. According to Brigham City officials, tour organizers for the last event used local merchants and vendors as much as possible to “make sure the money stayed here.” Due to the wakeboard event and a pickleball tournament being held the same weekend, local hotels were fully booked.
The world’s top 16 professional wakeboarders will be competing in the event for a portion of the purse. The action starts at 10 a.m. on June 22, and runs until the award ceremony at 4 p.m. Advance tickets for the event cost $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6-12 years old. Children five and younger get in free. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Visit www.wakeboardingmag.com/pro-wakeboard-tour/stop-2-mantua-ut/ for more information or to purchase tickets.
The boat ramp at Mantua Reservoir will be closed to the public Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22.
Pro wakeboard tour coming back to Mantua
Mantua Reservoir will host a stop of the Supra Boats Professional Wakeboard Tour on Saturday, June 22, following what tour organizers said was a “solid gold debut” at the approximately 500-acre venue in 2017.
The reservoir “received rave reviews from competitors and fans alike” after the first event.
“The Mantua Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in 2017 was one of the best we have had in years,” Pro Wakeboard Tour Director of Operations Chris Bischoff wrote in an email. “The town of Mantua was very supportive and welcomed the event back this year. Mantua Reservoir is an excellent lake for wakeboarding and wakesurfing with a great view for all of the spectators.”
The last tour stop in Mantua was very well attended with an estimated 2,500-3,000 spectators.
In addition to the professional wakeboarding and wakesurfing events, there will be activities for kids, giveaways, vendor and sponsor booths, and multiple food trucks on site. According to Brigham City officials, tour organizers for the last event used local merchants and vendors as much as possible to “make sure the money stayed here.” Due to the wakeboard event and a pickleball tournament being held the same weekend, local hotels were fully booked.
The world’s top 16 professional wakeboarders will be competing in the event for a portion of the purse. The action starts at 10 a.m. on June 22, and runs until the award ceremony at 4 p.m. Advance tickets for the event cost $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6-12 years old. Children five and younger get in free. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Visit www.wakeboardingmag.com/pro-wakeboard-tour/stop-2-mantua-ut/ for more information or to purchase tickets.
The boat ramp at Mantua Reservoir will be closed to the public Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22.
Softball team splits games, earns third seed into tourney
May 15, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In an emotional conclusion to region play, the Box Elder High School softball team picked up a huge win over first-place Bountiful, 3-2, last Tuesday in the team’s final home game of the season, before tripping up on the road against Roy as the Royals won 4-1 and secured the second spot from Region 5.
The game against the Braves on senior night was a defensive struggle throughout and neither team could gain any separation until the Bees posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
From there, the defense took over. Although the Braves out-hit the Bees 7-3, the visitors couldn’t string together the right combination of hits to overtake the lead as the Bees dealt the Braves only their second region loss of the season.
Freshman pitcher Tegan Mecham picked up her sixth win of the year from the circle while fellow underclassman, sophomore Annie Salazar, took the loss for the Braves.
Looking to build off the momentum of beating the best, the Bees traveled to Roy to take on the Royals with hopes of getting one more home game once the state tournament started since a win would have landed the Bees in the region’s second spot.
But the Royals had plans and dreams of their own, along with the confidence to back it up since they were the other team to knock off the Braves during region play.
The game started slowly on offense for both teams and no runs were scored until the home team put up two in the bottom of the third.
The Bees cut that lead in half in the top of the fourth, but couldn’t get any closer. The Royals then put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to set the final margin.
Mecham officially took the loss from the circle for the Bees while senior Maysa Averett recorded her 11th win on the season.
The week lands the Bees in the third spot from Region 5, behind the Braves and Royals and ahead of Woods Cross, which secured the fourth seed by beating Farmington 4-3 last Friday.
The Bees were matched up with the second seed from Region 7, Alta. The Hawks finished the year with a 9-1 record in region play and a 16-10 overall record. They are led by do-it-all star Mackenzie Evans, who earned 11 wins from the circle and hit 11 home runs.
The game against the Hawks was scheduled to be played Tuesday, May 14, at 4 p.m. at Alta High School (results not available by press time).
Win or lose, the Bees will play tomorrow at 4 p.m. against either West or Maple Mountain. An opening round loss by the Bees and Golden Eagles would give the Bees a home game tomorrow while any other scenario would send the Bees on the road for their second game.
A win in either of their first two games would send the Bees on to the quarterfinals, which will be held at the Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville starting on Tuesday, May 21. The state champion will be crowned Thursday, May 23.
May 15, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In an emotional conclusion to region play, the Box Elder High School softball team picked up a huge win over first-place Bountiful, 3-2, last Tuesday in the team’s final home game of the season, before tripping up on the road against Roy as the Royals won 4-1 and secured the second spot from Region 5.
The game against the Braves on senior night was a defensive struggle throughout and neither team could gain any separation until the Bees posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
From there, the defense took over. Although the Braves out-hit the Bees 7-3, the visitors couldn’t string together the right combination of hits to overtake the lead as the Bees dealt the Braves only their second region loss of the season.
Freshman pitcher Tegan Mecham picked up her sixth win of the year from the circle while fellow underclassman, sophomore Annie Salazar, took the loss for the Braves.
Looking to build off the momentum of beating the best, the Bees traveled to Roy to take on the Royals with hopes of getting one more home game once the state tournament started since a win would have landed the Bees in the region’s second spot.
But the Royals had plans and dreams of their own, along with the confidence to back it up since they were the other team to knock off the Braves during region play.
The game started slowly on offense for both teams and no runs were scored until the home team put up two in the bottom of the third.
The Bees cut that lead in half in the top of the fourth, but couldn’t get any closer. The Royals then put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to set the final margin.
Mecham officially took the loss from the circle for the Bees while senior Maysa Averett recorded her 11th win on the season.
The week lands the Bees in the third spot from Region 5, behind the Braves and Royals and ahead of Woods Cross, which secured the fourth seed by beating Farmington 4-3 last Friday.
The Bees were matched up with the second seed from Region 7, Alta. The Hawks finished the year with a 9-1 record in region play and a 16-10 overall record. They are led by do-it-all star Mackenzie Evans, who earned 11 wins from the circle and hit 11 home runs.
The game against the Hawks was scheduled to be played Tuesday, May 14, at 4 p.m. at Alta High School (results not available by press time).
Win or lose, the Bees will play tomorrow at 4 p.m. against either West or Maple Mountain. An opening round loss by the Bees and Golden Eagles would give the Bees a home game tomorrow while any other scenario would send the Bees on the road for their second game.
A win in either of their first two games would send the Bees on to the quarterfinals, which will be held at the Valley Softball Complex in Taylorsville starting on Tuesday, May 21. The state champion will be crowned Thursday, May 23.
Softball team secures playoff spot
May 8, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The road to the state tournament is never a smooth one and the Box Elder High School softball team got a taste of those bumps firsthand last week as the team lost a nail-biter to Farmington on Tuesday, 8-7, then pulled out a 10-9 victory over Woods Cross on Thursday.
Against the Phoenix, the Bees took control of the game early on with five runs in the second inning and held a 6-1 lead heading into the third frame.
But the Phoenix found their bats and started chipping into the lead, eventually overtaking the Bees behind a four-run fifth inning.
The Bees pulled one run back in the top of the sixth, but the comeback attempt fell just short as the team couldn’t string together enough hits coming down the stretch to come up with a win.
Delaney Baker recorded the win from the pitching circle for the Phoenix while freshman slinger Kamryn Peterson took the loss for the Bees.
On Wednesday, the Bees hosted a rematch against rival Bear River and were looking for a little payback from an earlier 13-3 loss.
But it was the Bears who came out as the early aggressors with a four-run second inning to build an early lead.
The Bees battled back and tied the game at five after five innings before the Bears asserted their offensive dominance and grabbed the lead for good, posting three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to secure the win 10-5.
On the offensive side, the Bears were lead by junior slugger Oaklee Trapp, who went two-for-three from the plate with three RBIs, including her third home run of the season.
Defensively, freshman standout Jordyn Warren picked up her 10th win from the pitching circle for the Bears while Miya Quintero recorded the loss for the Bees.
In spite of the two emotional losses, the Bees were determined to keep pace in the region standings on Thursday, and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, which they built to a 10-1 edge heading into the last half of the final inning on the road against the Wildcats.
But needing a win to keep their own postseason dreams alive, the Wildcats mounted a furious comeback in the bottom of the seventh and scored eight runs in the frame to cut the lead to just one run.
In the end, the Wildcats’ rally magic ran out as the Bees forced a grounder to first base for the final out to hold onto the win.
On Friday, the Bees took a five-hour bus ride south to take on Enterprise, who is currently the top ranked team in the 2A classification according to the Deseret News.
The Wolves have been known to score a lot of runs this season and didn’t disappoint against the Bees as they amassed 15 hits during the game.
Not to be outdone, the Bees found their own offensive groove and racked up 21 hits, including four home runs, to come away with a 14-12 win.
The win over the Wildcats punched the Bees ticket to the state tournament and secured them no worse than the fourth seed from Region 5, though they could enter the tournament as high as the second seed depending on how the final week of region play pans out.
Heading into the week, Bees’ head coach Taleas Marble said she was really happy with how well her team is hitting the ball and that she is looking for more of the same this week.
“The girls are really hitting well now and that’s a great thing to see at this stage in the season,” Marble said. “I think we only had three home runs all year before the game against the Wolves, so to get four in that one game is a great sign for us. If we can sharpen up our defense some and keep hitting well, we can give just about anybody a run for their money.”
Yesterday, the Bees took on first-place Bountiful in the team’s final home game of the year (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, the team will head south to take on Roy. The Royals start the week sitting in second place at 6-4, but will play Farmington twice and Viewmont once before squaring off against the Bees.
The game against the Royals is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
The road to the state tournament is never a smooth one and the Box Elder High School softball team got a taste of those bumps firsthand last week as the team lost a nail-biter to Farmington on Tuesday, 8-7, then pulled out a 10-9 victory over Woods Cross on Thursday.
Against the Phoenix, the Bees took control of the game early on with five runs in the second inning and held a 6-1 lead heading into the third frame.
But the Phoenix found their bats and started chipping into the lead, eventually overtaking the Bees behind a four-run fifth inning.
The Bees pulled one run back in the top of the sixth, but the comeback attempt fell just short as the team couldn’t string together enough hits coming down the stretch to come up with a win.
Delaney Baker recorded the win from the pitching circle for the Phoenix while freshman slinger Kamryn Peterson took the loss for the Bees.
On Wednesday, the Bees hosted a rematch against rival Bear River and were looking for a little payback from an earlier 13-3 loss.
But it was the Bears who came out as the early aggressors with a four-run second inning to build an early lead.
The Bees battled back and tied the game at five after five innings before the Bears asserted their offensive dominance and grabbed the lead for good, posting three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to secure the win 10-5.
On the offensive side, the Bears were lead by junior slugger Oaklee Trapp, who went two-for-three from the plate with three RBIs, including her third home run of the season.
Defensively, freshman standout Jordyn Warren picked up her 10th win from the pitching circle for the Bears while Miya Quintero recorded the loss for the Bees.
In spite of the two emotional losses, the Bees were determined to keep pace in the region standings on Thursday, and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, which they built to a 10-1 edge heading into the last half of the final inning on the road against the Wildcats.
But needing a win to keep their own postseason dreams alive, the Wildcats mounted a furious comeback in the bottom of the seventh and scored eight runs in the frame to cut the lead to just one run.
In the end, the Wildcats’ rally magic ran out as the Bees forced a grounder to first base for the final out to hold onto the win.
On Friday, the Bees took a five-hour bus ride south to take on Enterprise, who is currently the top ranked team in the 2A classification according to the Deseret News.
The Wolves have been known to score a lot of runs this season and didn’t disappoint against the Bees as they amassed 15 hits during the game.
Not to be outdone, the Bees found their own offensive groove and racked up 21 hits, including four home runs, to come away with a 14-12 win.
The win over the Wildcats punched the Bees ticket to the state tournament and secured them no worse than the fourth seed from Region 5, though they could enter the tournament as high as the second seed depending on how the final week of region play pans out.
Heading into the week, Bees’ head coach Taleas Marble said she was really happy with how well her team is hitting the ball and that she is looking for more of the same this week.
“The girls are really hitting well now and that’s a great thing to see at this stage in the season,” Marble said. “I think we only had three home runs all year before the game against the Wolves, so to get four in that one game is a great sign for us. If we can sharpen up our defense some and keep hitting well, we can give just about anybody a run for their money.”
Yesterday, the Bees took on first-place Bountiful in the team’s final home game of the year (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, the team will head south to take on Roy. The Royals start the week sitting in second place at 6-4, but will play Farmington twice and Viewmont once before squaring off against the Bees.
The game against the Royals is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Boys see playoff hopes disappear after losing three of four games last week
May 8, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Another up and down week for the Box Elder High School baseball team ultimately saw more lows than highs as the Bees dropped three of four region games and saw their chance for a run in the state tournament come to an end.
On Monday last week, the team got their third and final crack at Viewmont, who had already won the previous two meetings.
The Vikings started off strong with a four-run first inning and the Bees responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
In the end, the Bees weren’t able to string enough hits together to climb out of the hole and fell 7-3. Sophomore Will Schultz picked up his first win of the season on the mound for the Vikings while Trevor Sorenson took the loss for the Bees.
Things improved dramatically from there, when on Tuesday the Bees hosted Woods Cross. Junior ace Logan Holgate put on a clinic through the first four innings from the mound, recording 11 strikeouts in the first 12 outs of the game.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said, “Logan came out and gave one of the best performances pitching that we’ve seen in several years. That game, especially those first four innings, will be one of the highlights of our whole season.”
The offense also gave the team a much-needed lift and built an 8-1 lead before a rain delay forced the remainder of the game to be played out on Friday.
With some time to recover, the Wildcats cut into the lead in the latter innings, but the Bees were able to hang on for an 8-4 win.
Holgate ended up striking out 13 batters on his way to the win. Woods Cross junior Karson Bodily recorded his first loss of the year.
Unfortunately, the Bees, weren’t able to build on the momentum from Tuesday and the Wildcats earned decisive wins both Wednesday and Friday by scores of 15-1 and 13-4.
Following the week, coach Roberts simply said, “In those other two games, we gave up too many free bases. Then we couldn’t string together enough hits to climb out of the holes we dug ourselves. It’s kind of been the same thing all year where we get down and just aren’t able to fight back in time.”
The week moves the Bees to 2-10 in region play with just one more series remaining, which will be this week against Roy.
The Royals currently sit in a four-way tie for first place with Viewmont, Farmington, and the Wildcats, and will have everything to play for as the state tournament begins on Monday with the top two seeds from each region earning home games during the early rounds.
With the Bees potentially playing spoiler, coach Roberts said his message to the team is pretty simple. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a week of games that don’t matter as far as the standings go, but we want to come out and play because we love the game of baseball. We want to respect the game and do our best to finish on a high note.”
The first game against the Royals was played yesterday (results not available by press time).
The Bees will be on the road today, Wednesday, May 8, before playing their final game of the season Thursday. Outgoing seniors will be recognized at the conclusion of Thursday’s game. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
May 8, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Another up and down week for the Box Elder High School baseball team ultimately saw more lows than highs as the Bees dropped three of four region games and saw their chance for a run in the state tournament come to an end.
On Monday last week, the team got their third and final crack at Viewmont, who had already won the previous two meetings.
The Vikings started off strong with a four-run first inning and the Bees responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
In the end, the Bees weren’t able to string enough hits together to climb out of the hole and fell 7-3. Sophomore Will Schultz picked up his first win of the season on the mound for the Vikings while Trevor Sorenson took the loss for the Bees.
Things improved dramatically from there, when on Tuesday the Bees hosted Woods Cross. Junior ace Logan Holgate put on a clinic through the first four innings from the mound, recording 11 strikeouts in the first 12 outs of the game.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said, “Logan came out and gave one of the best performances pitching that we’ve seen in several years. That game, especially those first four innings, will be one of the highlights of our whole season.”
The offense also gave the team a much-needed lift and built an 8-1 lead before a rain delay forced the remainder of the game to be played out on Friday.
With some time to recover, the Wildcats cut into the lead in the latter innings, but the Bees were able to hang on for an 8-4 win.
Holgate ended up striking out 13 batters on his way to the win. Woods Cross junior Karson Bodily recorded his first loss of the year.
Unfortunately, the Bees, weren’t able to build on the momentum from Tuesday and the Wildcats earned decisive wins both Wednesday and Friday by scores of 15-1 and 13-4.
Following the week, coach Roberts simply said, “In those other two games, we gave up too many free bases. Then we couldn’t string together enough hits to climb out of the holes we dug ourselves. It’s kind of been the same thing all year where we get down and just aren’t able to fight back in time.”
The week moves the Bees to 2-10 in region play with just one more series remaining, which will be this week against Roy.
The Royals currently sit in a four-way tie for first place with Viewmont, Farmington, and the Wildcats, and will have everything to play for as the state tournament begins on Monday with the top two seeds from each region earning home games during the early rounds.
With the Bees potentially playing spoiler, coach Roberts said his message to the team is pretty simple. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a week of games that don’t matter as far as the standings go, but we want to come out and play because we love the game of baseball. We want to respect the game and do our best to finish on a high note.”
The first game against the Royals was played yesterday (results not available by press time).
The Bees will be on the road today, Wednesday, May 8, before playing their final game of the season Thursday. Outgoing seniors will be recognized at the conclusion of Thursday’s game. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Sophomore pitcher Miya Quintero gets some words of encouragement from senior team member Mallory Merrill after Roy extended their lead to 5-1 off a home run.
Softball team climbs region standings with two wins
May 1, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School softball team made up for lost time last week as the team played seven games over the course of five days, picking up two wins over Viewmont and losing to Roy in region play, then posting a 2-2 mark at the Cache Valley Invitational tournament hosted by Ridgeline High School on Saturday.
The week started on something of a sour note as the Bees were unable to duplicate the hard-fought win they got over the Royals last month on the road as Roy used a couple of big innings behind the plate to exact their revenge.
Junior Jostlen Leggett launched her first career home run to try to help the Bees keep pace, but the Royals got home runs of their own from Maysa Averett and Saige Nielsen during a six-run stretch that spanned the fourth and fifth innings that put the Bees in a hole they couldn’t climb out of as the Royals took the win 8-3.
Averett also got the win from the pitching circle while Box Elder’s freshman slinger, Tegan Mecham, took the loss for the Bees.
On Thursday, the Bees made quick work of the visiting Vikings twice in a double-header that served as a make-up for an earlier rain out.
In the first game, Mecham threw four scoreless innings and gave up just one hit as the Bees cruised to a 17-0 win.
The Bees put up another 17 runs in the second game, all in the second inning, and secured another easy win, this time by a 15-run margin, 17-2. Miya Quintero picked up her third win of the year from the pitching circle while Oakley Sovic took the loss for the Vikings.
On Saturday, the Bees traveled north to Millville for the second year in a row to participate in the Cache Valley Invitational tournament.
In their first game, the Bees faced off against long-standing rival Bear River. The Bears entered the game as the fifth-ranked team in the 4A classification according to the Deseret News and were able to prove why against their cross-county rivals in a 13-3 win.
A seven-run third inning from the Bears turned an otherwise close game into a route as Jordyn Warren recorded the win for the designated home team while Mecham took the loss for the Bees.
Bouncing back from the early loss, the Bees secured wins over Payson, 10-4, and Layton, 12-4, before falling to Grantsville 11-0 in the final game of the day.
The offense was clicking especially well for the Bees against the Lancers when the team scored their 12 runs off of 13 hits, eight of which were extra-base hits.
After the rigorous stretch, the Bees got a break the first half of this week and will be back in action today, Wednesday, May 1, at home in a rematch with the Bears. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The team will then start their final stretch of region play with a game on the road tomorrow against Woods Cross, followed by their final games with the Braves and Royals next week.
Every game will be big coming down the stretch as the region standings currently see just one game separating second place from fifth place and the Bees are right in the thick of the race at 6-5.
All four remaining games on the schedule are slated to start at 3:30 p.m.
Softball team climbs region standings with two wins
May 1, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School softball team made up for lost time last week as the team played seven games over the course of five days, picking up two wins over Viewmont and losing to Roy in region play, then posting a 2-2 mark at the Cache Valley Invitational tournament hosted by Ridgeline High School on Saturday.
The week started on something of a sour note as the Bees were unable to duplicate the hard-fought win they got over the Royals last month on the road as Roy used a couple of big innings behind the plate to exact their revenge.
Junior Jostlen Leggett launched her first career home run to try to help the Bees keep pace, but the Royals got home runs of their own from Maysa Averett and Saige Nielsen during a six-run stretch that spanned the fourth and fifth innings that put the Bees in a hole they couldn’t climb out of as the Royals took the win 8-3.
Averett also got the win from the pitching circle while Box Elder’s freshman slinger, Tegan Mecham, took the loss for the Bees.
On Thursday, the Bees made quick work of the visiting Vikings twice in a double-header that served as a make-up for an earlier rain out.
In the first game, Mecham threw four scoreless innings and gave up just one hit as the Bees cruised to a 17-0 win.
The Bees put up another 17 runs in the second game, all in the second inning, and secured another easy win, this time by a 15-run margin, 17-2. Miya Quintero picked up her third win of the year from the pitching circle while Oakley Sovic took the loss for the Vikings.
On Saturday, the Bees traveled north to Millville for the second year in a row to participate in the Cache Valley Invitational tournament.
In their first game, the Bees faced off against long-standing rival Bear River. The Bears entered the game as the fifth-ranked team in the 4A classification according to the Deseret News and were able to prove why against their cross-county rivals in a 13-3 win.
A seven-run third inning from the Bears turned an otherwise close game into a route as Jordyn Warren recorded the win for the designated home team while Mecham took the loss for the Bees.
Bouncing back from the early loss, the Bees secured wins over Payson, 10-4, and Layton, 12-4, before falling to Grantsville 11-0 in the final game of the day.
The offense was clicking especially well for the Bees against the Lancers when the team scored their 12 runs off of 13 hits, eight of which were extra-base hits.
After the rigorous stretch, the Bees got a break the first half of this week and will be back in action today, Wednesday, May 1, at home in a rematch with the Bears. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The team will then start their final stretch of region play with a game on the road tomorrow against Woods Cross, followed by their final games with the Braves and Royals next week.
Every game will be big coming down the stretch as the region standings currently see just one game separating second place from fifth place and the Bees are right in the thick of the race at 6-5.
All four remaining games on the schedule are slated to start at 3:30 p.m.
Boys go 0-3, face steep climb as region play winds down
May 1, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
With a sunnier outlook in the weather last week, the Box Elder High School baseball team got in three region games last week: two against Viewmont and their third and final game against Bountiful.
Unfortunately, the team went 0-3 on the week with losses to the Vikings of 13-2 and 3-2, and a 10-7 defeat at the hands of the Braves.
Last Tuesday in Brigham City, the Bees again fell victim to giving up a couple of big innings and those proved to be the difference in the ultimately lop-sided affair.
The Vikings posted three runs in the third inning to take the first lead of the afternoon and built a 5-2 edge heading into the final frame.
Then the floodgates opened as the visitors poured in eight runs in the seventh inning to remove any doubt about the final outcome.
Aaron Bredsguard picked up the win from the mound for the Vikings while Logan Holgate took the loss for the Bees.
Wednesday in Bountiful, the game started somewhat similarly, with the Vikings grabbing an early lead, although by just one run. That spread held true until the Bees tied the game in the top of the sixth.
The game stayed tied heading into the seventh, where the Bees finally got over the hump and took a 2-1 advantage into their last defensive stand.
But the home team got the final say as the Vikings drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the win.
Senior Noah Montoya picked up his second win of the season on the mound for the Vikings while Tyler Moffitt recorded the loss for the Bees.
Still smarting from such a close loss, the Bees took the field Thursday in a make-up game on the road against the Braves.
That game looked to be an offensive slugfest from the get-go as the score was tied at three after just the first two innings.
The Bees grabbed a 4-3 edge after the third inning before the Braves found some rhythm and put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.
Not to be outdone, the Bees evened the score with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Braves posted three of their own in the bottom of the frame to set the final margin and secure the win.
Junior hurler Chandler Jones officially picked up the win for the Braves, but starting pitcher Truman Duryea gave the Bees fits as he rang up 10 strikeouts in his first career start.
The week saw the Bees drop in the region standings to 1-7 and gives them a big hill to climb during the final two weeks of the regular season in order to secure a playoff spot from Region 5.
That climb started Monday afternoon back at home with the team’s final game against the Vikings, which was originally scheduled for last Friday (results not available by press time).
The team also began their three-game series with Woods Cross yesterday on the road (results not available by press time).
The Bees will be back in action this afternoon, Wednesday, May 1, at home against the Wildcats and finish the series in Woods Cross on Friday afternoon. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
May 1, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
With a sunnier outlook in the weather last week, the Box Elder High School baseball team got in three region games last week: two against Viewmont and their third and final game against Bountiful.
Unfortunately, the team went 0-3 on the week with losses to the Vikings of 13-2 and 3-2, and a 10-7 defeat at the hands of the Braves.
Last Tuesday in Brigham City, the Bees again fell victim to giving up a couple of big innings and those proved to be the difference in the ultimately lop-sided affair.
The Vikings posted three runs in the third inning to take the first lead of the afternoon and built a 5-2 edge heading into the final frame.
Then the floodgates opened as the visitors poured in eight runs in the seventh inning to remove any doubt about the final outcome.
Aaron Bredsguard picked up the win from the mound for the Vikings while Logan Holgate took the loss for the Bees.
Wednesday in Bountiful, the game started somewhat similarly, with the Vikings grabbing an early lead, although by just one run. That spread held true until the Bees tied the game in the top of the sixth.
The game stayed tied heading into the seventh, where the Bees finally got over the hump and took a 2-1 advantage into their last defensive stand.
But the home team got the final say as the Vikings drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the win.
Senior Noah Montoya picked up his second win of the season on the mound for the Vikings while Tyler Moffitt recorded the loss for the Bees.
Still smarting from such a close loss, the Bees took the field Thursday in a make-up game on the road against the Braves.
That game looked to be an offensive slugfest from the get-go as the score was tied at three after just the first two innings.
The Bees grabbed a 4-3 edge after the third inning before the Braves found some rhythm and put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.
Not to be outdone, the Bees evened the score with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Braves posted three of their own in the bottom of the frame to set the final margin and secure the win.
Junior hurler Chandler Jones officially picked up the win for the Braves, but starting pitcher Truman Duryea gave the Bees fits as he rang up 10 strikeouts in his first career start.
The week saw the Bees drop in the region standings to 1-7 and gives them a big hill to climb during the final two weeks of the regular season in order to secure a playoff spot from Region 5.
That climb started Monday afternoon back at home with the team’s final game against the Vikings, which was originally scheduled for last Friday (results not available by press time).
The team also began their three-game series with Woods Cross yesterday on the road (results not available by press time).
The Bees will be back in action this afternoon, Wednesday, May 1, at home against the Wildcats and finish the series in Woods Cross on Friday afternoon. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Logan Holgate fires a pitch in the Bees’ win over Bountiful last week. Holgate’s pitching in the first six innings put the Bees in position to win off Nic Migliori’s three-run homer.
Baseball team splits two games with Bountiful in weather-shortened week
April 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
While still being forced to battle the elements’ effect on scheduling, the Box Elder High School baseball team was able to get two of their scheduled three games against Bountiful in the books last week, picking up a 4-1 win on Wednesday at home before dropping a game, 13-2, on the road on Friday.
On Wednesday, the Bees were able to dodge giving up the one big inning that has cost them games all season, and held the Braves in check at the plate for seven innings.
Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was very impressed by the pitching from his team and said he wants to see more of the same.
“Logan Holgate came out and pitched six great innings of baseball. Ryan Gunn got the win since the game was tied late, but Logan really did a great job of putting us in a good position,” Roberts said. “That’s something I think he’s capable of doing every time out and we want to see more of that from him.”
With the defense holding strong, the Bees found an unlikely offensive hero in sophomore Nic Migliori, who came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and blasted his first career home run to end the game.
Coming off the victory, the Bees were back to their old ways on Friday in Bountiful as the Braves put up nine runs in the first inning on their way to the easy win.
Roberts said after the loss, “We weren’t ready to play when the game started, so we gave up a big first inning and that was the difference. We definitely need to do a better job being ready to play right from the start.”
Senior slugger Josh Welling hit his first home run of the year to fuel that nine-run first inning for the Braves while junior pitcher Jackson Skidmore picked up the win from the mound.
Ryan Greer took the loss from the hill for the Bees.
The week keeps both the Braves and Bees looking up at the rest of the region in the standings as the wins were the first for both teams in region play.
This week, the Bees will play their regularly-scheduled series against Viewmont on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and will play their third game against the Braves on the road on Thursday morning at 11 a.m.
Looking ahead to the week, coach Roberts said, “Having four games in four days is a lot of baseball, especially for the pitching staff. We’re going to have to rely on some guys stepping up this week and really being ready whenever they are called on.”
The results of the Bees’ game against Viewmont on Tuesday were not available by press time.
The Bees will be in Bountiful at Viewmont today, Wednesday, April 24, and Friday they’ll be back home to complete the series. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Baseball team splits two games with Bountiful in weather-shortened week
April 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
While still being forced to battle the elements’ effect on scheduling, the Box Elder High School baseball team was able to get two of their scheduled three games against Bountiful in the books last week, picking up a 4-1 win on Wednesday at home before dropping a game, 13-2, on the road on Friday.
On Wednesday, the Bees were able to dodge giving up the one big inning that has cost them games all season, and held the Braves in check at the plate for seven innings.
Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was very impressed by the pitching from his team and said he wants to see more of the same.
“Logan Holgate came out and pitched six great innings of baseball. Ryan Gunn got the win since the game was tied late, but Logan really did a great job of putting us in a good position,” Roberts said. “That’s something I think he’s capable of doing every time out and we want to see more of that from him.”
With the defense holding strong, the Bees found an unlikely offensive hero in sophomore Nic Migliori, who came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and blasted his first career home run to end the game.
Coming off the victory, the Bees were back to their old ways on Friday in Bountiful as the Braves put up nine runs in the first inning on their way to the easy win.
Roberts said after the loss, “We weren’t ready to play when the game started, so we gave up a big first inning and that was the difference. We definitely need to do a better job being ready to play right from the start.”
Senior slugger Josh Welling hit his first home run of the year to fuel that nine-run first inning for the Braves while junior pitcher Jackson Skidmore picked up the win from the mound.
Ryan Greer took the loss from the hill for the Bees.
The week keeps both the Braves and Bees looking up at the rest of the region in the standings as the wins were the first for both teams in region play.
This week, the Bees will play their regularly-scheduled series against Viewmont on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and will play their third game against the Braves on the road on Thursday morning at 11 a.m.
Looking ahead to the week, coach Roberts said, “Having four games in four days is a lot of baseball, especially for the pitching staff. We’re going to have to rely on some guys stepping up this week and really being ready whenever they are called on.”
The results of the Bees’ game against Viewmont on Tuesday were not available by press time.
The Bees will be in Bountiful at Viewmont today, Wednesday, April 24, and Friday they’ll be back home to complete the series. Both games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Softball team drops game against Bountiful, bounces back with win over Woods Cross
April 24, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Mother Nature continued to wreak havoc on spring sports schedules last week, but the Box Elder High School softball team got in two games, splitting results in a loss on the road against Bountiful on Thursday, 10-3, before picking up a big region win, 6-3, over Woods Cross on Friday.
Against Bountiful, the Bees weren’t able to weather a six-run third inning from the Braves that was highlighted by a home run from junior Sophia Stoddard, her first of the year.
The Bees pulled two runs back in the fourth, but were in too large of a hole as the Braves cruised to the win to remain undefeated in region play.
Corinne Hall picked up the win for the Braves while Tegan Mecham took the loss from the circle for the Bees.
The Bees didn’t have much time to recover from the loss as they took the field the next day at home against the Wildcats.
The Bees were looking to avenge a close 7-6 defeat from last month at the hands of Woods Cross, and the teams were just as closely matched in the second meeting. They battled to a 2-2 tie after three innings before the Bees came through from the plate with three runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.
The Bees were able to extend some innings with good hitting, racking up their six runs off of 10 hits while holding the Wildcats to just five hits.
Defensively, the Bees stayed error-free in the field. Limiting those mistakes was another key in getting the win.
The week keeps the logjam in the middle of the standings very much intact as the Braves remain in first place at 8-0, then there’s a three-way tie for second with the Bees, Farmington, and Wildcats all sitting at 4-4 in region play.
Roy is still in the mix as well at 3-4 while Viewmont is bringing up the rear and still looking for their first region win at 0-7.
As the Bees approach the midpoint of regular season play, the team is led in the circle by a pair of underclassmen, freshman Tegan Mecham and sophomore Miya Quintero, who each have two wins on the season.
On the offensive side of the plate, the Bees are lead by senior slugger Mallory Merrill, who has two home runs on the season. Junior speedster Mickelle Lish has recorded two triples and two doubles so far while Jostlen Leggett and Kallie Bair each have a triple on the books as well.
This week, the Bees will be looking to grab that second place spot all for themselves as they hosted Roy yesterday (results not available by press time), then get a double-header with the last-place Vikings at home on Thursday afternoon.
The first game against the Vikings is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. with the second game having a 5:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.
Bees Blitzed by Phoenix
April 17, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was not the start to region play that the Box Elder High School baseball team was hoping for as the team was swept by Farmington in convincing fashion last week with final tallies of 17-4, 13-3, and 13-5.
Since the weather looked sketchy later in the week, the Bees got a double-header at home on Monday night and couldn’t contain the high-powered Phoenix offense for much of the game.
Connor Thomas launched a home run for the visitors as the Phoenix poured in 17 runs off 13 hits in the first game.
Junior pitcher Logan Forbush picked up the win for the Phoenix while Logan Holgate took the loss on the mound for the Bees.
In the second game on Monday, the Bees came out more aggressively and took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning behind a home run by senior Mike Davis.
But the Phoenix found more of that potent offense in the top of the fourth and took a 3-2 lead.
From there, the Phoenix never looked back as they got another home run from Thomas and a long bomb from Brandon Young en route to picking up their third straight win overall.
Senior hurler Dylan Jeppson grabbed the win in the second game for the Phoenix while Ryan Greer was dealt the loss for the Bees.
On Thursday afternoon, the two teams were back in action, this time in Davis County, and the results looked very similar to the second game on Monday, where the Bees were able to jump out to an early lead, only to falter later on as the Phoenix picked up some offensive steam.
The teams battled to a 4-4 tie after five innings before Farmington exploded for nine runs in the final two frames to turn a tight contest into a third straight blowout win.
Sam Graves grabbed the win for the Phoenix from the mound while Ryan Gunn got the loss for the Bees.
Following the series, Bees head coach Jesse Roberts said, “[The Phoenix] did what they need to do to win the games. They had a lefty that threw very well for them and they got hits when they needed them.”
Coach Roberts went on to say the weather has been an even tougher variable this spring than usual when he said, “Everyone has to play with it, but the weather has wreaked havoc on baseball more this spring than in recent years. We go from taking cuts inside to playing outside and it makes it harder than normal. Schedule-wise, we have had to switch things around like crazy, so it’s made it tough on everyone.”
The crazy scheduling looks to continue this week as the Bees were scheduled to take on Bountiful yesterday, today, Wednesday, April 17, and Friday. However, coming into the week, the Braves still hadn’t finished their series with Roy and were hoping to finish that series up on Monday.
Whenever the games against the Braves end up happening, coach Roberts knows the team will have their hands full. “[The Braves] will be very solid and they return a lot of starters from last year,” Roberts said.
Despite the challenge, Roberts also said, “We are looking this week to start fast and hold [the Braves] down with our pitching. We also want to do a better job of stringing together hits at the right time. Our guys have the capabilities to do amazing things. This week is gonna be our time.”
The current schedule had the Bees on the road yesterday (results not available by press time) and Friday, and home on Wednesday with each game starting at 3:30 p.m.
April 17, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was not the start to region play that the Box Elder High School baseball team was hoping for as the team was swept by Farmington in convincing fashion last week with final tallies of 17-4, 13-3, and 13-5.
Since the weather looked sketchy later in the week, the Bees got a double-header at home on Monday night and couldn’t contain the high-powered Phoenix offense for much of the game.
Connor Thomas launched a home run for the visitors as the Phoenix poured in 17 runs off 13 hits in the first game.
Junior pitcher Logan Forbush picked up the win for the Phoenix while Logan Holgate took the loss on the mound for the Bees.
In the second game on Monday, the Bees came out more aggressively and took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning behind a home run by senior Mike Davis.
But the Phoenix found more of that potent offense in the top of the fourth and took a 3-2 lead.
From there, the Phoenix never looked back as they got another home run from Thomas and a long bomb from Brandon Young en route to picking up their third straight win overall.
Senior hurler Dylan Jeppson grabbed the win in the second game for the Phoenix while Ryan Greer was dealt the loss for the Bees.
On Thursday afternoon, the two teams were back in action, this time in Davis County, and the results looked very similar to the second game on Monday, where the Bees were able to jump out to an early lead, only to falter later on as the Phoenix picked up some offensive steam.
The teams battled to a 4-4 tie after five innings before Farmington exploded for nine runs in the final two frames to turn a tight contest into a third straight blowout win.
Sam Graves grabbed the win for the Phoenix from the mound while Ryan Gunn got the loss for the Bees.
Following the series, Bees head coach Jesse Roberts said, “[The Phoenix] did what they need to do to win the games. They had a lefty that threw very well for them and they got hits when they needed them.”
Coach Roberts went on to say the weather has been an even tougher variable this spring than usual when he said, “Everyone has to play with it, but the weather has wreaked havoc on baseball more this spring than in recent years. We go from taking cuts inside to playing outside and it makes it harder than normal. Schedule-wise, we have had to switch things around like crazy, so it’s made it tough on everyone.”
The crazy scheduling looks to continue this week as the Bees were scheduled to take on Bountiful yesterday, today, Wednesday, April 17, and Friday. However, coming into the week, the Braves still hadn’t finished their series with Roy and were hoping to finish that series up on Monday.
Whenever the games against the Braves end up happening, coach Roberts knows the team will have their hands full. “[The Braves] will be very solid and they return a lot of starters from last year,” Roberts said.
Despite the challenge, Roberts also said, “We are looking this week to start fast and hold [the Braves] down with our pitching. We also want to do a better job of stringing together hits at the right time. Our guys have the capabilities to do amazing things. This week is gonna be our time.”
The current schedule had the Bees on the road yesterday (results not available by press time) and Friday, and home on Wednesday with each game starting at 3:30 p.m.
Bees grab big win over Phoenix
April 17, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
During a drizzly week full of cancellations across the state, the Box Elder High School softball team found a bright spot among a break in the clouds last Wednesday afternoon when it picked up a much-needed region win over Farmington, 4-2.
The Phoenix got the best of the Bees a month ago in Farmington, but improved hitting and better defense allowed the Bees to turn the tables this time around and pick up the win.
In contrast to their last meeting, the Bees took the early advantage and built a 3-0 lead before the Phoenix cut the lead to one in the top of the third.
Farmington wouldn’t get any closer and the Bees added a security run in the fifth while blanking their opponents the rest of the way to set the final margin.
Freshman slinger Tegan Mecham rang up seven strikeouts on her way to picking up the win from the pitching circle. Farmington’s Delany Baker, who got the win over the Bees in their first meeting, took the loss for the visitors.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Taleas Marble said she was as happy with her team’s energy and focus as she was with getting the win.
“Our girls came to play with a lot of confidence tonight,” Marble said. “We came out strong and hit really well. We only had two strikeouts tonight compared to 10 the first time we played [the Phoenix], so that was all really good to see.”
The Bees had a game scheduled for Tuesday afternoon against Viewmont, but were only able to play one inning before the game was postponed due to weather. That game will be made up as the second game of a double-header on April 25.
The Bees had another game on the schedule last Friday against Herriman that was rained out. With all the cancellations across the state, that game will be dropped from the schedule and not made up.
The win against Farmington moves the Bees into a tie for third place in the region standings with the Phoenix as both teams sit at 3-3.
The Bees were scheduled to play Woods Cross at home yesterday, but with a stormy forecast, that game may have had to be moved or rescheduled.
The forecast is more clear and bright for the Bees’ game tomorrow on the road against first-place Bountiful, who sits at a perfect 6-0 in region play so far.
The game against the Braves is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Of their schedule this week, coach Marble said, “I’m expecting another tight game with [the Wildcats]. They have played most everyone in the region pretty close, so that will be a fun one. I feel like our girls are really starting to come together and play better as a team, so that’s big for us. They are getting comfortable in their positions, our pitchers are throwing well, and all that will bode well for us going forward. I think we can pick up a few wins during these next two rounds that we didn’t the first time.”
April 17, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
During a drizzly week full of cancellations across the state, the Box Elder High School softball team found a bright spot among a break in the clouds last Wednesday afternoon when it picked up a much-needed region win over Farmington, 4-2.
The Phoenix got the best of the Bees a month ago in Farmington, but improved hitting and better defense allowed the Bees to turn the tables this time around and pick up the win.
In contrast to their last meeting, the Bees took the early advantage and built a 3-0 lead before the Phoenix cut the lead to one in the top of the third.
Farmington wouldn’t get any closer and the Bees added a security run in the fifth while blanking their opponents the rest of the way to set the final margin.
Freshman slinger Tegan Mecham rang up seven strikeouts on her way to picking up the win from the pitching circle. Farmington’s Delany Baker, who got the win over the Bees in their first meeting, took the loss for the visitors.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Taleas Marble said she was as happy with her team’s energy and focus as she was with getting the win.
“Our girls came to play with a lot of confidence tonight,” Marble said. “We came out strong and hit really well. We only had two strikeouts tonight compared to 10 the first time we played [the Phoenix], so that was all really good to see.”
The Bees had a game scheduled for Tuesday afternoon against Viewmont, but were only able to play one inning before the game was postponed due to weather. That game will be made up as the second game of a double-header on April 25.
The Bees had another game on the schedule last Friday against Herriman that was rained out. With all the cancellations across the state, that game will be dropped from the schedule and not made up.
The win against Farmington moves the Bees into a tie for third place in the region standings with the Phoenix as both teams sit at 3-3.
The Bees were scheduled to play Woods Cross at home yesterday, but with a stormy forecast, that game may have had to be moved or rescheduled.
The forecast is more clear and bright for the Bees’ game tomorrow on the road against first-place Bountiful, who sits at a perfect 6-0 in region play so far.
The game against the Braves is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Of their schedule this week, coach Marble said, “I’m expecting another tight game with [the Wildcats]. They have played most everyone in the region pretty close, so that will be a fun one. I feel like our girls are really starting to come together and play better as a team, so that’s big for us. They are getting comfortable in their positions, our pitchers are throwing well, and all that will bode well for us going forward. I think we can pick up a few wins during these next two rounds that we didn’t the first time.”
Alex Griffin pulls in a throw to second base while an Olympus runner safely slides in to record a steal early in the game.
Bees can’t find bats against Titans
April 10, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School baseball team struggled from the plate in their only game last week when the team hosted Olympus on Thursday afternoon and fell to the Titans 11-1.
Despite the lopsided score, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was happy with the team’s performance and saw improvements over the prior weeks. Coach Roberts said, “Defensively, we were better than we have been. We cleaned up our errors and I thought our pitchers were throwing well, so those were all nice to see.”
Coach Roberts went on to say, “[The Titan’s] pitcher had us off balance the whole game and we struggled from the plate. We couldn’t get a hit off him until the sixth inning. He had a nice curve ball and just kept us off balance.”
Senior hurler Jack Hollberg picked up the win with a complete game, in a one-hitter for the Titans, while Trent Dickson took the loss on the mound for the Bees.
With the preseason over, the Bees look ahead this week to a series with Farmington, which has changed somewhat because of the unpredictable Utah springtime weather.
Instead of having home games yesterday and Friday, the Bees played a double-header on Monday afternoon in Brigham City against the Phoenix (results not available by press time) with their road game still slated for Thursday afternoon in Farmington.
Coming into the series, coach Roberts said, “[The Phoenix] are kind of like us so far in that they have struggled early, but we know they have talent, so it should be an interesting series.”
The Phoenix are coming off an emotional, come-from-behind win over the Titans last Monday where they posted seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to escape with an unlikely win.
Big innings have haunted the Bees all season long and they’ll need to be mindful of playing a complete game to start out region play on the right foot with some wins over the Phoenix.
The game tomorrow is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
An interesting twist that baseball teams face that no other team sees during region play is the week-long series with the same opponent. The reason for that is the statewide rule limiting the number of pitches a given player is allowed to throw. A starting pitcher is allowed 35-60 pitches on one day’s rest and 61-85 pitches requires two day’s rest.
As coach Roberts explained, “Given that rule, if we start our best pitcher the first game and they start their best pitcher, then the next game, we both have to start someone else. It’s so no one team has to face the best pitcher on another team every time they play.”
Next week, the Bees get a crack at Bountiful. As the schedule stands now, the games will be played on Tuesday and Friday in Brigham City with a game on Wednesday in Bountiful. All three games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Bees can’t find bats against Titans
April 10, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School baseball team struggled from the plate in their only game last week when the team hosted Olympus on Thursday afternoon and fell to the Titans 11-1.
Despite the lopsided score, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was happy with the team’s performance and saw improvements over the prior weeks. Coach Roberts said, “Defensively, we were better than we have been. We cleaned up our errors and I thought our pitchers were throwing well, so those were all nice to see.”
Coach Roberts went on to say, “[The Titan’s] pitcher had us off balance the whole game and we struggled from the plate. We couldn’t get a hit off him until the sixth inning. He had a nice curve ball and just kept us off balance.”
Senior hurler Jack Hollberg picked up the win with a complete game, in a one-hitter for the Titans, while Trent Dickson took the loss on the mound for the Bees.
With the preseason over, the Bees look ahead this week to a series with Farmington, which has changed somewhat because of the unpredictable Utah springtime weather.
Instead of having home games yesterday and Friday, the Bees played a double-header on Monday afternoon in Brigham City against the Phoenix (results not available by press time) with their road game still slated for Thursday afternoon in Farmington.
Coming into the series, coach Roberts said, “[The Phoenix] are kind of like us so far in that they have struggled early, but we know they have talent, so it should be an interesting series.”
The Phoenix are coming off an emotional, come-from-behind win over the Titans last Monday where they posted seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to escape with an unlikely win.
Big innings have haunted the Bees all season long and they’ll need to be mindful of playing a complete game to start out region play on the right foot with some wins over the Phoenix.
The game tomorrow is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
An interesting twist that baseball teams face that no other team sees during region play is the week-long series with the same opponent. The reason for that is the statewide rule limiting the number of pitches a given player is allowed to throw. A starting pitcher is allowed 35-60 pitches on one day’s rest and 61-85 pitches requires two day’s rest.
As coach Roberts explained, “Given that rule, if we start our best pitcher the first game and they start their best pitcher, then the next game, we both have to start someone else. It’s so no one team has to face the best pitcher on another team every time they play.”
Next week, the Bees get a crack at Bountiful. As the schedule stands now, the games will be played on Tuesday and Friday in Brigham City with a game on Wednesday in Bountiful. All three games are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Ryan Dilg (center, left), and Brett Giebel (center, right) competed in the Special Olympics World Summer games in the United Arab Emirates in March. Also pictured are the athletes parents who joined them on the trip, Carl and Rebecca Dilg, and Jennifer and Kim Giebel.
Northern Utah athletes represent state, nation at World Special Olympics Summer Games
Two Special Olympics athletes from northern Utah were the only representatives from the state on the U.S. Special Olympics team that competed in the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last month.
Ryan Dilg son of Carl and Rebecca Dilg, of Willard, Utah, and Brett Giebel of Pleasant View, Utah, participated in track and field, and swimming, respectively. Both athletes are members of the Golden Spikers Swim Team in Brigham City.
Ryan Dilg, a seasoned swimmer, but new to competing in track, earned medals in his divisions, including a silver in the 200-meter sprint, sixth place—and a personal best—in the 100-meter sprint, and he led his team across the finish line for the bronze in the 4x100-meter relay.
Although new to track, Dilg is not new to competing, as he medaled in swimming at the 2018 Special Olympics National Games in Seattle, Washington. He enjoys competing as well as supporting his team mates, especially those with much greater challenges than his own.
Brett Giebel got a silver in the 200-meter free, bronze in 100-meter free, and took fourth in the butterfly.
Carl and Rebecca Dilg and Kim and Jennifer Giebel were able to attend the games and support their sons.
Dilg was honored to represent Utah and the country as part of the 300-member U.S. team during the two and a half weeks in the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While there, the U.S.A. team had the opportunity to visit schools where the teachers and students learned about the “People of Determination” as the Special Olympics athletes are known in the country.
Over 190 countries with 7,000-plus athletes and 20,000 volunteers came together for the opening and closing ceremonies and competitions.
The summer games were held in March because of the severe summers in the UAE.
Northern Utah athletes represent state, nation at World Special Olympics Summer Games
Two Special Olympics athletes from northern Utah were the only representatives from the state on the U.S. Special Olympics team that competed in the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last month.
Ryan Dilg son of Carl and Rebecca Dilg, of Willard, Utah, and Brett Giebel of Pleasant View, Utah, participated in track and field, and swimming, respectively. Both athletes are members of the Golden Spikers Swim Team in Brigham City.
Ryan Dilg, a seasoned swimmer, but new to competing in track, earned medals in his divisions, including a silver in the 200-meter sprint, sixth place—and a personal best—in the 100-meter sprint, and he led his team across the finish line for the bronze in the 4x100-meter relay.
Although new to track, Dilg is not new to competing, as he medaled in swimming at the 2018 Special Olympics National Games in Seattle, Washington. He enjoys competing as well as supporting his team mates, especially those with much greater challenges than his own.
Brett Giebel got a silver in the 200-meter free, bronze in 100-meter free, and took fourth in the butterfly.
Carl and Rebecca Dilg and Kim and Jennifer Giebel were able to attend the games and support their sons.
Dilg was honored to represent Utah and the country as part of the 300-member U.S. team during the two and a half weeks in the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While there, the U.S.A. team had the opportunity to visit schools where the teachers and students learned about the “People of Determination” as the Special Olympics athletes are known in the country.
Over 190 countries with 7,000-plus athletes and 20,000 volunteers came together for the opening and closing ceremonies and competitions.
The summer games were held in March because of the severe summers in the UAE.
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Boys miss opportunities, succumb to adversity in draw and loss
April 3, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor Missed opportunities and a lack of fortitude in the face of adversity resulted in a tie against Jordan and a loss against Viewmont in the Box Elder High School boys’ soccer team’s first region game of the year. According to Box Elder head coach Nate Bywater, the Bees executed their game plan well, and he was pleased, overall, to see that tactics and training for the game transferred to the field of play. However, the same struggle the boys have dealt with all year—uncertainty and a lack of confidence in front of the net—stymied their efforts and resulted in a 1-1 tie. “We got the chances where we wanted, when we wanted...but execution left was wanting a little bit,” Bywater said. “The touches we got on the ball just weren’t good enough. But we were pleased with what we were seeing on the field.” Jordan scored the first goal of the game in the first half, and Bryce Shimazaki evened the score with a goal in the second. Fighting back from an early goal was not something the Bees could replicate in the 3-0 drubbing they received at the hands of Viewmont. “We actually took a step backward,” Bywater said about the game that featured a “good” Viewmont team returning about 13 players, but that was no where near as good as last year’s Vikings squad. In the first 20 minutes of the game, Bywater said his team was executing and performing well, and his expectations rose for a closely-contested, high-quality match. But that changed after the Vikings scored their first goal at about the 17th minute of the first half. “We just kind of stopped playing, and we were just hanging on,” Bywater said, as the Bees’ defensive discipline dissolved and they were unable to maintain possession on the attack. “We just made it a lot more easy for them...after they scored that first goal. The result was definitely deserved.” Bywater said his team recognized what happened—that they mentally gave up and allowed that first goal to dictate the outcome of the game—which he said was a positive takeaway from an otherwise disappointing outing. The Bees had one game this week, a non-region contest at Cottonwood on Tuesday (results not available by press time). Before the game, Bywater said he was glad for a non-region game to give the team some time to continue developing chemistry, and to work on finishing scoring opportunities before the team’s next region contest on Tuesday, April 9, on the road at Farmington. “It allows us to regroup and focus...and hopefully start to put away those ‘sitters’ [easy scoring opportunities in front of the net] as they call them in the game,” Bywater said. |
Bees lose game to Bountiful, bounce back against Roy
April 3, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer The Box Elder High School softball team picked up a much-needed region win last Wednesday when they notched a come-from-behind win over Roy, 4-3, after losing 9-1 to Bountiful the day before. On Tuesday, March 26, afternoon, the Bees knew they’d have their work cut out for them as the Braves entered the game ranked fourth in the 5A classification according to the Deseret News, and carried some extra motivation from falling to the Bees in the state championship round in the two team’s last meeting. The Braves jumped out to an early lead and built a 5-0 advantage after four innings. The Bees found a bright spot when Mallory Merrill sent a solo shot deep for her second home run of the year, but that was all the offense the Bees could muster as the Braves cruised to the win. Things again started slowly for the Bees the next day as the Royals fought their way to a 3-0 lead at the end of five innings. The Bees then finally found some offensive rhythm and drove in two runs in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh to overtake the lead. The defense then buckled down and blanked the Royals in the final frame to hold on for the win. Following the week, Bees’ head coach Taleas Marble said she saw the team build their confidence one game to the next and that was a great thing to see. “The Bountiful game was kind of rough. We had too many errors, both in the field and just mental mistakes, and that put us into a hole,” Marble said. “But against Roy, we hit the ball a lot better. We were getting runners on base every inning. We just left them on too much early. But we finally got a run in the sixth and I think that lit a fire in their belly that carried them through.” The week moves the Bees to 2-3 in region play and keeps them in the thick of the early-season playoff hunt. After the first round of games, the Braves have separated themselves as the team to beat with a 5-0 record, and Viewmont couldn’t pick up a region win and sit at 0-5. Farmington and Woods Cross each finished with a 3-2 record while the Bees and Royals both sit at 2-3. When asked about the team’s focus this week, coach Marble said, “We’re going to hit a lot. We’re finally starting to hit the ball better and we want to keep that going. We’ve got a ton of speed this year, so if we can string some hits together, that will be big for us.” The Bees will be off this week for spring break and will be back in action on Tuesday on the road to start the second round of region play against the Vikings. The team will also be in action back at home next Friday afternoon in a non-region game when they host the defending 6A state champion Herriman Mustangs. Both games next week are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. |
BEHS color guard finishes second at state
The Color Guard will present a showcase at their invitational called “Polar Lights” which will be performed on Wed. April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the BEHS gym.
The performance will showcase the group’s successful season, which they ended with a second place finish at State. They also had three top three finishes, and a fifth- and seventh- place finish at competitions prior to state.
The team showed dedication throughout the season, said coach Carol Dittli.
Practice begins at 6 a.m. four days a week, and Dittli said they have put in more than over hours preparing for the competition.
This year was particularly challenging with illness, broken bones and multiple injuries. Dittli is proud of the team’s support for each other. Dittli is also assisted by Madi Bott.
“I am so proud of each and every member of the Guard. You have been phenomenal this year and it has been a joy to be your director. Thank you for your dedication, your perseverance, and your love of this support!” said Dittli, “A big thank you to our parents who have also gotten up early for practices, spent hours building backgrounds, sewing flags, helping with fundraisers, watching over the guard in the stands, and so much more. Without you Color Guard would cease to exist. Thank you friends, and the community for your support as well.”
The Color Guard will present a showcase at their invitational called “Polar Lights” which will be performed on Wed. April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the BEHS gym.
The performance will showcase the group’s successful season, which they ended with a second place finish at State. They also had three top three finishes, and a fifth- and seventh- place finish at competitions prior to state.
The team showed dedication throughout the season, said coach Carol Dittli.
Practice begins at 6 a.m. four days a week, and Dittli said they have put in more than over hours preparing for the competition.
This year was particularly challenging with illness, broken bones and multiple injuries. Dittli is proud of the team’s support for each other. Dittli is also assisted by Madi Bott.
“I am so proud of each and every member of the Guard. You have been phenomenal this year and it has been a joy to be your director. Thank you for your dedication, your perseverance, and your love of this support!” said Dittli, “A big thank you to our parents who have also gotten up early for practices, spent hours building backgrounds, sewing flags, helping with fundraisers, watching over the guard in the stands, and so much more. Without you Color Guard would cease to exist. Thank you friends, and the community for your support as well.”
Big innings bite Bees in two losses
March 27, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
When talking about early-season keys to success, Box Elder High School head baseball coach Jesse Roberts said the team would need to eliminate big innings from their opponents and put complete games together.
That counsel held true this week as a couple of key innings got away from the Bees and the team fell twice on the road, first to Weber, 9-4, last Tuesday, then 6-2 against Mountain Crest on Thursday.
Against the Warriors, the Bees gave up seven runs between the fourth and sixth innings, which opened up an otherwise tight game.
The Bees also struggled to find much offense until the final frame, when they posted three runs, but the game was already in hand for the home team.
On Thursday in Hyrum, the Bees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and held it until the third, when the Mustangs exploded for five runs in the frame and never looked back.
Senior pitcher Ryan Gunn took the loss for the Bees on the mound while Caleb Archibald collected the win for the Mustangs.
Talking after the games, coach Roberts reiterated the team’s need to clean up some mistakes and not forget the little things that can make a big difference in a game.
“Against [the Mustangs], we started that third inning with two walks, a hit, and an error defensively,” Roberts said. “It’s not very often that you get double the hits of the other team and still end up losing. So we definitely need some guys to step up and make the right plays.”
The Bees posted six hits in the game to the Mustang’s three.
Coach Roberts went on to say, “This week, we’re looking to tune things up and be really ready for region play in a couple of weeks. We want to focus on doing the small things and just get better each day.”
The team had a game scheduled for Saturday morning against Maple Mountain. That game was set to be played in Brigham City, but was moved to Maple Mountain due to sloppy field conditions.
The weather took a turn for the worse on Friday in Utah County after three and a half innings of play, and the remainder of the game had to be postponed. The game will be completed tomorrow afternoon in Brigham City.
The week drops the Bees to 3-5 in the preseason, with just one more tune-up game before starting region play on April 9 at home against Olympus at 3:30 p.m.
March 27, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
When talking about early-season keys to success, Box Elder High School head baseball coach Jesse Roberts said the team would need to eliminate big innings from their opponents and put complete games together.
That counsel held true this week as a couple of key innings got away from the Bees and the team fell twice on the road, first to Weber, 9-4, last Tuesday, then 6-2 against Mountain Crest on Thursday.
Against the Warriors, the Bees gave up seven runs between the fourth and sixth innings, which opened up an otherwise tight game.
The Bees also struggled to find much offense until the final frame, when they posted three runs, but the game was already in hand for the home team.
On Thursday in Hyrum, the Bees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and held it until the third, when the Mustangs exploded for five runs in the frame and never looked back.
Senior pitcher Ryan Gunn took the loss for the Bees on the mound while Caleb Archibald collected the win for the Mustangs.
Talking after the games, coach Roberts reiterated the team’s need to clean up some mistakes and not forget the little things that can make a big difference in a game.
“Against [the Mustangs], we started that third inning with two walks, a hit, and an error defensively,” Roberts said. “It’s not very often that you get double the hits of the other team and still end up losing. So we definitely need some guys to step up and make the right plays.”
The Bees posted six hits in the game to the Mustang’s three.
Coach Roberts went on to say, “This week, we’re looking to tune things up and be really ready for region play in a couple of weeks. We want to focus on doing the small things and just get better each day.”
The team had a game scheduled for Saturday morning against Maple Mountain. That game was set to be played in Brigham City, but was moved to Maple Mountain due to sloppy field conditions.
The weather took a turn for the worse on Friday in Utah County after three and a half innings of play, and the remainder of the game had to be postponed. The game will be completed tomorrow afternoon in Brigham City.
The week drops the Bees to 3-5 in the preseason, with just one more tune-up game before starting region play on April 9 at home against Olympus at 3:30 p.m.
A Bear River defender gets physical to stop the attack of the Bees’ Reggie Greer, who tested the Bear’s defense all game, and who finally broke through in the second overtime to score the game-winner.
Bees keep the County Cup in double overtime thriller
March 20, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
For nearly all of two regulation periods and an overtime, the Bees tried to find forward Reggie Greer on the wing to generate scoring opportunities against Bear River.
In all that time, over and over, the Bears’ defenders—particularly their center backs—were able to keep Greer contained and break up plays.
“We kept trying to break them down,” said Box Elder head coach Nate Bywater about the play.
But in the second overtime, a pass to the wing found Greer in a position that left just him and the Bears’ keeper, who had come out of the net to cut down the angle. Greer was able to slip the ball past the keeper and preserve Box Elder’s possession of the County Cup.
“Any win is good, but anytime you get a win you have to battle for it’s even better,” said Bywater about the Bees’ 2-1 double overtime victory last Friday.
While Greer will get much of the credit for scoring the goal, it was set up with a couple of individual efforts that came at just the right time, Bywater said.
Josh Duncan challenged the ball as Bear River was transitioning into an attack. With the Bears looking downfield, the Bees’ Parker Singleton found the ball, and placed the pass to Greer.
“We got a quick counter...which caught them out of position,” said Bywater, who continued that he was pleased with his team’s tenacity in adversity, especially considering that this early in the season, the Bees have only 35-40 minutes of “in-shape” game time. “It really showed what our character can be in situations where you have to win the game.”
It was that early-season conditioning, combined with the fact that up to 15 Box Elder players were returning from injury or illness, that led to the overtime period in the first place, according to Bywater.
Box Elder struck first in the game when, at the end of the first period, Dathan Ranjel gained control of a ball pin-balling in front of the net after a corner kick and was able to fire it past the keeper.
It was the highlight of a period that could have seen Box Elder ahead by a larger margin. Part of that was the field conditions, Bywater said, which made it difficult to control the ball and often led to strange bounces. The other part was illustrated by an opportunity earlier in the first half when Box Elder was unable to capitalize on a rebound that led to a wide open net; the shot bounced harmlessly off the side of the frame.
“For me, that’s kind of where we’re at,” Bywater said. “We’re just not sure of our touch...we’re just not confident in front of the goal.”
In the second half, Box Elder played more conservatively, favoring a defensive posture to protect the lead. And for all of regulation, it worked. And if the game had ended in 80 minutes, the Bees’ one goal would have been enough.
But stoppage time added to the game from Box Elder players going down with cramps—due to conditioning and recently returning from injury or illness—gave the Bear just enough time to tie the game with a long shot over into the corner the Box Elder keeper.
Bywater said some thought the Bees were “delaying” the game with the complaints of cramps, and that it was their fault the game went into overtime.
“As much as we’d like to have that game finish in regulation, it is what it is,” said Bywater.
Bywater said that while it’s nice to keep the cup at home, the real value of a game like that—with something on the line against a tough opponent and rival—is the “invaluable” opportunity for development it provides early in the season.
“I thought it was a fun game,” Bywater said. “I think it benefited both groups as we head into region play.
Box Elder hosted Jordan yesterday (results not available by press time), and will play their first region contest at home against Viewmont on Thursday. As of Monday, the Vikings are 1-0-2, with ties against Cyprus and Davis, before blowing out Lone Peak, 4-0.
The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3:30 p.m.
For nearly all of two regulation periods and an overtime, the Bees tried to find forward Reggie Greer on the wing to generate scoring opportunities against Bear River.
In all that time, over and over, the Bears’ defenders—particularly their center backs—were able to keep Greer contained and break up plays.
“We kept trying to break them down,” said Box Elder head coach Nate Bywater about the play.
But in the second overtime, a pass to the wing found Greer in a position that left just him and the Bears’ keeper, who had come out of the net to cut down the angle. Greer was able to slip the ball past the keeper and preserve Box Elder’s possession of the County Cup.
“Any win is good, but anytime you get a win you have to battle for it’s even better,” said Bywater about the Bees’ 2-1 double overtime victory last Friday.
While Greer will get much of the credit for scoring the goal, it was set up with a couple of individual efforts that came at just the right time, Bywater said.
Josh Duncan challenged the ball as Bear River was transitioning into an attack. With the Bears looking downfield, the Bees’ Parker Singleton found the ball, and placed the pass to Greer.
“We got a quick counter...which caught them out of position,” said Bywater, who continued that he was pleased with his team’s tenacity in adversity, especially considering that this early in the season, the Bees have only 35-40 minutes of “in-shape” game time. “It really showed what our character can be in situations where you have to win the game.”
It was that early-season conditioning, combined with the fact that up to 15 Box Elder players were returning from injury or illness, that led to the overtime period in the first place, according to Bywater.
Box Elder struck first in the game when, at the end of the first period, Dathan Ranjel gained control of a ball pin-balling in front of the net after a corner kick and was able to fire it past the keeper.
It was the highlight of a period that could have seen Box Elder ahead by a larger margin. Part of that was the field conditions, Bywater said, which made it difficult to control the ball and often led to strange bounces. The other part was illustrated by an opportunity earlier in the first half when Box Elder was unable to capitalize on a rebound that led to a wide open net; the shot bounced harmlessly off the side of the frame.
“For me, that’s kind of where we’re at,” Bywater said. “We’re just not sure of our touch...we’re just not confident in front of the goal.”
In the second half, Box Elder played more conservatively, favoring a defensive posture to protect the lead. And for all of regulation, it worked. And if the game had ended in 80 minutes, the Bees’ one goal would have been enough.
But stoppage time added to the game from Box Elder players going down with cramps—due to conditioning and recently returning from injury or illness—gave the Bear just enough time to tie the game with a long shot over into the corner the Box Elder keeper.
Bywater said some thought the Bees were “delaying” the game with the complaints of cramps, and that it was their fault the game went into overtime.
“As much as we’d like to have that game finish in regulation, it is what it is,” said Bywater.
Bywater said that while it’s nice to keep the cup at home, the real value of a game like that—with something on the line against a tough opponent and rival—is the “invaluable” opportunity for development it provides early in the season.
“I thought it was a fun game,” Bywater said. “I think it benefited both groups as we head into region play.
Box Elder hosted Jordan yesterday (results not available by press time), and will play their first region contest at home against Viewmont on Thursday. As of Monday, the Vikings are 1-0-2, with ties against Cyprus and Davis, before blowing out Lone Peak, 4-0.
The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3:30 p.m.
‘Fun-spirited and full of life’
Perry 7 year old suffering with tumors in optical lobe, Chiari Malformation brain defect, to benefit from event
Seven-year-old Brynn Vaughn of Perry is this year’s recipient of an alumni charity basketball tournament scheduled for March 22 and 23, at Box Elder High School.
Brynn, the youngest of four daughters of daughter of Ryan and Alisha Vaughn, was selected to receive proceeds from the Todd Morrison Alumni Tournament (TMAT), which will feature former BEHS basketball players that were members of teams from 1987 through 2017.
Doctors discovered two large inoperable tumors in Brynn in July 2018, one along her optical nerve located in the middle of her brain called the chiasm, and another in the frontal lobe.
If that wasn’t enough, doctors also discovered a defect in her brain called Chiari Malformation, which inhibits spinal fluid to flow from the brain to the spine, causing clotting or cysts in the spinal cord.
Because Brynn’s tumors in her brain nearly doubled in size by October 2018, she was unable to have needed surgery for the Chiari Malformation. Instead, she was admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital where she began her first round of chemotherapy to stop the growth of her tumors.
If all goes well after a year of chemotherapy, she will undergo decompression surgery for the Chiari Malformation, according to her mother, Alisha Vaughn.
“It all feels so overwhelming,” she said, not only of her daughter’s plight, but of the charitable basketball event. “But it does make you feel good knowing people are mindful of our situation and want to help. We are being blessed.”
Alisha Vaughn described her daughter as special, fun-spirited, inquisitive, full of life, and joyous.
“Honestly, I think because of her spirit to fight, this thing it doesn’t wear her down and actually lightens the load some. I know she doesn’t understand everything, but she’s willing to do what she’s asked to,” said Alisha Vaughn.
Brynn enjoys gymnastics, softball, piano, bowling and speaking Spanish.
“Brynn always finds ways to make people smile and maybe even cringe a little,” said Alisha Vaughn. “Brynn is a joy in our life and family, she is our little bean.”
Kyler Mecham, spokesperson for the TMAT tournament, is encouraging the public to support the tournament in order to support Brynn.
“Some of our players are a little older and out of shape but there are still some good players in the mix,” he said.
The tournament, now in its 26th year, has raised a total of $250,000 for recipients like Brynn and her family. Money will come from tournament entrance fees, spectator fees, community sponsors, concessions and a silent auction.
“Typically, we find children who suffer with some serious injury or disease as recipients,” Mecham said. “When we got to know Brynn and her family, we realized they were perfect for this. I know they’re going through a tough situation but hopefully we can be some assistance. I can’t say enough good things about the Vaughn family.”
The triple-elimination tournament of 24 teams will consist of three brackets: young, not-so-young and older. Play will begin Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. at the high school and continue all day Saturday.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, a short ceremony will be held just before the championship game to honor Brynn and her family.
“Each year we’re getting bigger and bigger because of amazing community support,” Mecham said. “This is a special time to gather for a good cause.”
Perry 7 year old suffering with tumors in optical lobe, Chiari Malformation brain defect, to benefit from event
Seven-year-old Brynn Vaughn of Perry is this year’s recipient of an alumni charity basketball tournament scheduled for March 22 and 23, at Box Elder High School.
Brynn, the youngest of four daughters of daughter of Ryan and Alisha Vaughn, was selected to receive proceeds from the Todd Morrison Alumni Tournament (TMAT), which will feature former BEHS basketball players that were members of teams from 1987 through 2017.
Doctors discovered two large inoperable tumors in Brynn in July 2018, one along her optical nerve located in the middle of her brain called the chiasm, and another in the frontal lobe.
If that wasn’t enough, doctors also discovered a defect in her brain called Chiari Malformation, which inhibits spinal fluid to flow from the brain to the spine, causing clotting or cysts in the spinal cord.
Because Brynn’s tumors in her brain nearly doubled in size by October 2018, she was unable to have needed surgery for the Chiari Malformation. Instead, she was admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital where she began her first round of chemotherapy to stop the growth of her tumors.
If all goes well after a year of chemotherapy, she will undergo decompression surgery for the Chiari Malformation, according to her mother, Alisha Vaughn.
“It all feels so overwhelming,” she said, not only of her daughter’s plight, but of the charitable basketball event. “But it does make you feel good knowing people are mindful of our situation and want to help. We are being blessed.”
Alisha Vaughn described her daughter as special, fun-spirited, inquisitive, full of life, and joyous.
“Honestly, I think because of her spirit to fight, this thing it doesn’t wear her down and actually lightens the load some. I know she doesn’t understand everything, but she’s willing to do what she’s asked to,” said Alisha Vaughn.
Brynn enjoys gymnastics, softball, piano, bowling and speaking Spanish.
“Brynn always finds ways to make people smile and maybe even cringe a little,” said Alisha Vaughn. “Brynn is a joy in our life and family, she is our little bean.”
Kyler Mecham, spokesperson for the TMAT tournament, is encouraging the public to support the tournament in order to support Brynn.
“Some of our players are a little older and out of shape but there are still some good players in the mix,” he said.
The tournament, now in its 26th year, has raised a total of $250,000 for recipients like Brynn and her family. Money will come from tournament entrance fees, spectator fees, community sponsors, concessions and a silent auction.
“Typically, we find children who suffer with some serious injury or disease as recipients,” Mecham said. “When we got to know Brynn and her family, we realized they were perfect for this. I know they’re going through a tough situation but hopefully we can be some assistance. I can’t say enough good things about the Vaughn family.”
The triple-elimination tournament of 24 teams will consist of three brackets: young, not-so-young and older. Play will begin Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. at the high school and continue all day Saturday.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, a short ceremony will be held just before the championship game to honor Brynn and her family.
“Each year we’re getting bigger and bigger because of amazing community support,” Mecham said. “This is a special time to gather for a good cause.”
Courtesy Boyd Lancaster
Conner Stevenson avoids getting tagged at home plate in the Bees’ win over Carbon at the Donnie Pymm First Pitch Classic held in St. George last weekend.
Bees split results in four games in St. George
March 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School baseball team got their first taste of in-game action last weekend at the Donnie Pymm First Pitch Classic held in St. George. The team played four games and grabbed wins over Carbon and Bonneville while falling to Cedar and Bear River.
The Bees looked a little shaky in their first game on Friday, against the Redmen from Cedar City, and gave up nine runs in the first inning. It was a bigger hole than they could climb out of.
The Redmen posted six more runs in the third inning on their way to taking the win, 16-5. Junior pitcher Dalton Gronning grabbed the win for the Redmen, while Tyler Moffitt took the loss from the pitching mound for the Bees.
The Bees didn’t have much time to lick their wounds as they were right back on the field later Friday afternoon to take on the Dinos from Price.
Both teams were looking for a win with the Dinos coming off a morning loss to the Bears, and it was the Dinos who struck first with two runs in the first inning.
Box Elder shored up their defense and kept Price off the board for the next three innings while they proceeded to build a 5-2 lead.
The Dinos got within two runs late in the game, but never retook the lead as the Bees got the win 6-4.
On Saturday, the Bees didn’t need any extra motivation as they took on familiar rival Bear River, who were riding high after beating both the Redmen and the Dinos on Friday.
And the Bears showed their confidence as well as ability during a five-run second inning that broke the game open early.
Consistent offense the rest of the way for the Bears proved too much for the Bees to overcome as the Bears completed the tournament sweep and got the win 11-7.
Parker Coombs recorded the win from the mound for the Bears while Logan Holgate took the loss for the Bees.
The Bees then wrapped up the tournament against Bonneville on Saturday evening and finished on a high note as they battled to an 8-7 victory.
After the tournament, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was happy with the outcomes and some of the things learned from the weekend.
“We gave up a couple of big innings in the games we lost and that’s where it got away from us,” Roberts said. “But overall, a 2-2 result is very respectable. We saw some really nice things and had some guys step up we weren’t even expecting, so that was great to see.”
Roberts specifically pointed to Ryan Greer and Nate Wheatley as big contributors to the team’s success when he said, “Ryan Greer pitched the best game I’ve ever seen him pitch in getting the win over Carbon. And Nate Wheatley hit the ball really well all tournament. He came up big for us offensively the whole weekend.”
Coming back from the tournament, the Bees won’t get too much of a break as the team was back in action yesterday in their home opener against Logan (results not available by press time). The game was moved to Brigham City due to wet field conditions in Cache Valley. The Grizzlies entered the game with a 1-3 record so far in the preseason.
The Bees will take the field again tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 13, at Fremont. The Silverwolves will be looking to improve on their 2-2 mark and most recently picked up a 13-6 win over Orem. The game against the Silverwolves is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
Conner Stevenson avoids getting tagged at home plate in the Bees’ win over Carbon at the Donnie Pymm First Pitch Classic held in St. George last weekend.
Bees split results in four games in St. George
March 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School baseball team got their first taste of in-game action last weekend at the Donnie Pymm First Pitch Classic held in St. George. The team played four games and grabbed wins over Carbon and Bonneville while falling to Cedar and Bear River.
The Bees looked a little shaky in their first game on Friday, against the Redmen from Cedar City, and gave up nine runs in the first inning. It was a bigger hole than they could climb out of.
The Redmen posted six more runs in the third inning on their way to taking the win, 16-5. Junior pitcher Dalton Gronning grabbed the win for the Redmen, while Tyler Moffitt took the loss from the pitching mound for the Bees.
The Bees didn’t have much time to lick their wounds as they were right back on the field later Friday afternoon to take on the Dinos from Price.
Both teams were looking for a win with the Dinos coming off a morning loss to the Bears, and it was the Dinos who struck first with two runs in the first inning.
Box Elder shored up their defense and kept Price off the board for the next three innings while they proceeded to build a 5-2 lead.
The Dinos got within two runs late in the game, but never retook the lead as the Bees got the win 6-4.
On Saturday, the Bees didn’t need any extra motivation as they took on familiar rival Bear River, who were riding high after beating both the Redmen and the Dinos on Friday.
And the Bears showed their confidence as well as ability during a five-run second inning that broke the game open early.
Consistent offense the rest of the way for the Bears proved too much for the Bees to overcome as the Bears completed the tournament sweep and got the win 11-7.
Parker Coombs recorded the win from the mound for the Bears while Logan Holgate took the loss for the Bees.
The Bees then wrapped up the tournament against Bonneville on Saturday evening and finished on a high note as they battled to an 8-7 victory.
After the tournament, Bees’ head coach Jesse Roberts said he was happy with the outcomes and some of the things learned from the weekend.
“We gave up a couple of big innings in the games we lost and that’s where it got away from us,” Roberts said. “But overall, a 2-2 result is very respectable. We saw some really nice things and had some guys step up we weren’t even expecting, so that was great to see.”
Roberts specifically pointed to Ryan Greer and Nate Wheatley as big contributors to the team’s success when he said, “Ryan Greer pitched the best game I’ve ever seen him pitch in getting the win over Carbon. And Nate Wheatley hit the ball really well all tournament. He came up big for us offensively the whole weekend.”
Coming back from the tournament, the Bees won’t get too much of a break as the team was back in action yesterday in their home opener against Logan (results not available by press time). The game was moved to Brigham City due to wet field conditions in Cache Valley. The Grizzlies entered the game with a 1-3 record so far in the preseason.
The Bees will take the field again tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 13, at Fremont. The Silverwolves will be looking to improve on their 2-2 mark and most recently picked up a 13-6 win over Orem. The game against the Silverwolves is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
BOX ELDER HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Team has two ‘solid’ pitchers, positive energy as season begins this week at St. George tournament
March 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School baseball team hit the dirt last week for the first time and is preparing this week to head to St. George on Friday for the Donnie Pymm First Pitch Classic, where the team will get its first taste of varsity play in 2019.
Bees’ head coach Jessie Roberts says the team is excited to be together and is anxiously looking forward to the upcoming season.
“I think the energy around the team is really positive as we’re looking ahead to the beginning-of-the-year tournament in St. George,” Roberts said. “We feel like we have two solid starters [on the mound], and will be looking to the early weeks to establish a third starter, but we feel like we have plenty of options for that third starter right now.”
Those two starters are Tyler Moffitt and Logan Holgate, both of whom were part of last year’s second-place finish in region, and who will be looking to help propel the Bees to the top of the standings this year.
The Bees will be looking to lean on a lot of experience as they are planning on starting seniors in seven of nine defensive positions in their season opener.
Another key starter figures to be first baseman Ryan Grier, who will also get some time on the pitcher’s mound and who packs a punch at the plate.
“[Ryan] brings a ton of power at the plate and we’ll rely on him for lots of offensive production,” Roberts said.
At the Donnie Pymm Classic, the Bees will square off against both Cedar and Carbon on Friday, then take on cross-county rivals Bear River on Saturday.
The team has six additional preseason games on the schedule, with the first four being on the road before their home opener on March 23 against Maple Mountain.
The final tune-up game will be a home game against Olympus on April 2 before the team starts region play against Farmington on April 9.
The Bees will get one three-game series against each region opponent, concluding with a series against Roy on May 7-9 ahead of the state tournament, which should start the week of May 13.
Last year’s region champs, Viewmont, had a senior-laden group last year and may experience a bit of a slump this season as they try to rebuild, while the Bees and Bountiful had young teams last year and will be looking for more production from their experience this year.
When asked about the team’s keys to success this season, coach Roberts was very direct. “Throw strikes,” he said. “I think if our pitchers throw strikes, our defense is good enough and our offense is good enough that we’ll contain most teams defensively and be able to outscore most teams offensively so long as we’re not giving up too many free passes.”
The season opener against Cedar from St. George is scheduled to start this Friday at 10 a.m.
BOX ELDER HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW
Bees dominate region in ‘really, really good’ season
March 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
With an average margin of victory of 22 points in region play, and a second region championship in three years, the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team had a stranglehold on Region 5 all season, and that momentum carried them to the state quarterfinals.
The Bees wanted to challenge themselves in the preseason and squared off against some of the best in the state in the early going. The team faced eventual 6A tournament finalist Copper Hills and 6A semifinalist Fremont, along with 5A finalist Corner Canyon, and, while losing to all three, the Bees proved to themselves they could compete with the top teams around.
Once region play began, the Bees found another gear and ripped off nine straight wins to secure their first outright region championship since the mid-1980s.
All season, the team looked to their two senior leaders in four-year starter Emily Isaacson and three-year starter Morgan Reeder.
Isaacson led the team in scoring and rebounding, and nearly averaged a double-double on the year as she netted just under 17 points per game while grabbing 9.7 rebounds per outing.
To take some of the attention off her Dixie State-bound teammate, Reeder proved a valuable second option and averaged 15.5 points per game along with 5.4 rebounds per night.
In scouting the Bees, opponents tried several tactics to take away the two leading scorers, including employing a triangle-and-2 defensive approach, so the Bees needed contributions from other places and got them from junior guard Jenna Mortensen, who was third on the team in scoring with an eight-point-per-game on average, and sophomore forward Annika Quayle, who averaged just under eight points per game and grabbed 6.3 rebounds per contest.
All that success had the Bees riding high heading into the state tournament and they dispatched Highland in the first round before falling to Wasatch 55-54 in the quarterfinals to end their season.
In looking back on the year, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said, “I feel like we had a really, really good season. We played extremely well in region play, and I feel like we played some of the best teams in the state and competed with them. Even at the end, I really feel like we were right there with anybody in the state.”
Coach Dooley went on to contribute much of the team’s success to his senior leaders when he said, “Emily Isaacson is a four-year varsity starter, and in my time she’s scored more points than any other player we’ve had. Seeing the hard work and devotion she has put into her craft to be the best she could be is all you could ask for.”
Coach Dooley had an equally glowing review when talking about Reeder.
“Morgan has been a four-year varsity contributor for us, and talk about a girl that has always gotten better and continued climbing,” Dooley said. “I think this year she really took a lot on herself to make sure she was as much of a threat as anybody on the court. I think she took some region opponents by surprise this year and gave us a big lift.”
All that work paid off for both seniors as Reeder finished as the co-defensive player of the year in Region 5, while Isaacson was named the Region 5 MVP.
With those two leaving big shoes to fill, Dooley said, looking ahead to next year, “We have plenty of girls with capabilities to fill those shoes, and if those girls get a few more shots per game, their point totals are going to go up. We’re also very comfortable in making sure it’s a team effort and we’ll keep running our sets to get the best shots we can.”
The Bees are planning an off-season schedule where they’ll play nearly 50 games over the spring and summer to stay sharp and prepare to defend their region title.
BOX ELDER HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW
After disappointing season, coach optimistic for future as many young players will return with varsity experience
March 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a season that didn’t go as planned as they battled injuries and roster changes in addition to the usual growing pains and ups and downs of a season, the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team was able to take away some valuable lessons it can use moving ahead.
The Bees finished with a 4-16 mark on the year, including a 2-8 record in region play. Both region wins came against Roy.
The team had a tough preseason schedule as it prepared for the challenges Region 5 would inevitably bring, and that stretch truly tested the team’s character.
The Bees got their first win of the year on the road over Ridgeline when junior guard Riley Dahlgren hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Bees a one-point win. It was one of the highlights of the season.
But a bad loss to the eventual 4A state runner-up, Bear River, highlighted the defensive struggles the Bees would face all year long.
“We obviously expected to be a lot better this year,” Bee’s head coach Jace McKee said. “We certainly had some roadblocks and rough patches, especially in the early going. We didn’t defend as well as we needed to and we didn’t have the consistency on the court.”
McKee continued, “Despite all that, I thought the kids kept working. As the year went on, especially during the second half of region, we started to play more like how I thought we were capable. Once we got some guys healthy and we got into a rotation with some consistency, we started defending better and giving up fewer points.”
With improved defensive performances, the Bees had tight games with Viewmont, Farmington, and Woods Cross — all during the second half of the regular season — yet couldn’t get over the hump and lost each of those games.
However, between hard-learned lessons and other factors, the Bees have reason to be optimistic.
The team will return two of its top three scorers in Dahlgren and sophomore forward Parker Buchanan. Buchanan led the team, averaging just over 18 points per game along with a team-high six rebounds per contest.
Senior guard Ronnie Smith was second on the team with nine points per game, and Dahlgren was third as he scored a shade over eight points per outing. Dahlgren was also the most prolific 3-point threat for the Bees as he hit 41 shots from downtown on the season.
Also, many underclassmen were thrown into the fray this season, which should help the team heading into the off-season and ahead into next year.
When asked about the experience he gained, Buchanan said, “I learned how to deal with adversity this year. We didn’t have the best year and we were down in most games, but we learned to just keep fighting no matter what the score was and just play our hardest.”
In state tournament news, Region 5 had a disappointing showing as all four teams from the region lost in the first round: top-seeded Bountiful upset by Highland, second-seed Farmington falling to Murray, third-place Viewmont knocked off by East, and fourth-place Woods Cross getting blown out by Olympus.
At the end of the day on Saturday, Corner Canyon hoisted the state-championship trophy after beating Jordan, 62-45.
One-point heartbreaker against Wasatch sends Bees packing from state tournament
February 27, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was a bitter end to a highly successful season for the Box Elder high school girls’ basketball team last Thursday when the team lost a one-point heartbreaker in the state tournament quarterfinals to Wasatch, 54-55, after beating Highland, 36-23, in the first round.
In the win over Highland, the Bees used some tenacious defensive pressure to keep the Rams in check despite struggling from the field themselves.
Emily Isaacson, the leading scorer for the Bees all season, was held to just eight points, though fellow senior Morgan Reeder led all scorers with 14 points in the win. Sophomore post player Annika Quayle also contributed by coming up with timely rebounds and finished with 10 boards on the night.
No Highland player cracked double-digit scoring, though Kaija Glasker ripped down 10 rebounds of her own in the loss.
The win over the Rams set up the game against the Wasps, which the Bees had been looking forward to since the tournament bracket was set.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said, “[The Wasps] had been ranked just ahead of us all season in the polls, so we were excited to come out and show what we could do.”
The Bees did just that in the second quarter when they went on a 24-12 run that gave them a nine-point advantage heading into the halftime break.
Junior guard Jenna Mortensen was a key factor in that run and she finished with a team-high 16 points on the night. Isaacson also added 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The Bees stretched their lead to 12 points heading into the final period before things started to unravel on the offensive end just as the Wasps started heating up from the field.
Facing elimination, Tori Dorius poured in a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Lexy Mackay got hot from outside and dropped in four 3-pointers, and Mackenzie McBride added another 10 for the Wasps to pull within a point of the Bees with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Dorius capped her scoring night with two clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining on the clock that gave the Wasps a one-point lead.
The Bees got two good looks at the basket on their final possession, but neither shot would drop as the Wasps held on for the win.
Once the dust had settled, coach Dooley said, “Everyone at the state tournament is good. Our girls played well and I think their character really came through tonight in a tough situation. We played hard and got the looks we wanted, we just couldn’t get one more to go down tonight.”
The loss knocked the Bees out of the state tournament while the win for the Wasps propelled them on to play East, who beat the Wasps 57-48 en route to winning the 5A state championship with a 72-65 win over Corner Canyon
It was a bitter end to a highly successful season for the Box Elder high school girls’ basketball team last Thursday when the team lost a one-point heartbreaker in the state tournament quarterfinals to Wasatch, 54-55, after beating Highland, 36-23, in the first round.
In the win over Highland, the Bees used some tenacious defensive pressure to keep the Rams in check despite struggling from the field themselves.
Emily Isaacson, the leading scorer for the Bees all season, was held to just eight points, though fellow senior Morgan Reeder led all scorers with 14 points in the win. Sophomore post player Annika Quayle also contributed by coming up with timely rebounds and finished with 10 boards on the night.
No Highland player cracked double-digit scoring, though Kaija Glasker ripped down 10 rebounds of her own in the loss.
The win over the Rams set up the game against the Wasps, which the Bees had been looking forward to since the tournament bracket was set.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said, “[The Wasps] had been ranked just ahead of us all season in the polls, so we were excited to come out and show what we could do.”
The Bees did just that in the second quarter when they went on a 24-12 run that gave them a nine-point advantage heading into the halftime break.
Junior guard Jenna Mortensen was a key factor in that run and she finished with a team-high 16 points on the night. Isaacson also added 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The Bees stretched their lead to 12 points heading into the final period before things started to unravel on the offensive end just as the Wasps started heating up from the field.
Facing elimination, Tori Dorius poured in a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Lexy Mackay got hot from outside and dropped in four 3-pointers, and Mackenzie McBride added another 10 for the Wasps to pull within a point of the Bees with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Dorius capped her scoring night with two clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining on the clock that gave the Wasps a one-point lead.
The Bees got two good looks at the basket on their final possession, but neither shot would drop as the Wasps held on for the win.
Once the dust had settled, coach Dooley said, “Everyone at the state tournament is good. Our girls played well and I think their character really came through tonight in a tough situation. We played hard and got the looks we wanted, we just couldn’t get one more to go down tonight.”
The loss knocked the Bees out of the state tournament while the win for the Wasps propelled them on to play East, who beat the Wasps 57-48 en route to winning the 5A state championship with a 72-65 win over Corner Canyon
Bees end 4-16 season with loss to Vikings
February 27, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A difficult season came to an end last Wednesday for the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team after dropping its final contest of the year, against Viewmont, 43-52.
The Bees were unable to overcome some offensive struggles in the second half that allowed the Vikings to take the win.
“We had moments where we played really well,” said Box Elder head coach Jace McKee. “I thought we defended a lot better tonight than we have in our past games, so that was good to see. But we struggled to finish in the second half and just couldn’t find enough baskets to get a win.”
The Bees’ defensive effort propelled them to a 24-21 halftime lead, but a lack of offense in the second half proved too much to overcome.
The Vikings erased their deficit in the third period, and stretched their lead in the fourth behind 13 points from senior forward Britton Anderson, 12 points from Parker Kearns, and 10 points from big man Dallin May, who also grabbed 10 rebounds in the win.
The Bees were led by senior guard Ronnie Smith, who scored 11 points, including knocking down three 3-pointers, and Parker Buchanan, who added 10 points.
McKee also noted his team’s difficulty rebounding, especially in the second half.
“We got beat on the boards tonight and that really hurt us,” McKee said. “We had some foul trouble early and that made it tough tonight.”
The Vikings took advantage of their size and snatched 28 rebounds on the night, compared to just 15 for the Bees.
The loss dropped the Bees to 2-8 in region play and finished their season with a 4-16 mark.
Despite the numbers, coach McKee said he was proud of his team’s effort and is looking to build from this year going forward.
“We had a lot of change over the course of the year, but I think the team we finished with was better than the record showed,” McKee said. “We had a few close games, especially during the second half of the season, that we just couldn’t get to go our way. But we were there competing with the better teams in our region and that’s where we want to be.”
In state tournament news from Region 5, Bountiful seized the top spot and squared off against Highland yesterday in the first round while second-seed Farmington drew Murray for their first round matchup. The third-place Vikings took on East and fourth-seeded Woods Cross got tournament-favorite Olympus yesterday afternoon.
All games in the state tournament will be played at Weber state with the championship game being held Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
February 27, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A difficult season came to an end last Wednesday for the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team after dropping its final contest of the year, against Viewmont, 43-52.
The Bees were unable to overcome some offensive struggles in the second half that allowed the Vikings to take the win.
“We had moments where we played really well,” said Box Elder head coach Jace McKee. “I thought we defended a lot better tonight than we have in our past games, so that was good to see. But we struggled to finish in the second half and just couldn’t find enough baskets to get a win.”
The Bees’ defensive effort propelled them to a 24-21 halftime lead, but a lack of offense in the second half proved too much to overcome.
The Vikings erased their deficit in the third period, and stretched their lead in the fourth behind 13 points from senior forward Britton Anderson, 12 points from Parker Kearns, and 10 points from big man Dallin May, who also grabbed 10 rebounds in the win.
The Bees were led by senior guard Ronnie Smith, who scored 11 points, including knocking down three 3-pointers, and Parker Buchanan, who added 10 points.
McKee also noted his team’s difficulty rebounding, especially in the second half.
“We got beat on the boards tonight and that really hurt us,” McKee said. “We had some foul trouble early and that made it tough tonight.”
The Vikings took advantage of their size and snatched 28 rebounds on the night, compared to just 15 for the Bees.
The loss dropped the Bees to 2-8 in region play and finished their season with a 4-16 mark.
Despite the numbers, coach McKee said he was proud of his team’s effort and is looking to build from this year going forward.
“We had a lot of change over the course of the year, but I think the team we finished with was better than the record showed,” McKee said. “We had a few close games, especially during the second half of the season, that we just couldn’t get to go our way. But we were there competing with the better teams in our region and that’s where we want to be.”
In state tournament news from Region 5, Bountiful seized the top spot and squared off against Highland yesterday in the first round while second-seed Farmington drew Murray for their first round matchup. The third-place Vikings took on East and fourth-seeded Woods Cross got tournament-favorite Olympus yesterday afternoon.
All games in the state tournament will be played at Weber state with the championship game being held Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The Box Elder wrestling team poses with their second-place trophy at the conclusion of the 2019 5A State Wrestling Championship.
Youngsters lead Box Elder to second place
February 19, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
The Box Elder High School wrestling team had two individual champions crowned on its way to taking home the second-place hardware from the State 5A Wrestling Tournament last week.
The Bees finished behind a dominant performance from Wasatch, a team the Bees beat by one point in the divisional tournament. The Wasps beat Box Elder by nearly 80 points at state, 287.5 - 209 to take home the title after finishing second behind Viewmont last year.
After the first day of competition, the Bees were well within striking distance, and behind Wasatch by just nine points. But as the day progressed Saturday, the Bees struggled under the more difficult competition at the state tournament, while Wasatch continued to separate themselves. Box Elder entered 20 kids in the tournament, half of whom placed. Six of those 10 placed fourth or better, and three of those six made it to the championship mat.
“The difference was, that same group of Wasatch kids who were in the divisional finals, made it to the finals at state as well,” said Box Elder coach Jed Craner. “Of our group of guys that made it to the divisional finals, only three made it to the finals at state. Now, this wasn’t the only thing that hurt us, but it definitely was what got them [Wasatach] the big lead after the semifinals. The semifinals hurt us badly. Also, their guys getting bonus points [pins] really helped them.”
Box Elder didn’t get much through the consolation rounds, either. Out of several Box Elder wrestlers with a shot to make the third-place match, only three went, and just one of those won, Brayden Tucker (132), who pinned Roy’s Donald Butler.
“If we could have placed more at third place, that would have closed the gap significantly,” Craner said.
But all the “what-ifs” and “chould-have-beens” aside, Craner said he couldn’t be more proud of his team’s season.
“I feel great about how the team wrestled,” Craner said. “There are always going to be those matches that could go either way, and some of those didn’t go our way and that’s okay. We learn and move on... I feel that each of our guys worked hard this season; they wrestled tough and I’m proud of them.”
Leading the Bees, freshman Bridger Ricks (106 pounds) won a gutsy performance to claim his first state title, while sophomore Lucas Cochran (182) won a cautious, deliberate match to to earn his first state championship. Senior heavyweight Ryan Gunn (285) came up just short against Provo’s James Tomasi, a wrestler Gunn beat 4-3 at divisional.
Ricks’ match was perhaps the most exciting of the Bees’ championship appearances, as Ricks needed an extra period to dispatch Maple Mountain’s Brock Morris, 7-5.
The wrestlers traded leads throughout, with Morris taking a 3-2 lead out of the first and Ricks leading 5-3 going into the third. Neither wrestler was willing to give up too much when not in control, which resulted in three stalling calls in the match. One of those, awarded to Morris in the third period, sent the match into overtime.
Morris was the aggressor in the overtime, which Ricks was able to use against him.
“He was putting lots of pressure on me, and, uh, pushing me really hard, so I just snapped him and shucked him by, and his pressure made it so I could get the takedown,” Ricks said.
Box Elder has only ever had two four-time state champions, Jeff Newby in the 1990s and Brock Hardy last year. Bridger’s brother, Garrett Ricks, earned three state titles, missing one as a freshman, making Bridger aware of how important the first one is.
“It’s awesome man, it’s a state title,” Bridger Ricks said. “Hopefully one of four.”
Cochran’s championship match against Maple Mountain’s Parker Gasser was a deliberate affair, with neither wrestler willing to overextend themselves early for points. With 14 seconds left in the first period, Cochran was able to gain the advantage with a takedown, but Gasser quickly scored with an escape as the round came to an end.
In the third round, Cochran chose bottom in hopes of scoring an escape and pushing his 2-1 lead to two points, which would force Gasser to get a takedown—a thing Cochran had been able to prevent—to tie the match. Cochran doubled down on the opportunity when, in the first 20 seconds of the period, he scored a reversal, and maintained control for all but the final few seconds of the round to win, 4-2.
In Gunn’s match, he was unable to maintain his energy level against a revenge-minded Tomasi.
“ I think Ryan simply got really tired really quickly, which happens quite often in bigger matches,” Craner said.
Gunn struck first with a second-round escape, but Tomasi dominated the third round with an escape and takedown in the third to go up, 3-1, to which Gunn would not have time to respond.
See team scores and Box Elder’s individual results on the bottom of this page.
The Box Elder High School wrestling team had two individual champions crowned on its way to taking home the second-place hardware from the State 5A Wrestling Tournament last week.
The Bees finished behind a dominant performance from Wasatch, a team the Bees beat by one point in the divisional tournament. The Wasps beat Box Elder by nearly 80 points at state, 287.5 - 209 to take home the title after finishing second behind Viewmont last year.
After the first day of competition, the Bees were well within striking distance, and behind Wasatch by just nine points. But as the day progressed Saturday, the Bees struggled under the more difficult competition at the state tournament, while Wasatch continued to separate themselves. Box Elder entered 20 kids in the tournament, half of whom placed. Six of those 10 placed fourth or better, and three of those six made it to the championship mat.
“The difference was, that same group of Wasatch kids who were in the divisional finals, made it to the finals at state as well,” said Box Elder coach Jed Craner. “Of our group of guys that made it to the divisional finals, only three made it to the finals at state. Now, this wasn’t the only thing that hurt us, but it definitely was what got them [Wasatach] the big lead after the semifinals. The semifinals hurt us badly. Also, their guys getting bonus points [pins] really helped them.”
Box Elder didn’t get much through the consolation rounds, either. Out of several Box Elder wrestlers with a shot to make the third-place match, only three went, and just one of those won, Brayden Tucker (132), who pinned Roy’s Donald Butler.
“If we could have placed more at third place, that would have closed the gap significantly,” Craner said.
But all the “what-ifs” and “chould-have-beens” aside, Craner said he couldn’t be more proud of his team’s season.
“I feel great about how the team wrestled,” Craner said. “There are always going to be those matches that could go either way, and some of those didn’t go our way and that’s okay. We learn and move on... I feel that each of our guys worked hard this season; they wrestled tough and I’m proud of them.”
Leading the Bees, freshman Bridger Ricks (106 pounds) won a gutsy performance to claim his first state title, while sophomore Lucas Cochran (182) won a cautious, deliberate match to to earn his first state championship. Senior heavyweight Ryan Gunn (285) came up just short against Provo’s James Tomasi, a wrestler Gunn beat 4-3 at divisional.
Ricks’ match was perhaps the most exciting of the Bees’ championship appearances, as Ricks needed an extra period to dispatch Maple Mountain’s Brock Morris, 7-5.
The wrestlers traded leads throughout, with Morris taking a 3-2 lead out of the first and Ricks leading 5-3 going into the third. Neither wrestler was willing to give up too much when not in control, which resulted in three stalling calls in the match. One of those, awarded to Morris in the third period, sent the match into overtime.
Morris was the aggressor in the overtime, which Ricks was able to use against him.
“He was putting lots of pressure on me, and, uh, pushing me really hard, so I just snapped him and shucked him by, and his pressure made it so I could get the takedown,” Ricks said.
Box Elder has only ever had two four-time state champions, Jeff Newby in the 1990s and Brock Hardy last year. Bridger’s brother, Garrett Ricks, earned three state titles, missing one as a freshman, making Bridger aware of how important the first one is.
“It’s awesome man, it’s a state title,” Bridger Ricks said. “Hopefully one of four.”
Cochran’s championship match against Maple Mountain’s Parker Gasser was a deliberate affair, with neither wrestler willing to overextend themselves early for points. With 14 seconds left in the first period, Cochran was able to gain the advantage with a takedown, but Gasser quickly scored with an escape as the round came to an end.
In the third round, Cochran chose bottom in hopes of scoring an escape and pushing his 2-1 lead to two points, which would force Gasser to get a takedown—a thing Cochran had been able to prevent—to tie the match. Cochran doubled down on the opportunity when, in the first 20 seconds of the period, he scored a reversal, and maintained control for all but the final few seconds of the round to win, 4-2.
In Gunn’s match, he was unable to maintain his energy level against a revenge-minded Tomasi.
“ I think Ryan simply got really tired really quickly, which happens quite often in bigger matches,” Craner said.
Gunn struck first with a second-round escape, but Tomasi dominated the third round with an escape and takedown in the third to go up, 3-1, to which Gunn would not have time to respond.
See team scores and Box Elder’s individual results on the bottom of this page.
Bees’ win streak ends ahead of state tournament
February 20, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team’s nine-game winning streak came to an end last Tuesday in its season finale as Viewmont finally exposed some chinks in the Bees’ armor and dealt them their first region loss of the season, 56-50.
The game started out like many have for the Bees this season, and they built a nine-point edge by halftime.
But things took an unexpected turn when the Vikings came out on fire in the third quarter, hitting shots from all over the court and erasing the deficit to take a two-point lead into the final period.
The Bees found some rhythm on the offensive end in the fourth period behind senior leaders Morgan Reeder, who finished with a game-high 20 points, and Emily Isaacson, who netted 14, but the Vikings had everything going their way and were able to hold on for the win.
Viewmont got 17 points and 10 rebounds from junior guard Emma Carr, and another 12 points from Karli Gunnell.
Another advantage the Vikings had was getting contributions from eight different players on the offensive end, while the Bees got just 16 points outside their top two scorers.
The Bees also uncharacteristically struggled from the free throw line, making just 14 of 23 attempts while the Vikings faired only a little better, knocking in 15 of 24 attempts.
The loss didn’t affect the region standings as the Bees had wrapped up the region championship last week and finished the regular season at 9-1, followed by Farmington at 7-3 and the Vikings at 6-4.
The fourth spot was decided by a play-in game between Bountiful and Woods Cross last Thursday with the Braves getting the win and the final place in the state tournament.
The state tournament kicked off yesterday at the Lifetime Activities Center at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, with the Bees drawing the fourth seed from Region 6, Highland (results not available by press time).
A win would advance the Bees to the quarterfinals tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of the Timpview/Wasatch game.
Two wins in the tournament would put the Bees into the semifinals on Friday evening starting at 5:50 p.m. and could see them play tournament-favorite East, who has been the top-ranked team in the 5A classification according to the Deseret News all year. The championship game will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
February 20, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team’s nine-game winning streak came to an end last Tuesday in its season finale as Viewmont finally exposed some chinks in the Bees’ armor and dealt them their first region loss of the season, 56-50.
The game started out like many have for the Bees this season, and they built a nine-point edge by halftime.
But things took an unexpected turn when the Vikings came out on fire in the third quarter, hitting shots from all over the court and erasing the deficit to take a two-point lead into the final period.
The Bees found some rhythm on the offensive end in the fourth period behind senior leaders Morgan Reeder, who finished with a game-high 20 points, and Emily Isaacson, who netted 14, but the Vikings had everything going their way and were able to hold on for the win.
Viewmont got 17 points and 10 rebounds from junior guard Emma Carr, and another 12 points from Karli Gunnell.
Another advantage the Vikings had was getting contributions from eight different players on the offensive end, while the Bees got just 16 points outside their top two scorers.
The Bees also uncharacteristically struggled from the free throw line, making just 14 of 23 attempts while the Vikings faired only a little better, knocking in 15 of 24 attempts.
The loss didn’t affect the region standings as the Bees had wrapped up the region championship last week and finished the regular season at 9-1, followed by Farmington at 7-3 and the Vikings at 6-4.
The fourth spot was decided by a play-in game between Bountiful and Woods Cross last Thursday with the Braves getting the win and the final place in the state tournament.
The state tournament kicked off yesterday at the Lifetime Activities Center at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, with the Bees drawing the fourth seed from Region 6, Highland (results not available by press time).
A win would advance the Bees to the quarterfinals tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of the Timpview/Wasatch game.
Two wins in the tournament would put the Bees into the semifinals on Friday evening starting at 5:50 p.m. and could see them play tournament-favorite East, who has been the top-ranked team in the 5A classification according to the Deseret News all year. The championship game will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Bees blast Royals to claim trophy outright
Courtesy Julie Jones
Seniors Talie Durbin, Allison Kloos, Emily Isaacson and Morgan Reeder were all smiles after their 52-26 rout of Roy last Friday earned the Bees the Region 5 championship trophy.
Girls ended regular season last night, prepare for state tournament Tuesday
February 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Another week, another two wins for the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team. But this week brought something extra as the team secured their second region championship in the last four years and wrapped up a first-place seeding heading into next week’s state tournament.
On Tuesday night, the Bees’ offense struggled a bit more than usual on the road against Woods Cross and had to rely on their defense to come away with the win.
With some tough defensive pressure and strong rebounding, the Bees held the Wildcats to single-digits in every period en route to a 42-27 win.
Senior forward Emily Isaacson recorded another double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Morgan Reeder added 12 points in the win.
Mele Tautaina cracked double-digits with 10 points for the Wildcats in the loss.
The Bees also built their lead from the free-throw stripe, connecting on 14 of 16 tries while the Wildcats hit just 5 of 10 from the line.
The win over the Wildcats guaranteed the Bees at least a share of the region championship, but the team was not looking to share, and came out Friday firing on all cylinders against the hapless Royals, who were still searching for their first win on the year.
After opening up a 16-5 lead in the first quarter, the Bees went on to win every quarter on their way to a 52-26 win.
The senior leaders again led the way for the Bees on senior night as Isaacson netted 18 points while Reeder added 10. Sophomore forward Annika Quayle also chipped in 11 points in the win.
Isaacson described a mixed bag of emotions coming into her final home game when she said, “It was kind of bittersweet because I knew we were going to win region but it’s bitter because it’s our last home game on this court. I was really excited to have this opportunity and it’s been a really fun four years.”
Fellow senior Talie Durbin said she has learned a lot by playing high school basketball and is looking to apply those lessons to her whole life. Durbin said, “It’s helped me grow as a person. It’s helped me become more outgoing and just to be a better person in life.”
Allison Kloos, a senior guard who suffered a season-ending knee injuring back in December, took a different perspective and set of emotions into the final home game knowing she could only watch and cheer on her teammates.
Fighting back tears after the game, Kloos said, “It’s been really hard to just watch, but at the end of the day, I still love my teammates. Even though it’s really hard not being on the court, being able to cheer them on makes it better for me.”
The Bees had one final region game last night on the road against Viewmont (results not available by press time).
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Bees will start their bid for a state championship against the fourth seed from Region 6, which is currently Skyline, although Highland still has a chance to make up a game on them this week.
Whoever their opponent, the game is scheduled to start at 12:50 p.m. in the Lifetime Activities Center on the campus of Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
Seniors Talie Durbin, Allison Kloos, Emily Isaacson and Morgan Reeder were all smiles after their 52-26 rout of Roy last Friday earned the Bees the Region 5 championship trophy.
Girls ended regular season last night, prepare for state tournament Tuesday
February 13, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Another week, another two wins for the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team. But this week brought something extra as the team secured their second region championship in the last four years and wrapped up a first-place seeding heading into next week’s state tournament.
On Tuesday night, the Bees’ offense struggled a bit more than usual on the road against Woods Cross and had to rely on their defense to come away with the win.
With some tough defensive pressure and strong rebounding, the Bees held the Wildcats to single-digits in every period en route to a 42-27 win.
Senior forward Emily Isaacson recorded another double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Morgan Reeder added 12 points in the win.
Mele Tautaina cracked double-digits with 10 points for the Wildcats in the loss.
The Bees also built their lead from the free-throw stripe, connecting on 14 of 16 tries while the Wildcats hit just 5 of 10 from the line.
The win over the Wildcats guaranteed the Bees at least a share of the region championship, but the team was not looking to share, and came out Friday firing on all cylinders against the hapless Royals, who were still searching for their first win on the year.
After opening up a 16-5 lead in the first quarter, the Bees went on to win every quarter on their way to a 52-26 win.
The senior leaders again led the way for the Bees on senior night as Isaacson netted 18 points while Reeder added 10. Sophomore forward Annika Quayle also chipped in 11 points in the win.
Isaacson described a mixed bag of emotions coming into her final home game when she said, “It was kind of bittersweet because I knew we were going to win region but it’s bitter because it’s our last home game on this court. I was really excited to have this opportunity and it’s been a really fun four years.”
Fellow senior Talie Durbin said she has learned a lot by playing high school basketball and is looking to apply those lessons to her whole life. Durbin said, “It’s helped me grow as a person. It’s helped me become more outgoing and just to be a better person in life.”
Allison Kloos, a senior guard who suffered a season-ending knee injuring back in December, took a different perspective and set of emotions into the final home game knowing she could only watch and cheer on her teammates.
Fighting back tears after the game, Kloos said, “It’s been really hard to just watch, but at the end of the day, I still love my teammates. Even though it’s really hard not being on the court, being able to cheer them on makes it better for me.”
The Bees had one final region game last night on the road against Viewmont (results not available by press time).
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Bees will start their bid for a state championship against the fourth seed from Region 6, which is currently Skyline, although Highland still has a chance to make up a game on them this week.
Whoever their opponent, the game is scheduled to start at 12:50 p.m. in the Lifetime Activities Center on the campus of Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.
‘Watch out for the Bees’
Courtesy Boyd Lancaster
Caleb Marx gets some nearfall points in his quarterfinal match against one of top-seeded wrestlers in the 138-pound bracket at the 5A Divisional A tournament last week. Marx won the bout, 12-11, and was one of three major upsets by the Bees that contributed to a one-point win over Wasatch.
Grit, depth are key in Box Elder’s upset of state tournament favorites Wasatch
February 6, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Grit. Brotherhood. Depth.
Those are the three keys to the Bees’ narrow upset victory over Wasatch at the 5A Divisional A tournament last weekend at West High School.
As expected, the Wasps—last year’s state tournament runners-up—were the most dominant team in the final bouts, boasting eight wrestlers in seven weights, but it was the Bees who held the lead heading into Saturday night’s championship round.
Box Elder coach Jed Craner noted that as the season has progressed, there has been significant changes in the team; certainly, no one would have picked the Bees to win the divisional title the first few weeks of the season.
“Our kids have worked so hard this year there was no doubt in my mind that we could do it,” Craner said. “Absolutely...it [winning the divisional tournament] was in the realm of possibility.”
While it might be easy to point to Ryan Gunn’s close win by decision, 4-3, in the 285-pound championship match against Provo’s James Tomasi as key to securing the Bees’ win—without it, the Bees would have lost—that would overlook the fact that Box Elder scored some important upsets, and qualified 20 wrestlers for state. Wasatch qualified 18.
“I really want to praise the JV team,” said Box Elder head coach Jed Craner about the Bees’ one-point win, 389.5-388.5, over Wasatch. “Those guys really stepped up; they really made a difference. If you have a good JV team, you’re in business. You can have as many champions as they [Wasatch] did and still not win. It shows you how important your depth is.”
Three of Box Elder’s upsets came in the quarterfinal round, where first-year wrestler Caleb Marx (138) and Carson Lancaster (182) each defeated top-three seeds in their weights, and Brandyn Gaytan (160) exhibited extraordinary grit to win 7-6 in an ultimate tie-breaker against Wasatch’s Brock Lloyd. Marx and Lancaster finished fourth and sixth, respectively, to qualify for state, and Gaytan finished second, losing in the championship finals to the Bees’ Trevor Murray.
“He [Caleb Marx] came out swinging,” Craner said about the first-year wrestler. “He’s got a motor on him and he just keeps wrestling. He just keeps getting better.”
Craner noted that of several matches that went to overtime, the Bees only lost one of them.
“That’s mental toughness, right there,” said Craner, who noted that along the way, “We knocked out several of Wasatch’s kids who might have qualified for the state tournament.”
As much as—or more than—anything, Craner said it was the sense of brotherhood that has developed between team members that manifests as gritty performances on the mat.
“I honestly believe it was coming together as a team; it was true grit,” that resulted in the Bees’ victory. “They work hard in matches for each other.”
One notable Box Elder champion is 220-pound sophomore Kellen Collier, who has been wrestling 285-pounds all season. He was finally able to cut weight to get to 220, where he can be more competitive.
“That’s why he’s just emerging,” Craner said. “That kid, he’s just an athlete; another kid who gets it done.”
Besides Gunn, Murray, and Collier, the Bees’ divisional champions were the usual suspects: Bridger Ricks (106 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182 pounds). See box for complete team scores and results for Box Elder’s state qualifiers.
In the Divisional B tournament, Viewmont, which Box Elder beat handily in recent region dual, dominated the field by nearly 100 points, 382-284.5 over Maple Mountain. The Vikings qualified 17 for the state tournament, setting the stage for what could be an interesting and highly competitive state tournament next week.
And with the most wrestlers qualified for state, the Bees are in the thick of it.
“It’s a huge advantage if everyone contributes,” Craner said. “If one or two guys go two-and-out, there goes our advantage.”
Regardless, Craner said anyone who underestimates Box Elder does so at their own peril.
“Watch out for the Bees, man. That’s all I’m saying,” Craner said.
The state tournament will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13-14, at Utah Valley University’s Utah Community Credit Union Center. For more information, brackets, or to purchase tickets, visit www.uhsaa.org>sports and activities>winter sports>wrestling.
Caleb Marx gets some nearfall points in his quarterfinal match against one of top-seeded wrestlers in the 138-pound bracket at the 5A Divisional A tournament last week. Marx won the bout, 12-11, and was one of three major upsets by the Bees that contributed to a one-point win over Wasatch.
Grit, depth are key in Box Elder’s upset of state tournament favorites Wasatch
February 6, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Grit. Brotherhood. Depth.
Those are the three keys to the Bees’ narrow upset victory over Wasatch at the 5A Divisional A tournament last weekend at West High School.
As expected, the Wasps—last year’s state tournament runners-up—were the most dominant team in the final bouts, boasting eight wrestlers in seven weights, but it was the Bees who held the lead heading into Saturday night’s championship round.
Box Elder coach Jed Craner noted that as the season has progressed, there has been significant changes in the team; certainly, no one would have picked the Bees to win the divisional title the first few weeks of the season.
“Our kids have worked so hard this year there was no doubt in my mind that we could do it,” Craner said. “Absolutely...it [winning the divisional tournament] was in the realm of possibility.”
While it might be easy to point to Ryan Gunn’s close win by decision, 4-3, in the 285-pound championship match against Provo’s James Tomasi as key to securing the Bees’ win—without it, the Bees would have lost—that would overlook the fact that Box Elder scored some important upsets, and qualified 20 wrestlers for state. Wasatch qualified 18.
“I really want to praise the JV team,” said Box Elder head coach Jed Craner about the Bees’ one-point win, 389.5-388.5, over Wasatch. “Those guys really stepped up; they really made a difference. If you have a good JV team, you’re in business. You can have as many champions as they [Wasatch] did and still not win. It shows you how important your depth is.”
Three of Box Elder’s upsets came in the quarterfinal round, where first-year wrestler Caleb Marx (138) and Carson Lancaster (182) each defeated top-three seeds in their weights, and Brandyn Gaytan (160) exhibited extraordinary grit to win 7-6 in an ultimate tie-breaker against Wasatch’s Brock Lloyd. Marx and Lancaster finished fourth and sixth, respectively, to qualify for state, and Gaytan finished second, losing in the championship finals to the Bees’ Trevor Murray.
“He [Caleb Marx] came out swinging,” Craner said about the first-year wrestler. “He’s got a motor on him and he just keeps wrestling. He just keeps getting better.”
Craner noted that of several matches that went to overtime, the Bees only lost one of them.
“That’s mental toughness, right there,” said Craner, who noted that along the way, “We knocked out several of Wasatch’s kids who might have qualified for the state tournament.”
As much as—or more than—anything, Craner said it was the sense of brotherhood that has developed between team members that manifests as gritty performances on the mat.
“I honestly believe it was coming together as a team; it was true grit,” that resulted in the Bees’ victory. “They work hard in matches for each other.”
One notable Box Elder champion is 220-pound sophomore Kellen Collier, who has been wrestling 285-pounds all season. He was finally able to cut weight to get to 220, where he can be more competitive.
“That’s why he’s just emerging,” Craner said. “That kid, he’s just an athlete; another kid who gets it done.”
Besides Gunn, Murray, and Collier, the Bees’ divisional champions were the usual suspects: Bridger Ricks (106 pounds) and Lucas Cochran (182 pounds). See box for complete team scores and results for Box Elder’s state qualifiers.
In the Divisional B tournament, Viewmont, which Box Elder beat handily in recent region dual, dominated the field by nearly 100 points, 382-284.5 over Maple Mountain. The Vikings qualified 17 for the state tournament, setting the stage for what could be an interesting and highly competitive state tournament next week.
And with the most wrestlers qualified for state, the Bees are in the thick of it.
“It’s a huge advantage if everyone contributes,” Craner said. “If one or two guys go two-and-out, there goes our advantage.”
Regardless, Craner said anyone who underestimates Box Elder does so at their own peril.
“Watch out for the Bees, man. That’s all I’m saying,” Craner said.
The state tournament will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13-14, at Utah Valley University’s Utah Community Credit Union Center. For more information, brackets, or to purchase tickets, visit www.uhsaa.org>sports and activities>winter sports>wrestling.
Morgan Reeder goes up for a contested shot in a game against Viewmont last week. Reeder led the Bees with a game-high 28 points.
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Girls eyeing at least share of region title after wins over Vikings, BravesFebruary 6, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was another week and another two convincing wins for the Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team as they ran past Viewmont 72-51 last Tuesday at home before completing the season sweep over Bountiful on Friday, 76-47. The Bees started a little sluggish against the Vikings and the first quarter ended with them tied at 16. After the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said, “We had a bad first quarter defensively tonight, but we really turned things around in the second, had a great quarter defensively, and really put the game away then.” The Bees turned numerous turnovers and missed shots from the Vikings into a 28-5 run that essentially sealed the deal for the home team. Morgan Reeder led the way for the Bees with 28 points while Emily Isaacson recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Karli Gunnell connected on three shots from downtown and finished with 16 points to lead the Vikings in the loss. The team will conclude their regular season on the road against the Vikings on Tuesday, Feb. 11, ahead of the state tournament, which will start the following Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville. |
Wrestlers beat Viewmont to reclaim Region 5 championship crown
The Box Elder High School wrestling team are mostly smiles after earning a convincing victory over Viewmont to earn the Region 5 championship trophy. The Vikings won last year’s title with a win over Box Elder before going on be state champs
Wrestlers grind out tough Rockwell Rumble, ready to compete for region title
January 30, 2019 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
The Box Elder High School wrestling team had a relatively easy run in a dual meet last Thursday against Viewmont, which concluded the Bees’ region schedule with an undefeated record as they reclaimed the region title from the Vikings.
It was a bit of a roller coaster in the early going as the Bees opened the meet with three straight wins: a major decision for Brandyn Gaytan (160 pounds), a decision for Trevor Murray (170), and a win by fall for Lucas Cochran (182), which gave Box Elder a 13-0 lead.
But Viewmont responded with two wins by fall to narrow Box Elder’s lead to one, 13-12.
From that point, however, Box Elder ran away with the meet, beginning with first-round wins by fall from Ryan Gunn (285) and Bridger Ricks (106). Isaac Richards (120) added a major decision, and Brayden Tucker (132) earned a win by fall as Box Elder outpaced Viewmont, 28-3 through the next six weights.
Prior to the meet, head coach Jed Craner said that if his team wrestled to their potential, they had a good shot at winning against Viewmont, but that it couldn’t hurt to get “a little magic” from a few kids.
After the Bees’ win, Craner said, “I don’t believe there was much magic...as much as there was smart wrestling.”
Seth Bott (138), Harrison Hodgson (145), and Matt Bowden (152) all came up short in their bouts against some of Viewmont’s toughest and most highly-ranked wrestlers, but Craner noted how well the Bees did limiting the number of points they gave up in those weights. Bott lost a 3-0 decision, and despite being dominated for three rounds, Bowden was able to keep last year’s state runner-up, Jeremy Evans, from getting a pin.
“After seeing the end result—with our guys wrestling how they know how—we really didn’t need the magic after all,” Craner said. “Those that got us pins...really made the difference for us as we got to Viewmont’s middleweights—their strength.”
In comments following the meet, Craner appeared to have moved on from celebrating the fact that the Bees won a region title in his first year as Box Elder’s head coach.
“I feel great about the direction the team is going and am so happy to be part of such an amazing group of young men,” Craner said. “I am very pleased with how they have completed thus far, but we have got to continue with our focus and hard work through divisionals and state.”
The Bees have one more regular-season dual meet, tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Ridgeline High School in Cache Valley.
This weekend, the Bees begin their state-tournament run at the 5A Divisional meet Friday and Saturday at West High School in Salt Lake City. The top eight wrestlers in each weight from two divisional tournaments will qualify for the state tournament.
Based on the seeding criteria of the Utah High School Activities Association, which ranks teams on a point system determined by a school’s returning state-tournament qualifiers, the Bees face a difficult task if they hope to be divisional champions, but they could qualify a good number of wrestlers for the state tournament.
Box Elder finished fourth in the overall rankings of 24 5A schools, with 154.5 points, making them the second-ranked team in the Division A tournament behind last year’s state tournament runners-up, Wasatch, which was ranked first overall with 260.5 points.
“It will be a challenge to be in the same divisional tournament as Wasatch, but I see it as an advantage as we will get to familiarize ourselves with them,” Craner said. “This could help us make a run at the title during the state tournament.”
Craner said he is hoping to qualify more than 20 wrestlers for the state tournament, something that isn’t inconceivable given the lopsided balance of power between the top three teams and the rest of the field at the divisional.
“If we can do that, and they all...earn some points, we can do it,” Craner said.
Swimmers take region
The Box Elder High School boys’ and girls’ swim teams scored dominant wins at the Region 5 tournament last week. The boys, in particular, completely outclassed their competition, and beat second-place Viewmont, by 178 points, 519-341. This is the boys’ second consecutive region title. The girls won their championship by nearly 100 points over Bountiful, 483-390.5. The girls were able to attain the goal they fell just short of last year when they took second place at the region meet
A Bountiful defender deftly swipes a pass away from the Bees’ Parker Buchanan. The Braves’ quick hands forced many turnovers.
Bees get lesson about max effort in games against Bountiful, Roy
January 23, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Box Elder boys’ basketball head coach Jace McKee has been preaching and emphasizing consistency to his team all year, and last week illustrated why as one bad quarter doomed the team against Bountiful on Wednesday, before four quarters of maximum effort earned the team their first region win over Roy on Friday.
Things started well enough for the Bees Wednesday at home against the Braves, but they took a sharp turn for the worse in the second quarter when turnovers and poor shot selection left the Bees scrambling while Bountiful grew their lead to 20 points by halftime.
The Braves continued to pour on the pressure in the third quarter behind sharpshooter Camron Chism, who led all scorers with 24 points, including five shots from deep. Senior guard Brig Willard and sophomore big man Robert Whaley each added 13 points in the win.
The Bees countered with their post man, sophomore Parker Buchanan, who scored 22 points and recorded a game-high nine rebounds, but there wasn’t enough offensive firepower or defensive stops to mount a serious comeback—no other Box Elder player cracked double digits—and the Braves cruised to a 79-55 win.
Despite the frustrations, the Bees were determined to make the most of their next opportunity Friday on the road against the Royals, who were coming off an emotional win over Viewmont on Wednesday.
The Bees got a spark against the Royals with the return of junior guard Riley Dahlgren, who missed the game against the Braves as he battled bursitis in his knee.
Dahlgren brought some much-needed stability in the backcourt and a deep scoring threat as he dropped in 13 points, including three 3-point baskets.
After both teams struggled through a defensive battle in the first period, the Bees caught their stride in the second quarter and used a 19-8 run to build a lead that they wouldn’t give up en route to a 60-49 win.
Buchanan again led the way with 16 points and senior forward Skyler Laurenti hit double-digit scoring for the first time this season with 10 points.
Porter Thackeray paced the Royals with 13 points and Kobe Schriver added 11 in the loss.
The win over the Royals was important for the Bees to keep pace in the region standings. The Braves sit at the top of the table at 3-0, followed by Woods Cross at 2-1. There is a four-way log jam for third through sixth as all four teams sit at 1-2 in the standings.
The Bees will get a chance to rest a little this week with only one game on the schedule, on Friday at home against the Wildcats. That game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. following the girls’ game.
January 23, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Box Elder boys’ basketball head coach Jace McKee has been preaching and emphasizing consistency to his team all year, and last week illustrated why as one bad quarter doomed the team against Bountiful on Wednesday, before four quarters of maximum effort earned the team their first region win over Roy on Friday.
Things started well enough for the Bees Wednesday at home against the Braves, but they took a sharp turn for the worse in the second quarter when turnovers and poor shot selection left the Bees scrambling while Bountiful grew their lead to 20 points by halftime.
The Braves continued to pour on the pressure in the third quarter behind sharpshooter Camron Chism, who led all scorers with 24 points, including five shots from deep. Senior guard Brig Willard and sophomore big man Robert Whaley each added 13 points in the win.
The Bees countered with their post man, sophomore Parker Buchanan, who scored 22 points and recorded a game-high nine rebounds, but there wasn’t enough offensive firepower or defensive stops to mount a serious comeback—no other Box Elder player cracked double digits—and the Braves cruised to a 79-55 win.
Despite the frustrations, the Bees were determined to make the most of their next opportunity Friday on the road against the Royals, who were coming off an emotional win over Viewmont on Wednesday.
The Bees got a spark against the Royals with the return of junior guard Riley Dahlgren, who missed the game against the Braves as he battled bursitis in his knee.
Dahlgren brought some much-needed stability in the backcourt and a deep scoring threat as he dropped in 13 points, including three 3-point baskets.
After both teams struggled through a defensive battle in the first period, the Bees caught their stride in the second quarter and used a 19-8 run to build a lead that they wouldn’t give up en route to a 60-49 win.
Buchanan again led the way with 16 points and senior forward Skyler Laurenti hit double-digit scoring for the first time this season with 10 points.
Porter Thackeray paced the Royals with 13 points and Kobe Schriver added 11 in the loss.
The win over the Royals was important for the Bees to keep pace in the region standings. The Braves sit at the top of the table at 3-0, followed by Woods Cross at 2-1. There is a four-way log jam for third through sixth as all four teams sit at 1-2 in the standings.
The Bees will get a chance to rest a little this week with only one game on the schedule, on Friday at home against the Wildcats. That game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. following the girls’ game.
Morgan Reeder puts up an awkward shot over a Bountiful defender that went in for two points in the Bees’ 64-46 win over the Braves last week.
Bees blast Bountiful and Roy to stand alone atop Region 5
January 23, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team kept their stranglehold on the Region 5 standings last week with convincing wins over Bountiful last Tuesday followed by a road victory over Roy on Friday.
The Bees came out hot from the field against the Braves, then used an 18-5 second quarter run to open up a 20-point lead by halftime as they cruised to a 64-46 win.
Both teams finished shooting 37 percent from the field, but the big difference for the Bees was their shooting behind the 3-point line and the quality and quantity of their free-throw shooting. Box Elder hit 8 of 16 shots behind the arc, while the Braves hit just 5 of 12. From the line, the Bees had a seven-point advantage, going 14 for 19 while the Braves connected on 7 out of 11.
The dynamic duo of Emily Isaacson and Morgan Reeder again led the way for the Bees with Isaacson netting 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds while Reeder added 21 points, four rebounds and three steals.
The Braves were paced by Tashena Ashby with 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds, and Baily Jenkins, who chipped in 10 points and six boards.
On Friday night, the Bees ratcheted up the defensive intensity against the Royals and, while their own shooting wasn’t quite as solid as it had been Tuesday, they more than made up for that on the defensive end as they kept the Royals from scoring in double figures in any quarter, and no player on the roster recorded more than six points as Box Elder ran away with a 55-23 win.
Isaacson was again the high-point scorer in the game with 17, and junior sharpshooter Jenna Mortensen added 11 in the win.
The wins move the Bees to 3-0 in region play and have them in sole possession of first place ahead of Farmington, Viewmont, and Woods Cross, who all sit at 2-1, while the Braves and Royals both fell to 0-3 in the early going.
The Bees had a tough road test last night as they traveled to Farmington to take on the second-place Phoenix (results not available by press time).
On Friday night, the Bees will be back at home and get their first look at Woods Cross. The Wildcats got blown out by the Phoenix last Tuesday, before bouncing back in a hard-fought win over Viewmont to keep pace in the region.
The Wildcats don’t have any players averaging double-digit scoring so far and rely heavily on their defense to grind out close games. They are allowing just more than 38 points per game through three region contests.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7 p.m.
January 23, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team kept their stranglehold on the Region 5 standings last week with convincing wins over Bountiful last Tuesday followed by a road victory over Roy on Friday.
The Bees came out hot from the field against the Braves, then used an 18-5 second quarter run to open up a 20-point lead by halftime as they cruised to a 64-46 win.
Both teams finished shooting 37 percent from the field, but the big difference for the Bees was their shooting behind the 3-point line and the quality and quantity of their free-throw shooting. Box Elder hit 8 of 16 shots behind the arc, while the Braves hit just 5 of 12. From the line, the Bees had a seven-point advantage, going 14 for 19 while the Braves connected on 7 out of 11.
The dynamic duo of Emily Isaacson and Morgan Reeder again led the way for the Bees with Isaacson netting 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds while Reeder added 21 points, four rebounds and three steals.
The Braves were paced by Tashena Ashby with 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds, and Baily Jenkins, who chipped in 10 points and six boards.
On Friday night, the Bees ratcheted up the defensive intensity against the Royals and, while their own shooting wasn’t quite as solid as it had been Tuesday, they more than made up for that on the defensive end as they kept the Royals from scoring in double figures in any quarter, and no player on the roster recorded more than six points as Box Elder ran away with a 55-23 win.
Isaacson was again the high-point scorer in the game with 17, and junior sharpshooter Jenna Mortensen added 11 in the win.
The wins move the Bees to 3-0 in region play and have them in sole possession of first place ahead of Farmington, Viewmont, and Woods Cross, who all sit at 2-1, while the Braves and Royals both fell to 0-3 in the early going.
The Bees had a tough road test last night as they traveled to Farmington to take on the second-place Phoenix (results not available by press time).
On Friday night, the Bees will be back at home and get their first look at Woods Cross. The Wildcats got blown out by the Phoenix last Tuesday, before bouncing back in a hard-fought win over Viewmont to keep pace in the region.
The Wildcats don’t have any players averaging double-digit scoring so far and rely heavily on their defense to grind out close games. They are allowing just more than 38 points per game through three region contests.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7 p.m.
Jenna Mortensen puts up a contested shot in the Bees loss to Copper Hills last Tuesday. Mortensen made the most of her opportunities in the Bees’ next game when Farmington focused on teamates Emily Isaacson and Morgan Reeder, and left Mortensen to score 14 points.
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Girls fall to Copper Hills, blast Farmington
January 16, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team wrapped up a brutal preseason schedule last Tuesday as the Bees faced their third state-ranked opponent in Copper Hills last Tuesday, before beginning their region schedule at home on Friday against first-year school Farmington. In the preseason, the Bees had already played against Fremont, ranked first in the state, and Corner Canyon, ranked fourth, and came up just short in each. The Grizzlies came into the game against the Bees ranked second, and showed the reason why with crisp passes on offense that lead to easy baskets and a seven-point lead at halftime. That lead ballooned to nearly 20 points toward the end of the third quarter behind the hot-shooting tandem of Breaunna Gillen and Eleyana Tafisi, as each netted 22 points on the night. Lenisi Fineanganofo added 12 points in the win. Despite getting down in the second half, the Bees fought back in the fourth quarter behind their leaders as Morgan Reeder poured in 19 points and Emily Isaacson added 14 with a game-high nine rebounds as the Bees whittled the lead down to seven points with just under four minutes remaining in regulation. But the Bees couldn’t get any closer as the Grizzlies took care of the ball and made free throws down the stretch to seal the win 71-59. The Bees continued region play last night with another home game against Bountiful (results not available by press time). The Braves fell to Viewmont, 48-34, in their region opener last week and were looking to end a three-game losing skid. The Bees will be on the road Friday at Roy. The game against the Royals is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m., followed by the boy’s game at 7 p.m. |
Bees dominate Farmington, BountifuL
Box Elder’s Jaden Nessen pinned his opponent from Farmington, as did eight of his Box Elder teammates as the Bees made short work of their Region 5 foes, 66-12, last Thursday. The Bees also competed in the Bobcat Brawl where they went undefeated in convincing fashion, beating Alta, 65-3; Bountiful 63-6; Highland, Idaho, 47-18; Logan, 76-0; Preston, Idaho, 80-0; and Sky View, 58-6. Due to the fact that Bountiful only has six varsity wrestlers, the Braves opted to forfeit and cancel their region match with Box Elder originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17. The Bees’ only action this week will be on the road, in Wasatch County for the Rockwell Rumble on Friday and Saturday.
Members of the Box Elder High School wrestling team after their third-place finish at the Richardson Memorial. Last year, the Bees finished fifth at the tournament and sixth in 2017.
Bees climb back to take third at Richardson
January 9, 2019
Heading into the second day of the Richardson Memorial Wrestling tournament, the Box Elder High School squad was tied for fifth in a close contest.
On Saturday, only 11.5 points separated first-place Star Valley from the Bees and Bear River, who both had 88 points.
But the Bees executed on Saturday, leaving Bear River behind and finishing 9.5 points behind second-place Mountain Crest.
The Bees had eight wrestlers place in the tournament, seven of whom competed in the championship semifinals. Five of those won their semifinal bouts, earning spots in the championship Saturday night, three of whom went on to victory. The Bees had more first-place finishes than any other placing.
The championship finals began with an all-Bees affair as Wyatt Romriell and Bridger Ricks faced each other at 106 pounds. Ricks won the match by major decision, 13-1.
Lucas Cochran (170) and Ryan Gunn (285) both won their championship matches by fall.
Brayden Tucker (132) lost his championship bout against a wrestler from Altamont, the team that won the 2019 Richardson Memorial.
Other Box Elder placers were: Matt Bowden (152), fifth; Harrison Hodgson (152), sixth; and Trevor Murray (170), third.
This week, the Bees will host Farmington on Thursday in a region dual. Varsity matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Bees climb back to take third at Richardson
January 9, 2019
Heading into the second day of the Richardson Memorial Wrestling tournament, the Box Elder High School squad was tied for fifth in a close contest.
On Saturday, only 11.5 points separated first-place Star Valley from the Bees and Bear River, who both had 88 points.
But the Bees executed on Saturday, leaving Bear River behind and finishing 9.5 points behind second-place Mountain Crest.
The Bees had eight wrestlers place in the tournament, seven of whom competed in the championship semifinals. Five of those won their semifinal bouts, earning spots in the championship Saturday night, three of whom went on to victory. The Bees had more first-place finishes than any other placing.
The championship finals began with an all-Bees affair as Wyatt Romriell and Bridger Ricks faced each other at 106 pounds. Ricks won the match by major decision, 13-1.
Lucas Cochran (170) and Ryan Gunn (285) both won their championship matches by fall.
Brayden Tucker (132) lost his championship bout against a wrestler from Altamont, the team that won the 2019 Richardson Memorial.
Other Box Elder placers were: Matt Bowden (152), fifth; Harrison Hodgson (152), sixth; and Trevor Murray (170), third.
This week, the Bees will host Farmington on Thursday in a region dual. Varsity matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Girls have their way with young Mountain Crest team
Emily Isaacson drives the lane for two of her game-high 25 points. Isaacson also pulled down 18 rebounds in a solo exhibition.
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January 9, 2019 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team took care of business in convincing fashion in its only game last week when it hosted Mountain Crest and blew out the guests, 60-41. With fellow running-mate Morgan Reeder slowed by an illness, senior wing Emily Isaacson stole the show on both ends of the court for the Bees as she finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds to overwhelm the Mustangs from the start. Following the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said he was happy with the result and saw a more complete game from his team, even when playing with a big lead. “We did what we were supposed to do against a young team tonight,” Dooley said. “There have been a few games this season where it seemed like we played down to our competition and that has bitten us a couple of times, so it was really good to see the girls stay focused and just take care of business.” The win moves the Bees to 7-4 in the preseason with just one more tune-up before beginning region play Friday against Farmington. The final preseason game was one the Bees had circled on the calendar as one of the toughest games of the year, against 6A powerhouse Copper Hills last night (results not available by press time). The road won’t get any easier for the Bees once region play begins as they host one of the preseason favorites Friday. According to Dooley, the Bees possess the keys for success, they just have to use them consistently. “We’ve proven to ourselves so far this year that we can beat anybody we want to beat if we put everything together,” Dooley said. “We’ve learned how to play Box Elder basketball no matter what the other team is doing, and if we can keep being ourselves night in and night out, we’ll be in good positions all season.” The game against the Phoenix is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m. and will be followed by the boys’ game at 7 p.m. As the preseason winds down, the Bees are led by Isaacson, who is averaging a double-double per game with 17.5 points and 10 rebounds. Reeder is also averaging double figures at 14 points per game. |
Bees blasted by Hawks at Utah Autism Holiday Classic, bounce back over Warriors
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team came into the week needing a confidence boost and some kind of spark to turn their season around before starting region play, and they had two cracks at it following the Christmas break.
The Bees came out sluggish against Alta on Thursday night at the Utah Autism Holiday Classic hosted by Olympus High School, and that slow start doomed the team to an eventual 46-68 loss.
The team did find a way to start strong against Taylorsville on Friday night back at home and used that fast start to propel them to a 72-65 win to snap a three-game skid.
The game against the Hawks was reminiscent of the game against Bear River the week before when the Bees couldn’t buy a basket in the first quarter, and found themselves down 18-3 after the first frame.
Things evened up a bit in the second period, but the Bees were never able to mount a serious comeback as the Hawks cruised to the win behind a game-high 17 points from Indy Hanson and 15 points from Jaden Brownell.
The Bees were lead by sophomore big man Parker Buchanan with 15 points. Fellow post player Spencer Huff added 11.
After the game, Bees’ head coach Jace McKee said he thought the Christmas break negatively impacted the team.
“We didn’t have a lot of energy tonight and we weren’t ourselves out there,” McKee said. “We just weren’t sharp and it was a struggle all night.”
Against Weber, the Bees responded to the wake-up call and jumped out early, building a 21-5 lead after the first quarter. They used that momentum to take a 20-point lead into the halftime break.
The Warriors stormed back with some hot outside shooting in the third quarter and eventually got within a point, 66-65, with just over a minute remaining in the fourth. The Bees made the necessary plays down the stretch and shut the Warriors out the rest of the way to secure the win.
Buchanan again lead the way with 27 points and the Bees got a big lift with the return of junior guard Riley Dahlgren, who had been out with an ankle injury for the last two games. Dahlgren is one of the primary ball handlers and his experience and decision-making helped the Bees break the Warrior press to get some easy baskets, along with adding 13 points of his own.
Senior guard Ronnie Smith also hit double figures with 12 points in the win.
The Warriors were led by James Gavin, who pumped in a career-high 23 points, including four shots from behind the arc. Eric Giang added 16 points, all from three-point territory, and Cameron Millican chipped in 13.
Coach McKee cited the strong start and then mental toughness down the stretch as the keys to the win.
“Today, we got some of that Christmas break out of us and played really well early. We had a really good first half and had a lot better energy on defense,” McKee said. “[The Warriors] made some runs in the second half and hit a lot of threes, but I was happy with how we responded down the stretch with some tough finishes and barely enough free throws to get the win.”
The week moves the Bees to 2-6 in the preseason with just two tune-up games left before starting region play at home next Friday against Farmington.
The Bees will be in action just once this week as they travel to Cache Valley to take on Logan on Friday night.
The Grizzlies currently sit at 3-7 and are lead by senior big man Josh Jensen, who is averaging 13 points per outing.
The game against the Grizzlies is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Bear River’s Taggert Bingham tries to keep his back off the mat in the final moments of the 120-pound bout against Box Elder’s Isaac Richardson. Bingham was up by two in the closely-contested match before Richardson was able to earn a win by fall in the final moments of the third period.
Bragging rights
After four weights had wrestled, beginning with a win by decision by Box Elder’s Trevor Murray, the Bees and Bears were were tied, 9-9.
But from that point, the dual meet between the two rivals was dominated by Box Elder as the Bees took back bragging rights, which Bear River had possessed the last two years, with a 37-22 win.
“To be honest, our kids treated it as any other dual; they just wanted to win and did exactly what they were supposed to, that is, maintain good position and staying off their backs,” said head coach Jed Craner, who was visibly excited following a few matches.
“I don’t usually get that pumped up during duels, but I really wanted to bring the rivalry home to B.E.,” said Craner. “The kids have worked very hard and they deserved that win.”
Following a pin by Bear River’s Colter Freeze that tied the score, the Bees went on a run that started with a win by fall from last year’s 5A state runner-up, Ryan Gunn (285 pounds), and ended with potentially the most exciting match of the night, as Isaac Richards (120 pounds) was able to pin the Bears’ Taggert Bingham in the waning moments of the final period.
Richards fell behind in the first period after a takedown by Bingham, but the rest of the bout would prove uneventful as neither of the two closely matched wrestlers were able to take advantage of starting on top, or escape when they started on bottom.
Richards began the third period on bottom, and was able to start turning the tables when he got to his feet with Bingham hanging too high on Richard’s back. Neither wrestler was awarded control of the situation, but Richards’ position was superior. With about 20 seconds left in the bout, Richards was able to put Bingham’s back to the mat, and give his team a 28-9 lead.
Craner said Richards’ match was “incredible” but not “surprising.”
“Isaac never stops wrestling, he battles every match, all match long, no matter what the score,” Craner said. “He could’ve been down 10-0 and still come out with a pin, simply because he never stops wrestling.”
Two weights later, the Bees all but secured the win when Quintan Knight pinned the Bears’ Zackery Folkman with less than a minute expired from the first period to increase Box Elder’s lead, 34-12.
Knight’s match was the standout bout, according to Craner.
“Quinton has wrestled JV all season—not to say he’s not varsity caliber. His performance stunned me as he went out, took his opponent down, and proceeded to cradle and pin him,” Craner said.
The Bees earned wins by fall from Lucas Cochran (182), Gunn, Richards, and Knight.
Freshman Bridger Ricks (106) faced a formidable challenge from Bear River’s Porter Tackett, and by the end of the second period, the outcome was still in question as Ricks held a narrow lead, 4-1. But Ricks poured it on the third period and scored five points with a takedown and nearfall (3) to notch a major decision for the Bees.
“I am very proud of our kids both JV and varsity. They wrestled well and maintained good position, only giving up one pin all night,” Craner said.
The Bees have one match this week, tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 27, when they hit the road to take on Fremont.
Lacrosse to begin in Box Elder high schools next school year
Following meetings in which there were outpourings of public support, as well as support from board members, district officials and educators, the Box Elder School District Board of Education unanimously voted to sanction lacrosse.
The newly-sanctioned sport will begin at Bear River and Box Elder high schools in the fall of 2019 for both boys’ and girls’ varsity and JV teams. It is the 11th sport sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA).
District Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham said while most of the equipment will be donated from lacrosse clubs that have been competing in Box Elder County for the past 15 years, students will still need to purchase a few items. These include sticks, gloves, arm and shoulder pads, shoes and goggles. The approximate start-up costs for boys is $355 and $280 for girls.
The schools will provide goals, balls, helmets (boys only, as girls don’t wear helmets) field paint, uniforms, practice gear and goalie equipment. The total start-up cost to the district is estimated at about $50,700, but clubs will donate about $17,500 in equipment.
The biggest cost, which would be ongoing, is the $24,680 in coaching stipends for one head coach and one assistant per school.
The uniforms are being donated, “So, initially we’re good there,” said Mecham. “But eventually we’ll need to buy new ones, which is determined by if the kids keep the uniforms or not.”
Busing may be an issue, as both boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the spring, he said. Also, athletic directors at both schools will experience more stress as they ensure eligibility and game preparation is met.
Despite attendant challenges that may arise, sanctioning lacrosse was important, he said, because according to UHSAA by-laws, a sanctioned high school team cannot compete with club teams.
Not participating in the UHSAA could have resulted in Box Elder club teams not having enough competition to play much this upcoming year, as many high schools will now have sanctioned lacrosse teams.
The newly-sanctioned sport will begin at Bear River and Box Elder high schools in the fall of 2019 for both boys’ and girls’ varsity and JV teams. It is the 11th sport sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA).
District Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham said while most of the equipment will be donated from lacrosse clubs that have been competing in Box Elder County for the past 15 years, students will still need to purchase a few items. These include sticks, gloves, arm and shoulder pads, shoes and goggles. The approximate start-up costs for boys is $355 and $280 for girls.
The schools will provide goals, balls, helmets (boys only, as girls don’t wear helmets) field paint, uniforms, practice gear and goalie equipment. The total start-up cost to the district is estimated at about $50,700, but clubs will donate about $17,500 in equipment.
The biggest cost, which would be ongoing, is the $24,680 in coaching stipends for one head coach and one assistant per school.
The uniforms are being donated, “So, initially we’re good there,” said Mecham. “But eventually we’ll need to buy new ones, which is determined by if the kids keep the uniforms or not.”
Busing may be an issue, as both boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the spring, he said. Also, athletic directors at both schools will experience more stress as they ensure eligibility and game preparation is met.
Despite attendant challenges that may arise, sanctioning lacrosse was important, he said, because according to UHSAA by-laws, a sanctioned high school team cannot compete with club teams.
Not participating in the UHSAA could have resulted in Box Elder club teams not having enough competition to play much this upcoming year, as many high schools will now have sanctioned lacrosse teams.
Bees fall to Wolves, beat Riverhawks in dramatic fashion
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December 19, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
It was a roller coaster week for the Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team, which started low as the team fell to Green Canyon 89-72 Tuesday night, but then finished riding high with a 71-70 win over Ridgeline on Friday. Bees’ head coach Jace McKee said the team definitely has room to improve, but he sees them on the right path in the early going. “Friday night, we showed a lot more of what we can be than we did on Tuesday. Things started well on Tuesday [against the Wolves], but we couldn’t maintain it and we ended up in a big hole,” McKee said. “On Friday, we played much better on the defensive end, so that was really good to see. The win was the first for the Bees in the preseason and moves them to 1-3. The boys will be back in action at home tonight against Clearfield. The Falcons enter the game with a 4-4 preseason record and are lead by senior guard Connor Izatt, who is averaging just under 16 points per game. The game against the Falcons is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. This Friday, the Bees will be in action in the second game of a double-header in Tremonton when they take on Bear River. The girls team plays first at 5:15 p.m. and will be followed by the boys at 7 p.m. Looking ahead to the coming week, coach McKee said, “We’re really looking to get better defensively. That’s where we’ve struggled in our games so far and that will be our focus this week.” |
Bees stymie Logan’s top offensive threat in 57-49 win
Box Elder’s Jenna Mortensen (second from left) nearly breaks up a pass from Logan’s Amber Kartchner, who was the second-leading scorer in the state with just under 25 points per contest. Mortensen drew defensive duty on Kartchner, and held the Grizzlies’ top offensive threat to just 15 points.
December 12, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team passed a tough test last Friday night when it hosted Logan in its first home game of the year, coming away with a hard-fought 57-49 win.
Coming into the game, the Bees knew one of the keys to success would be to contain junior Grizzly guard Amber Kartchner, who entered the game as the second-leading scorer in the state, averaging just under 25 points per contest.
Following the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said he was happy with the way his team defended such a prolific scorer.
“We figured coming in that we had two or three girls that would make [Kartchner] work hard for her shots,” Dooley said. “We put Jenna Mortensen on her to start and she did such a good job that we didn’t take her off her. My hat’s off to Jenna tonight, she did a really great job defensively.”
Mortensen, along with the rest of the Box Elder defense, hassled and harassed Kartchner all night, holding her to just 15 points, including just one successful 3-point attempt, both of which were the second-lowest stats of the season for her.
On the other side of the court, the Bees were led by Morgan Reeder, who took advantage of the zone defense the Grizzlies gave for much of the night and pumped in 20 points including three balls from downtown.
Emily Isaacson added 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the win.
Sophomore post player Taylor Rose cracked double figures with 10 points for the Grizzlies.
The Bees also won the battle at the free-throw line, connecting on 14 of 16 attempts from the charity stripe while the Grizzlies made just 6 of 9 attempts.
Even with the victory, coach Dooley saw areas for the team to improve this week in practice ahead of its next game, which was last night at Weber (results not available by press time).
“We certainly have some things we need to clean up,” Dooley said. “In the first half especially, we had some really bad turnovers that we really shouldn’t have had, and those were a little uncharacteristic of us. We also talked about guarding dribble penetration at halftime and I thought we made a good adjustment there after the break.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-1 on the year while the Grizzlies fall to 5-2 with their second straight defeat.
Friday, the Bees will be in action on the road when they head to Smithfield in Cache Valley to take on Sky View.
The Bobcats have a 2-4 record entering the game and are lead by post player Kristen Schumann, who is averaging 17 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
The game against the Bobcats is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
December 12, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team passed a tough test last Friday night when it hosted Logan in its first home game of the year, coming away with a hard-fought 57-49 win.
Coming into the game, the Bees knew one of the keys to success would be to contain junior Grizzly guard Amber Kartchner, who entered the game as the second-leading scorer in the state, averaging just under 25 points per contest.
Following the game, Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said he was happy with the way his team defended such a prolific scorer.
“We figured coming in that we had two or three girls that would make [Kartchner] work hard for her shots,” Dooley said. “We put Jenna Mortensen on her to start and she did such a good job that we didn’t take her off her. My hat’s off to Jenna tonight, she did a really great job defensively.”
Mortensen, along with the rest of the Box Elder defense, hassled and harassed Kartchner all night, holding her to just 15 points, including just one successful 3-point attempt, both of which were the second-lowest stats of the season for her.
On the other side of the court, the Bees were led by Morgan Reeder, who took advantage of the zone defense the Grizzlies gave for much of the night and pumped in 20 points including three balls from downtown.
Emily Isaacson added 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the win.
Sophomore post player Taylor Rose cracked double figures with 10 points for the Grizzlies.
The Bees also won the battle at the free-throw line, connecting on 14 of 16 attempts from the charity stripe while the Grizzlies made just 6 of 9 attempts.
Even with the victory, coach Dooley saw areas for the team to improve this week in practice ahead of its next game, which was last night at Weber (results not available by press time).
“We certainly have some things we need to clean up,” Dooley said. “In the first half especially, we had some really bad turnovers that we really shouldn’t have had, and those were a little uncharacteristic of us. We also talked about guarding dribble penetration at halftime and I thought we made a good adjustment there after the break.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-1 on the year while the Grizzlies fall to 5-2 with their second straight defeat.
Friday, the Bees will be in action on the road when they head to Smithfield in Cache Valley to take on Sky View.
The Bobcats have a 2-4 record entering the game and are lead by post player Kristen Schumann, who is averaging 17 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
The game against the Bobcats is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Boys continue winning streak at Riverton
The Box Elder High School boys’ swim team pose with its championship plaque after winning the Riverton Silver Rush Invitation last weekend. Over the past few weeks, the boys have gone on a tear, winning the Park City Invitational as well as dual meets against Woods Cross and Ridgeline. The girls’ team has also fared well, winning dual meets against Woods Cross and Ridgeline, and coming in third at Riverton and fourth at Park City.
From ‘overweight bench warmer’ to elite athlete
Spencer Johnson (above) says endurance running can be lonely, and it’s nice to have the camaraderie and support of team members of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team. Johnson started running after he decided to join the Air Force and needed to get in shape.
Spencer Johnson is chosen for second stint on elite military endurance sports team
December 2, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Spencer Johnson always liked sports, but as a self-described “overweight kid with really low self-confidence,” he didn’t participate in extracurricular athletics programs as a student at Box Elder High School.
“I did manage to play one year of football as an offensive lineman, but I rode the bench,” Johnson, 36, said. “Being overweight was a big obstacle for me growing up and I wasn’t confident enough in myself to go and try out for other teams.”
But a simple desire to serve the country in the United States Air Force transformed Johnson from an overweight kid with low self-confidence into an elite athlete who was recently selected as a member of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team for the second year in a row.
The USMES is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote sports as part of a healthy lifestyle to active members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This year, 70 candidates applied for the team, and Johnson is one of the 16 cyclists, triathletes and runners to be selected. The team will compete in major events across the country in a season.
As much as anything, Johnson views his membership on USMES as proof that nothing is out of reach.
“I do have to say that running has really been a life-changing ambition for me. It helped transform me...into a much better version of myself. I am living proof that anyone can transform themselves if they just commit,” Johnson wrote via email from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is currently stationed in support of the NATO mission “Resolute Support.” He is the chief of information and knowledge management, and his job includes ensuring critical information and historical data are preserved and shared with coalition partners in support of the train, advise, and assist mission in Afghanistan.
Following his graduation from Box Elder in 2000, Johnson, son of Eugene and Sharon Johnson of Brigham City, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he decided to pursue a career in the Air Force but knew he needed to be in better shape, so he started running and lifting weights.
“By the time I went to basic training I was in pretty good shape, and much to my surprise I was outrunning everyone,” Johnson wrote. “The more I ran, the faster I got and the more I loved it.”
At the end of basic training, in the final 1.5-mile run before graduation, Johnson outran all of the nearly 200 trainees in his group and posted the fastest time in his graduating class.
“The adrenaline rush I got from that experience spurred me on,” Johnson wrote. Running was no longer a necessity required by his chosen career path, but a passion. He started participating in road races when he arrived at his first duty station at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia in 2003, and the passion grew into an addiction. Over the next 14 years, he ran hundreds of races.
In 2017, Johnson decided to apply to be a sponsored athlete for USMES and was accepted to represent the team for the 2018 season. That year he competed in three major races: he finished third overall in the Myrtle Beach Marathon with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes (2:47), was ninth overall in the Umstead 100-mile race with a time of 17:59, and in the top 3 percent in the Grandmas Marathon. His results—the two marathons were the fastest he’d ever run—were good enough to earn him a spot on this year’s USMES team.
“Age hasn’t caught up to me yet and being part of the USMES team motivated me to push harder,” Johnson wrote.
Being a sponsored athlete with USMES means receiving stipends to compete in some events, having gear and apparel provided, and sponsors provide free or discounted products.
“Endurance races are not overly expensive, but when you are doing several a year—and throughout the country—it is helpful to have some support,” Johnson said. Additionally, Johnson appreciates the community of athletes of which he is a part.
“Endurance racing can be a lonely sport so it is nice to see a familiar face wearing the same colors as you,” Johnson said. “Being on the sponsored team is very motivating for me and it has really pushed me to train harder than ever.”
Johnson is currently being trained by a former national-level Ultra runner, Howard Nippert, and hopes the experience will result in top finishes at the Boston Marathon Shadow Run in Kabul, the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon, the Air Force Marathon in Ohio, and the Javelina Jundred (100-kilometer race) in Arizona. His goal in the marathons is to shave at least seven minutes of his previous personal best of 2:47.
Johnson is a husband and the father to three children, who he said are his inspiration, and who have been swept up in his passion. His wife has taken up racing, and his son is on his school’s cross country team, which Johnson and his wife coach.
Johnson, a commissioned Air Force cyber officer, was recently selected for promotion to the rank of major, and plans on remaining in the Air Force for at least the next five years until retirement is an option.
At the end of the career that gave him his passion, Johnson plans to turn his passion into a second career, coaching running “in some sort of capacity.”
More information about the USMES is available online at www.usmes.org. Any current or former member of the armed forces can join the USMES.
Spencer Johnson is chosen for second stint on elite military endurance sports team
December 2, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Spencer Johnson always liked sports, but as a self-described “overweight kid with really low self-confidence,” he didn’t participate in extracurricular athletics programs as a student at Box Elder High School.
“I did manage to play one year of football as an offensive lineman, but I rode the bench,” Johnson, 36, said. “Being overweight was a big obstacle for me growing up and I wasn’t confident enough in myself to go and try out for other teams.”
But a simple desire to serve the country in the United States Air Force transformed Johnson from an overweight kid with low self-confidence into an elite athlete who was recently selected as a member of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team for the second year in a row.
The USMES is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote sports as part of a healthy lifestyle to active members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This year, 70 candidates applied for the team, and Johnson is one of the 16 cyclists, triathletes and runners to be selected. The team will compete in major events across the country in a season.
As much as anything, Johnson views his membership on USMES as proof that nothing is out of reach.
“I do have to say that running has really been a life-changing ambition for me. It helped transform me...into a much better version of myself. I am living proof that anyone can transform themselves if they just commit,” Johnson wrote via email from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is currently stationed in support of the NATO mission “Resolute Support.” He is the chief of information and knowledge management, and his job includes ensuring critical information and historical data are preserved and shared with coalition partners in support of the train, advise, and assist mission in Afghanistan.
Following his graduation from Box Elder in 2000, Johnson, son of Eugene and Sharon Johnson of Brigham City, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he decided to pursue a career in the Air Force but knew he needed to be in better shape, so he started running and lifting weights.
“By the time I went to basic training I was in pretty good shape, and much to my surprise I was outrunning everyone,” Johnson wrote. “The more I ran, the faster I got and the more I loved it.”
At the end of basic training, in the final 1.5-mile run before graduation, Johnson outran all of the nearly 200 trainees in his group and posted the fastest time in his graduating class.
“The adrenaline rush I got from that experience spurred me on,” Johnson wrote. Running was no longer a necessity required by his chosen career path, but a passion. He started participating in road races when he arrived at his first duty station at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia in 2003, and the passion grew into an addiction. Over the next 14 years, he ran hundreds of races.
In 2017, Johnson decided to apply to be a sponsored athlete for USMES and was accepted to represent the team for the 2018 season. That year he competed in three major races: he finished third overall in the Myrtle Beach Marathon with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes (2:47), was ninth overall in the Umstead 100-mile race with a time of 17:59, and in the top 3 percent in the Grandmas Marathon. His results—the two marathons were the fastest he’d ever run—were good enough to earn him a spot on this year’s USMES team.
“Age hasn’t caught up to me yet and being part of the USMES team motivated me to push harder,” Johnson wrote.
Being a sponsored athlete with USMES means receiving stipends to compete in some events, having gear and apparel provided, and sponsors provide free or discounted products.
“Endurance races are not overly expensive, but when you are doing several a year—and throughout the country—it is helpful to have some support,” Johnson said. Additionally, Johnson appreciates the community of athletes of which he is a part.
“Endurance racing can be a lonely sport so it is nice to see a familiar face wearing the same colors as you,” Johnson said. “Being on the sponsored team is very motivating for me and it has really pushed me to train harder than ever.”
Johnson is currently being trained by a former national-level Ultra runner, Howard Nippert, and hopes the experience will result in top finishes at the Boston Marathon Shadow Run in Kabul, the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon, the Air Force Marathon in Ohio, and the Javelina Jundred (100-kilometer race) in Arizona. His goal in the marathons is to shave at least seven minutes of his previous personal best of 2:47.
Johnson is a husband and the father to three children, who he said are his inspiration, and who have been swept up in his passion. His wife has taken up racing, and his son is on his school’s cross country team, which Johnson and his wife coach.
Johnson, a commissioned Air Force cyber officer, was recently selected for promotion to the rank of major, and plans on remaining in the Air Force for at least the next five years until retirement is an option.
At the end of the career that gave him his passion, Johnson plans to turn his passion into a second career, coaching running “in some sort of capacity.”
More information about the USMES is available online at www.usmes.org. Any current or former member of the armed forces can join the USMES.
Dynamic Duo
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Seniors Emily Isaacson (left) and Morgan Reeder (right) led the Bees in numerous significant statistical categories last year, with Isaacson being first in most of them and Reeder following closely behind.
Returning seniors bring back majority of Bees’ offense, defense
November 28, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team is looking forward to getting their season underway this week, which kicked off last night at Judge Memorial High School.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said the team is excited to get some games under its belt and will be leaning on some experienced players, especially in the early going as the team finds its identity.
“We’ve got a lot of girls back that kind of know where we’re at,” Dooley said. “We’ve also got some girls that have some good, contagious attitudes and we really like that.”
This year, the Bees will lean heavily on a dynamic duo of seniors who contributed much to the Bees’ success last year. Emily Isaacson, last year’s leading scorer who just signed a letter of intent to play at Dixie State next year, and fellow senior Morgan Reeder, also a starting guard last year, led the team in all the major statistical categories.
Isaacson and Reeder return the majority of the Bees’ offense from last season, as the two produced more than half of the Bees’ 1,220 total points. Isaacson was far and away Box Elder’s most potent threat to score, recording a team-leading 422 points (17.58 average per game), both inside and outside the arc. Reeder was second in scoring behind Isaacson, with 240 points.
As a junior, Isaacson was arguably the Bees’ most important player, leading in several important statistical categories including 3-point scoring (48), rebounds (200, 8.33 per game), assists (55) and steals (55). Reeder was not far behind in many of those categories with 43 assists and 52 steals.
The Bees will miss the rebounds and assists produced by three of last years’ seniors, but Box Elder has a strong group of supporting cast and underclassmen, several of whom contributed on the varsity level last year and will be looking to make an even bigger impact this season in expanded roles. Three of those include center Annika Quayle, who gave reliable relief to starting center Andreanna McKee. Quayle scored 68 points and pulled down 70 rebounds last year.
Other key returners are junior guards Kate Johnson and Jenna Mortensen.
The Bees opened their season for the second straight year against the Bulldogs of Judge Memorial last night (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the team will head south for some warmer weather and three chances to play against teams they wouldn’t normally face as they’ll take on Salem Hills on Thursday, Desert Hills on Friday, and Hurricane on Saturday at the Desert Hills Holiday Classic in St. George.
To have success in the early going, coach Dooley said he is looking to rely on his team’s familiarity with their system and each other as a strength.
“Obviously every year and every team is a little bit different, but these girls are a little bit more familiar with their reactions and their ball reactions, so I think that’s going to be a strength for us,” Dooley said.
After their trip to St. George, the Bees will be back in action Friday, Dec. 7, in their home opener against Logan. The game against the Grizzlies is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
That is the beginning of a challenging preseason schedule that includes games against Fremont, Corner Canyon, and Copper Hills ahead of their first region game against Farmington on Jan. 11.
Of the preseason schedule, coach Dooley said, “We have a pretty tough preseason and we want to go through our preseason and get some good, quality games. We don’t want to build any type of false confidence by just playing teams we know we can beat. We want to play teams that are going to push us and challenge us and make us better. We think we have that in our preseason schedule and we’ll be looking to get better every game.”
In addition to those early tests, the Bees will take on Sky View and Mountain Crest from Cache Valley in the month of December and will travel to Garland to take on rival Bear River on Dec. 21.
Once region play starts, there will be a lot of new faces around the region as Roy, Viewmont, and Bountiful all had senior-laden teams last year and will have very different-looking rosters than they did a year ago.
With those changes, coupled with Farmington competing in its first year, the Bees figure to be in the mix for what may shape up to be another hotly contested region championship in 2019.
Returning seniors bring back majority of Bees’ offense, defense
November 28, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team is looking forward to getting their season underway this week, which kicked off last night at Judge Memorial High School.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said the team is excited to get some games under its belt and will be leaning on some experienced players, especially in the early going as the team finds its identity.
“We’ve got a lot of girls back that kind of know where we’re at,” Dooley said. “We’ve also got some girls that have some good, contagious attitudes and we really like that.”
This year, the Bees will lean heavily on a dynamic duo of seniors who contributed much to the Bees’ success last year. Emily Isaacson, last year’s leading scorer who just signed a letter of intent to play at Dixie State next year, and fellow senior Morgan Reeder, also a starting guard last year, led the team in all the major statistical categories.
Isaacson and Reeder return the majority of the Bees’ offense from last season, as the two produced more than half of the Bees’ 1,220 total points. Isaacson was far and away Box Elder’s most potent threat to score, recording a team-leading 422 points (17.58 average per game), both inside and outside the arc. Reeder was second in scoring behind Isaacson, with 240 points.
As a junior, Isaacson was arguably the Bees’ most important player, leading in several important statistical categories including 3-point scoring (48), rebounds (200, 8.33 per game), assists (55) and steals (55). Reeder was not far behind in many of those categories with 43 assists and 52 steals.
The Bees will miss the rebounds and assists produced by three of last years’ seniors, but Box Elder has a strong group of supporting cast and underclassmen, several of whom contributed on the varsity level last year and will be looking to make an even bigger impact this season in expanded roles. Three of those include center Annika Quayle, who gave reliable relief to starting center Andreanna McKee. Quayle scored 68 points and pulled down 70 rebounds last year.
Other key returners are junior guards Kate Johnson and Jenna Mortensen.
The Bees opened their season for the second straight year against the Bulldogs of Judge Memorial last night (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the team will head south for some warmer weather and three chances to play against teams they wouldn’t normally face as they’ll take on Salem Hills on Thursday, Desert Hills on Friday, and Hurricane on Saturday at the Desert Hills Holiday Classic in St. George.
To have success in the early going, coach Dooley said he is looking to rely on his team’s familiarity with their system and each other as a strength.
“Obviously every year and every team is a little bit different, but these girls are a little bit more familiar with their reactions and their ball reactions, so I think that’s going to be a strength for us,” Dooley said.
After their trip to St. George, the Bees will be back in action Friday, Dec. 7, in their home opener against Logan. The game against the Grizzlies is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
That is the beginning of a challenging preseason schedule that includes games against Fremont, Corner Canyon, and Copper Hills ahead of their first region game against Farmington on Jan. 11.
Of the preseason schedule, coach Dooley said, “We have a pretty tough preseason and we want to go through our preseason and get some good, quality games. We don’t want to build any type of false confidence by just playing teams we know we can beat. We want to play teams that are going to push us and challenge us and make us better. We think we have that in our preseason schedule and we’ll be looking to get better every game.”
In addition to those early tests, the Bees will take on Sky View and Mountain Crest from Cache Valley in the month of December and will travel to Garland to take on rival Bear River on Dec. 21.
Once region play starts, there will be a lot of new faces around the region as Roy, Viewmont, and Bountiful all had senior-laden teams last year and will have very different-looking rosters than they did a year ago.
With those changes, coupled with Farmington competing in its first year, the Bees figure to be in the mix for what may shape up to be another hotly contested region championship in 2019.
District considering sanctioning lacrosse at county high schools
November 21, 2018 • Nancy Browne • Staff Writer
Following an outpouring of positive support at the Box Elder School District Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, it’s beginning to look like lacrosse may soon be a sanctioned sport in the district.
If approved, the sport that has been played at the club level for more than 15 years in Box Elder County would begin at the high schools in the 2019-20 school year. The Board put it on the agenda to discuss it so a decision could be made before the Jan. 2, 2019, deadline set by the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees.
The UHSAA approved lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for both boys and girls on May 5, 2017, making it the 11th sport sanctioned by the organization.
Superintendent Steven Carlsen said, “I believe strongly in students being involved in extra curricular activities.” He cited a study that showed 46 to 60 percent of students don’t feel connected to their schools.
Carlsen said he supported sanctioning lacrosse, but had a few reservations, including heavy travel and bus usage from February to May, and additional fees for families that may not be able to afford them. While fees can be waived in some cases, the school board can’t cover costs associated with extracurricular athletics.
He also mentioned the cost of paying coaches, and that Box Elder High School has a field where the team can play but Bear River does not. Also, preparing fields takes full-time employees which needs to be considered.
Bear River High School athletic director Van Park said he was not enthusiastic about sanctioning lacrosse because of costs and finding field space, but “came on board” when he saw the enthusiasm among students and that local lacrosse clubs were willing to donate equipment to the schools.
“We will donate everything we have to the school,” including goals, balls, helmets, goalie gear, and uniforms, said Trisha Gaythan, president of Box Elder Lacrosse Boys’ Club. She echoed similar pledges from other club coaches in attendance.
She said the number of elementary and middle school players is also growing, which will ensure increased skill sets when they join the high school teams.
Alan Shakespear, a girl’s junior varsity coach, said, “I know it’s sacred ground but it [lacrosse] can also be played on a football field for both boys and girls.”
Shakespear also addressed a concern that adding another sport will dilute the pool of available talent for other sports. “Out of our 32 girls from last year, only three also did another sport. So, it does really provide a great outlet,” he said.
Juan Gaythan, Box Elder head coach, emphasized that all students are welcome to play. “We don’t cut players. They’re drawn to lacrosse because we take them all,” another good reason for sanctioning the sport, he argued.
Several students, parents, and club coaches stood and explained how lacrosse also engenders a special kind of sportsmanship not always found in other sports.
Steven Shipp, who used to play lacrosse as a student and now helps coach, said “I tried out for football but it didn’t work out for me. Then a friend invited me to try lacrosse and it was a totally different environment. I started to realize, ‘Hey, this is a great thing.’
“It helped me to grow, so I just really hope you’ll give these kids an opportunity to show what they can do,” he said, adding that colleges are even going to the games to see who might be scholarship material.
Kaylee Munns, a Bear River High School student and student member of the school board who plays lacrosse, said, “In lacrosse, there is so much respect for each other. This is a good opportunity to get kids who are not involved in a lot to come out.”
Jim Peterson said as other districts and schools sanction lacrosse, it will be come more difficult to have a club program since clubs can’t play against teams from schools that have sanctioned the sport.
“Alpine School District petitioned the state to have their club teams play the high schools if they (Alpine) weren’t sanctioned and it was turned down,” he said. “So, if we want to play other high schools, we need to sanction it.” It was suggested by many that Davis and Weber schools will most likely have sanctioned teams.
Another consideration came from Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham, who explained that all coaching positions would be open to the public and not necessarily go to current club coaches. He also noted that students would need to meet certain eligibility requirements such as having a 2.0 grade point average.
One head coach and two assistant coaches for both boys’ and girls’ programs at both high schools would cost about $34,000, according to information provided by the school district.
Each boy player must purchase their own stick, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads while each girl must purchase a stick and goggles. Only goalies on girls’ teams use a helmet.
“This is a really affordable sport,” interjected Board Member Nancy Kennedy. “Sticks are not that expensive and it’s easy to get into without having to mortgage everything you have.
“It’s the most fun sport you will ever watch,” she added. “It’s not just all about brute strength. It’s a great sport.”
Following an outpouring of positive support at the Box Elder School District Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, it’s beginning to look like lacrosse may soon be a sanctioned sport in the district.
If approved, the sport that has been played at the club level for more than 15 years in Box Elder County would begin at the high schools in the 2019-20 school year. The Board put it on the agenda to discuss it so a decision could be made before the Jan. 2, 2019, deadline set by the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees.
The UHSAA approved lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for both boys and girls on May 5, 2017, making it the 11th sport sanctioned by the organization.
Superintendent Steven Carlsen said, “I believe strongly in students being involved in extra curricular activities.” He cited a study that showed 46 to 60 percent of students don’t feel connected to their schools.
Carlsen said he supported sanctioning lacrosse, but had a few reservations, including heavy travel and bus usage from February to May, and additional fees for families that may not be able to afford them. While fees can be waived in some cases, the school board can’t cover costs associated with extracurricular athletics.
He also mentioned the cost of paying coaches, and that Box Elder High School has a field where the team can play but Bear River does not. Also, preparing fields takes full-time employees which needs to be considered.
Bear River High School athletic director Van Park said he was not enthusiastic about sanctioning lacrosse because of costs and finding field space, but “came on board” when he saw the enthusiasm among students and that local lacrosse clubs were willing to donate equipment to the schools.
“We will donate everything we have to the school,” including goals, balls, helmets, goalie gear, and uniforms, said Trisha Gaythan, president of Box Elder Lacrosse Boys’ Club. She echoed similar pledges from other club coaches in attendance.
She said the number of elementary and middle school players is also growing, which will ensure increased skill sets when they join the high school teams.
Alan Shakespear, a girl’s junior varsity coach, said, “I know it’s sacred ground but it [lacrosse] can also be played on a football field for both boys and girls.”
Shakespear also addressed a concern that adding another sport will dilute the pool of available talent for other sports. “Out of our 32 girls from last year, only three also did another sport. So, it does really provide a great outlet,” he said.
Juan Gaythan, Box Elder head coach, emphasized that all students are welcome to play. “We don’t cut players. They’re drawn to lacrosse because we take them all,” another good reason for sanctioning the sport, he argued.
Several students, parents, and club coaches stood and explained how lacrosse also engenders a special kind of sportsmanship not always found in other sports.
Steven Shipp, who used to play lacrosse as a student and now helps coach, said “I tried out for football but it didn’t work out for me. Then a friend invited me to try lacrosse and it was a totally different environment. I started to realize, ‘Hey, this is a great thing.’
“It helped me to grow, so I just really hope you’ll give these kids an opportunity to show what they can do,” he said, adding that colleges are even going to the games to see who might be scholarship material.
Kaylee Munns, a Bear River High School student and student member of the school board who plays lacrosse, said, “In lacrosse, there is so much respect for each other. This is a good opportunity to get kids who are not involved in a lot to come out.”
Jim Peterson said as other districts and schools sanction lacrosse, it will be come more difficult to have a club program since clubs can’t play against teams from schools that have sanctioned the sport.
“Alpine School District petitioned the state to have their club teams play the high schools if they (Alpine) weren’t sanctioned and it was turned down,” he said. “So, if we want to play other high schools, we need to sanction it.” It was suggested by many that Davis and Weber schools will most likely have sanctioned teams.
Another consideration came from Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham, who explained that all coaching positions would be open to the public and not necessarily go to current club coaches. He also noted that students would need to meet certain eligibility requirements such as having a 2.0 grade point average.
One head coach and two assistant coaches for both boys’ and girls’ programs at both high schools would cost about $34,000, according to information provided by the school district.
Each boy player must purchase their own stick, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads while each girl must purchase a stick and goggles. Only goalies on girls’ teams use a helmet.
“This is a really affordable sport,” interjected Board Member Nancy Kennedy. “Sticks are not that expensive and it’s easy to get into without having to mortgage everything you have.
“It’s the most fun sport you will ever watch,” she added. “It’s not just all about brute strength. It’s a great sport.”
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Eagle Mountain Golf Course Superintendent Spencer Mendenhall was named the UGA’s Superintendent of the Year for public courses
Dedicated greenskeeper earns Superintendent of the Year nod November 21, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor In the recent release of the Utah Golf Association’s annual awards, Brigham City’s Eagle Mountain Golf Course got a nod when the course’s greenskeeper was named Superintendent of the Year for public courses. According to Eagle Mountain’s Director of Golf Chris Marx, Superintendent Spencer Mendenhall is dedicated to creating superior playing conditions on the course, and has an eye for detail that results in changes most people won’t notice, but contributes to the overall experience of patrons. Most notable among the changes over Spencer’s three-year tenure at Eagle Mountain are improved greens and sculpted fairways that improve playability and beauty. The golf course’s greens have been argued as being among the best in the state—if not the best—by locals and visitors. “On a daily basis we have people come into the pro shop and compliment us on the course conditions,” Marx wrote in a letter nominating Mendhenhall. “My favorite compliments are from two different customers from prominent country clubs in the state. They said, ‘This is wrong that I belong to a country club and we can’t have as good as greens as you guys here at Eagle Mountain.’ Spencer has made a marked difference in the daily quality of the greens and the golf course as a whole. The professionals that have played in the Brigham City Open over the years have noticed this also.” Mendenhall’s dedication to creating a “great course” come from his own passion for the game, and—besides the quality of the greens—the changes he has made are due to a keen eye for detail, including sculpting fairways to improve playability and allowing native grasses in areas of rough to grow out. Box Elder midfielder known for consistency and reliability signs with SU Red Hawks
Mylan Daniels (seated) looks on as her father, Shawn, signs her letter of intent to play soccer at Seattle University. Also pictured is Pamela Daniels.
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As he sits in the coaches office lined with trophies won under former coach Mike Ripplinger, new Box Elder High School wrestling coach Jed Craner said he is aware of the ‘shadow’ cast by Ripplinger’s legacy, and that he is excited for the challenge of continuing it.
The shadow of expectation It’s difficult—at best—to not be constantly reminded of the legacy and tradition of Box Elder High School’s wrestling program. “Those trophies,” said first-year Box Elder coach Jed Craner, indicating the several large Spartan-style helmets atop a cabinet—reminders of the many Layton Invitational titles won under retired head coach Mike Ripplinger—“they cast somewhat of a shadow.” And that’s just inside the coach’s office. The wall of the school’s wrestling room is adorned with names; a litany of the legacy left behind by Ripplinger’s 34-year career. “It’s intimidating,” said Craner about being asked to fill the very large shoes Ripplinger left behind. And even though he knew the expectations he would face, he said he never had a second thought about taking over Ripplinger’s program. “It was instantly yes,” Craner said. “I love a challenge...[I’m] ready to take the challenge on.” Prior to taking the head coaching position at Box Elder, the 27-year-old Craner had spent two years as head coach at Bonneville High School, and was an assistant at Viewmont for five years before that. Along with his experience as a coach, Craner brings his own legacy of success. As a wrestler at Fremont High School from 2008-2010, Craner claimed the 160-pound 5A state title as a junior, and finished with a record of 48-2. That same year, he claimed third at the Reno World Championships. As a senior, he compiled an undefeated record of 52-0 and earned his second state title at 170 pounds. He was named outstanding wrestler for the upper weights that year. He placed second at both the Utah State Freestyle Tournament and the Reno World Championships. Craner said that he perceived a decline in the Box Elder wrestling program over the last several years as the Bees saw fewer and fewer wrestlers make it to the state championship mat. Given that perception, he thought Ripplinger had left the “cupboard bare” following the graduation of three-year state champion Garrett Ricks and Ripplinger’s second four-time state champ, Brock Hardy. Jed discovered that his perception was not reality (see related story on this page), but even if it had been, he had a good track record of building a team at Bonneville, where in just two years he went from just six returners to a team of more than 40 wrestlers. He also established a strong little league program. |
Balanced team will lean heavily on inside experience
Parker Buchanan
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Tyson Madson
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November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team is in its final week of practice before kicking off their 2018-2019 campaign next week at the UVU Tip-off Classic at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The Bees are returning from their best season in the last several years after finishing with a 14-8 overall record, including a 7-1 region mark and an outright region championship.
The biggest hole to fill this season will be in the backcourt, as the Bees lost a very experienced guardline in Cameron Saunders and Max Watson.
With those losses, the varsity-level experience on the team shifts from the backcourt to the frontcourt as the Bees will return sophomore post player Parker Buchanan and senior big man Tyson Madsen, both of whom will be leaned on heavily to make up for some of the offensive output that Watson gave the team for the last four years.
“We should be a lot more balanced this year and I think that will be a good thing. Teams won’t be able to just key in on one player when they play us, and that should make it tougher for them to prepare,” said Bees’ head coach Jace McKee.
The team will be changing its strategy on both ends of the court from last season to best utilize their experience inside.
“We’ll be more post-oriented this season, I think, since we have some experienced guys down there,” McKee said. “Our bigs will be tough to handle down on the blocks, but we also have some guards that are more than capable of scoring the ball as well. It should be a fun year for us.”
In their first game, the Bees will square off against Timpview next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Following the tournament, the Bees will be on the road at Weber before the home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 11, against Green Canyon.
The rivalry game against Bear River will be held in Tremonton this year on Friday, Dec. 21, and the team will get a few games in over the Christmas break when they head to the Utah Autism Holliday Classic hosted by Olympus High School.
Region play will start Friday, Jan. 11 with a home game against Farmington, and the Bees will end on a three-game road stretch with the last region game at Viewmont on Feb. 20. The last home game will be on Friday, Feb. 8, when Box Elder hosts Roy.
Bountiful looks to be the early favorite in Region 5, and they’ll be led by four-year starting guard, Brig Willard.
After the Braves, things look pretty tight among the rest of the teams in the region and playoff positioning will most likely be on the line each week all the way through February.
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team is in its final week of practice before kicking off their 2018-2019 campaign next week at the UVU Tip-off Classic at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The Bees are returning from their best season in the last several years after finishing with a 14-8 overall record, including a 7-1 region mark and an outright region championship.
The biggest hole to fill this season will be in the backcourt, as the Bees lost a very experienced guardline in Cameron Saunders and Max Watson.
With those losses, the varsity-level experience on the team shifts from the backcourt to the frontcourt as the Bees will return sophomore post player Parker Buchanan and senior big man Tyson Madsen, both of whom will be leaned on heavily to make up for some of the offensive output that Watson gave the team for the last four years.
“We should be a lot more balanced this year and I think that will be a good thing. Teams won’t be able to just key in on one player when they play us, and that should make it tougher for them to prepare,” said Bees’ head coach Jace McKee.
The team will be changing its strategy on both ends of the court from last season to best utilize their experience inside.
“We’ll be more post-oriented this season, I think, since we have some experienced guys down there,” McKee said. “Our bigs will be tough to handle down on the blocks, but we also have some guards that are more than capable of scoring the ball as well. It should be a fun year for us.”
In their first game, the Bees will square off against Timpview next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Following the tournament, the Bees will be on the road at Weber before the home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 11, against Green Canyon.
The rivalry game against Bear River will be held in Tremonton this year on Friday, Dec. 21, and the team will get a few games in over the Christmas break when they head to the Utah Autism Holliday Classic hosted by Olympus High School.
Region play will start Friday, Jan. 11 with a home game against Farmington, and the Bees will end on a three-game road stretch with the last region game at Viewmont on Feb. 20. The last home game will be on Friday, Feb. 8, when Box Elder hosts Roy.
Bountiful looks to be the early favorite in Region 5, and they’ll be led by four-year starting guard, Brig Willard.
After the Braves, things look pretty tight among the rest of the teams in the region and playoff positioning will most likely be on the line each week all the way through February.
Bees rose to the challenge as defending state champions
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Defending a state championship is never without its challenges, but the Box Elder High School volleyball team embraced the added pressure and additional expectations this season as the team rose to every hurdle it faced en route to an outright region championship followed by a third-place finish at the state tournament.
This year’s team was as deep and experienced as any in recent memory, and was led by five graduating seniors, four of whom played a major role in last season’s state championship. The fifth, Sarah Reeder, suffered an injury midway through the season last year and was relegated to cheering her team on to the championship.
When asked how the team dealt with the inevitable expectations this year, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “We definitely talked about it. It wasn’t the elephant in the room, but we said that there was no success this season that could ride off the success from last season. It’s a whole new season and a whole new year. It doesn’t matter what happened last year, we just want to be the best we can be this year.”
The Bees came out with their best to start the season and opened with six straight wins before dropping their first match against Skyview from Nampa, Idaho.
The team didn’t lose again until the semifinals of the state tournament against eventual champion Skyridge, and rattled off 15 consecutive wins, including a perfect 10-0 record in Region 5 to earn their first region championship since 2011.
On the court, whenever the team needed a big play, they knew they could turn to outside hitter Emily Isaacson, and she delivered monstrous kills at crucial times again and again.
Isaacson lead the team with 186 kills on the year and fellow senior Jaida Burt finished with 146.
Isaacson also lead the team from the service line with 23 aces on the year, again followed by Burt who had 19, and Annie Mecham served up 18.
On the defensive side of the net, Burt led with 41 blocks on the season followed by Reeder, who sent back 38 shots.
On the backline, the team was lead by libero Morgan Reeder, who came up with 210 digs and kept many rallies alive to keep the momentum in the Bees’ favor.
Those seniors meant everything to the program, according to Harding.
“Oh man. Talk about heart, passion, dedication and the leadership that you hope everybody develops in a program,” Harding said. “They have been great examples to the underclassmen and I felt they really embraced what it meant to be part of a team.”
Sarah Reeder echoed her coach’s comments when asked about her favorite memory of being a member of the Box Elder volleyball team. “For me, this year was my favorite because, as a senior, you get little sisters, who are younger girls on the team,” Reeder said. “So you get a bunch of gifts for them and get really close to them during the year. Honestly, for me, that was worth more to me than the championship last year.”
All the outgoing seniors agreed that the biggest lessons they learned included the power of hard work and how to be mentally tough, even under pressure. Mecham summed up her experience playing when she said, “I think the biggest takeaway for me is that when you put your mind to something and work hard for it, good things can happen.”
Despite losing five seniors, coach Harding said she is very optimistic about the future of the program.
“It’s kind of the same role as we had last year,” Harding said. “We had girls that could have easily come off the bench and played at the varsity level, but the opportunities didn’t happen as much. I felt the exact same way this year where I had girls that I could have pulled off the bench and get varsity minutes. So I feel that the skills are there. Maybe not the varsity time, but the skills are there and we should be competitive next year again.
“I feel that one of the strengths of our program over the last three or four years is mental toughness. So I’m hoping that we don’t miss a beat and can just come in and keep pushing.”
Courtesy Marsha Sparks
The Box Elder Composite Mountain Bike Team has grown from four members it’s first year in 2015, to 32 members this year: (front) Reed Johnson, Camden Beard, Stryker Melehes, Jensen Braegger, Bradlee Hall, Oakly Dalebout, Katelyn Webecke, Rachel Sparks, Madeline Keller, Allie Dalebout, (middle) Carter Rose, Logan Braegger, William Leishman, Deagan PoVey, Abram Dow, Jack Deem, Sam Leishman, Jon Keller, Logan Packer, coach Molly Morris, Anders Powell, coach Derek Morris, (back) Jason Sparks, Josh Braegger, Levi Melehes, Colby Collom, Kaleb Astle, Hunter Munns, coach Jason Munns, Tanner Munns, Dixon Ekins, Levi Law, coach Lane Taylor, Blake Thompson, Andrew Burton, Bobby Collom, coach Kenny Funk, and Jake Paul. Not pictured: Caden Rose, Heath Warner, Josh Adams and Truman Johnson.
From 4 to 32: BE mountain bike team sees big growth in three years
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Although not yet an officially sponsored high school sport, mountain biking has gained a lot of traction in Utah over the last few years and Box Elder County is getting in on the action as the Box Elder Composite team, consisting of riders from both Box Elder and Bear River high schools, competed this year in the North region before competing in the statewide championship race held in St. George.
The regular season consisted of four races against other schools in the region, which determined the seedings for the finals at the state meet.
This season, the team had one standout rider in sophomore Hunter Munns, son of head coach Jason Munns, who finished second in region and at the state tournament.
Overall, the Box Elder team finished in fifth place out of 26 teams in the North region, and 16th out of 82 teams at the state meet.
Coach Munns said the organization of the team in 2015 served a purpose for him, as well as being a way to give back to the community.
“I used to race bikes when I was younger and in high school, just on the road because mountain biking wasn’t really big back then,” Munns said. “Then, as I got older, I got out of shape and wanted to turn that around. So I got back on my bike and found that love of cycling again. I lost almost 100 pounds and, as a small business owner, it’s always been important for me to give back to the community. So I found some people involved with mountain bike racing and we just started from there.”
That first year, there were just four racers on the team. Now, the team has 34 members ranging from 7th to 12th grades.
A few of the things that drew coach Munns to the mountain biking scene were the five core principles of the Utah High School Cycling League: Strong body, strong mind, strong character, inclusivity, and equality.
“I strongly believe in all those myself and it’s been great to be affiliated with an organization like this,” Munns said.
Coach Munns went on to say, “One of the really cool things about mountain biking in high school is we include everyone. The state of Utah is even involved in a program called Elevate that gives kids with disabilities or special needs the chance to come out and ride with us. We’ve never turned anyone away and it’s just a great thing for the whole family.”
With mountain biking still classified as a club sport in Utah, coach Munns and all of his assistants volunteer all their time to the team, including three assistant coaches and six ride leaders: parents who volunteer to go on rides with the kids during practice.
The mountain biking season officially runs from the middle of June through the end of October, though the team will sponsor individual events through the winter and spring months as well.
For more information on the club, you can check out the team’s Facebook page or contact coach Munns directly via email at jthmunns@gmail.com, or call (801) 458-0106.
The Box Elder Composite Mountain Bike Team has grown from four members it’s first year in 2015, to 32 members this year: (front) Reed Johnson, Camden Beard, Stryker Melehes, Jensen Braegger, Bradlee Hall, Oakly Dalebout, Katelyn Webecke, Rachel Sparks, Madeline Keller, Allie Dalebout, (middle) Carter Rose, Logan Braegger, William Leishman, Deagan PoVey, Abram Dow, Jack Deem, Sam Leishman, Jon Keller, Logan Packer, coach Molly Morris, Anders Powell, coach Derek Morris, (back) Jason Sparks, Josh Braegger, Levi Melehes, Colby Collom, Kaleb Astle, Hunter Munns, coach Jason Munns, Tanner Munns, Dixon Ekins, Levi Law, coach Lane Taylor, Blake Thompson, Andrew Burton, Bobby Collom, coach Kenny Funk, and Jake Paul. Not pictured: Caden Rose, Heath Warner, Josh Adams and Truman Johnson.
From 4 to 32: BE mountain bike team sees big growth in three years
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Although not yet an officially sponsored high school sport, mountain biking has gained a lot of traction in Utah over the last few years and Box Elder County is getting in on the action as the Box Elder Composite team, consisting of riders from both Box Elder and Bear River high schools, competed this year in the North region before competing in the statewide championship race held in St. George.
The regular season consisted of four races against other schools in the region, which determined the seedings for the finals at the state meet.
This season, the team had one standout rider in sophomore Hunter Munns, son of head coach Jason Munns, who finished second in region and at the state tournament.
Overall, the Box Elder team finished in fifth place out of 26 teams in the North region, and 16th out of 82 teams at the state meet.
Coach Munns said the organization of the team in 2015 served a purpose for him, as well as being a way to give back to the community.
“I used to race bikes when I was younger and in high school, just on the road because mountain biking wasn’t really big back then,” Munns said. “Then, as I got older, I got out of shape and wanted to turn that around. So I got back on my bike and found that love of cycling again. I lost almost 100 pounds and, as a small business owner, it’s always been important for me to give back to the community. So I found some people involved with mountain bike racing and we just started from there.”
That first year, there were just four racers on the team. Now, the team has 34 members ranging from 7th to 12th grades.
A few of the things that drew coach Munns to the mountain biking scene were the five core principles of the Utah High School Cycling League: Strong body, strong mind, strong character, inclusivity, and equality.
“I strongly believe in all those myself and it’s been great to be affiliated with an organization like this,” Munns said.
Coach Munns went on to say, “One of the really cool things about mountain biking in high school is we include everyone. The state of Utah is even involved in a program called Elevate that gives kids with disabilities or special needs the chance to come out and ride with us. We’ve never turned anyone away and it’s just a great thing for the whole family.”
With mountain biking still classified as a club sport in Utah, coach Munns and all of his assistants volunteer all their time to the team, including three assistant coaches and six ride leaders: parents who volunteer to go on rides with the kids during practice.
The mountain biking season officially runs from the middle of June through the end of October, though the team will sponsor individual events through the winter and spring months as well.
For more information on the club, you can check out the team’s Facebook page or contact coach Munns directly via email at jthmunns@gmail.com, or call (801) 458-0106.
Bees can’t find rhythm in semifinals, finish third at 5A state tournament
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team made it to championship Saturday last week at the 5A state volleyball tournament before bowing out to eventual champion Skyridge in the semifinals.
It was the first meeting between the two of the year, and many believed that the winner would have the inside track to hoisting the state championship trophy.
The match started out tight and neither team was able to gain much of an advantage, but the Bees were able to make a few key plays late and came away with the first set 25-23.
From there, the Falcons proved to be the aggressors and kept the Bees chasing and playing catch-up for the rest of the match.
“We just couldn’t find our rhythm,” said head coach Kristine Harding. “[The Falcons] played in system for most of the match and controlled the tempo. They forced us into giving them some free balls and just kept us chasing the whole match. So a lot of credit goes to them, they are a really tough team.”
In spite of their best efforts, the Bees couldn’t grab the momentum and the Falcons took the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.
The Falcons went on to defeat Springville, who upset Corner Canyon in the semifinals, to earn a spot in the championship for their first-ever state volleyball title.
The Bees got to play the Chargers in the consolation match and ended up winning an emotion-charged match in five sets 25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10 to finish in third place.
After all was said and done, coach Harding said, “I’m really proud of our girls. Their hearts were in it and they did as much as they could do. They worked through a lot of emotions along the way and, in the end, we had a great season.”
As the top seed from Region 5, the Bees drew the fourth seed from Region 8, Wasatch, in the opening round of the tournament, and won in straight sets, 25-12, 25-17, 25-15.
“[The Wasps] were a tough four-seed. They were ranked pretty high early in the year. Then things happened and they lost some key matches, but they were still a really hard team to start with,” Harding said.
That win moved the Bees into the quarterfinal match on Thursday evening where they faced Skyline, who knocked off Timpview in four sets in the first round.
The Eagles came into the match looking to avenge a loss to the Bees on Aug. 30 in Brigham City in a preseason match for both teams.
Despite the added motivation of the state tournament, the result was the same as the Bees took the match in three straight sets, winning 25-22, 25-20, 25-16.
After another straight-set victory, coach Harding said, “[The Eagles] were another tough team. The big advantage we had against them was we had played them before. We struggled blocking some of their sets in the first match, so we had a chance to clean some of that up and that helped out a lot.”
The Bees were led as they have been all season long by outside hitter Emily Isaacson, who finished with 15 kills, and middle blocker Jaida Burt, who added 10 kills.
After the tournament, coach Harding said that Isaacson brought a special kind of energy and enthusiasm that picked the whole team up at crucial moments throughout the tournament. She said, “Emily made some big plays for us at big times that just pumped everyone up and pulled us through some tough spots.”
Isaacson and Burt also each added two aces to keep the Eagles on their heels all night long.
On the back line, Morgan Reeder led the way digging up 22 balls and Annie Mecham served up 33 assists to lead the team.
That win advanced the Bees into the semifinals where they faced the Falcons, who had been ranked number two in the 5A classification, right behind the Bees, all season.
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team made it to championship Saturday last week at the 5A state volleyball tournament before bowing out to eventual champion Skyridge in the semifinals.
It was the first meeting between the two of the year, and many believed that the winner would have the inside track to hoisting the state championship trophy.
The match started out tight and neither team was able to gain much of an advantage, but the Bees were able to make a few key plays late and came away with the first set 25-23.
From there, the Falcons proved to be the aggressors and kept the Bees chasing and playing catch-up for the rest of the match.
“We just couldn’t find our rhythm,” said head coach Kristine Harding. “[The Falcons] played in system for most of the match and controlled the tempo. They forced us into giving them some free balls and just kept us chasing the whole match. So a lot of credit goes to them, they are a really tough team.”
In spite of their best efforts, the Bees couldn’t grab the momentum and the Falcons took the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.
The Falcons went on to defeat Springville, who upset Corner Canyon in the semifinals, to earn a spot in the championship for their first-ever state volleyball title.
The Bees got to play the Chargers in the consolation match and ended up winning an emotion-charged match in five sets 25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10 to finish in third place.
After all was said and done, coach Harding said, “I’m really proud of our girls. Their hearts were in it and they did as much as they could do. They worked through a lot of emotions along the way and, in the end, we had a great season.”
As the top seed from Region 5, the Bees drew the fourth seed from Region 8, Wasatch, in the opening round of the tournament, and won in straight sets, 25-12, 25-17, 25-15.
“[The Wasps] were a tough four-seed. They were ranked pretty high early in the year. Then things happened and they lost some key matches, but they were still a really hard team to start with,” Harding said.
That win moved the Bees into the quarterfinal match on Thursday evening where they faced Skyline, who knocked off Timpview in four sets in the first round.
The Eagles came into the match looking to avenge a loss to the Bees on Aug. 30 in Brigham City in a preseason match for both teams.
Despite the added motivation of the state tournament, the result was the same as the Bees took the match in three straight sets, winning 25-22, 25-20, 25-16.
After another straight-set victory, coach Harding said, “[The Eagles] were another tough team. The big advantage we had against them was we had played them before. We struggled blocking some of their sets in the first match, so we had a chance to clean some of that up and that helped out a lot.”
The Bees were led as they have been all season long by outside hitter Emily Isaacson, who finished with 15 kills, and middle blocker Jaida Burt, who added 10 kills.
After the tournament, coach Harding said that Isaacson brought a special kind of energy and enthusiasm that picked the whole team up at crucial moments throughout the tournament. She said, “Emily made some big plays for us at big times that just pumped everyone up and pulled us through some tough spots.”
Isaacson and Burt also each added two aces to keep the Eagles on their heels all night long.
On the back line, Morgan Reeder led the way digging up 22 balls and Annie Mecham served up 33 assists to lead the team.
That win advanced the Bees into the semifinals where they faced the Falcons, who had been ranked number two in the 5A classification, right behind the Bees, all season.
Players and coaches celebrate Box Elder High School’s overtime victory against Viewmont in September.
Thrilling finishes marked 2018 season
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a year full of overtime games and last-second heroics, 2018 will surely be remembered as a season of highs and lows for the Box Elder High School football team.
The team kept fans—and coaching staff—on the edge of their seats as they finished an impressive 4-0 in games decided in the final minute, including pulling off three overtime wins on their way to a share of their first region championship since 2004.
When asked about the season, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I feel like this was a group of kids that competed hard and stayed together. They had every bit of confidence right until the game was over that they could win, and they just did a great job all year.”
This season also served as a turnaround from last year’s campaign, which saw the Bees finish 4-6 overall, including 0-4 in region play.
“I feel like, coming in, the kids worked really hard in the summer,” Gunter said. “Plus, a lot of these kids played last year, and I think because of the year we had last year, these kids pushed a little harder. They also did a great job with leadership. All the kids that came back from last year came back with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder like they wanted to be better.”
Coach Gunter also attributed that chip to a lot of the late-game success the team had this season. “That chip gives you that little extra at the end of a game, and they did a great job with that this year. There was a point when we were 6-1 and we were about eight plays away from being more like 2-5. Every game is a game of inches, and we got the inches we needed, for the most part.”
The Bees started off the season notching wins over Layton and rival Bear River to reclaim the coveted Golden Spike trophy before getting tripped up by Mountain Crest in a game held at E.L. Romney stadium on the campus of Utah State University.
The Bees then started a run of exciting games with a dramatic, last-second win over Green Canyon in their final preseason game, followed by two straight overtime victories against Bountiful and Viewmont to start region play.
Several players cited the win over the Vikings during the homecoming game as their highlight of the season and favorite memory they’ll take with them going forward.
Three-year starter Ethyn Butler said, “From this year, it was definitely the triple overtime win for homecoming. That was a pretty fun game, so, for me, it would most definitely be that.”
Fellow senior Mike Davis echoed Butler’s feelings about his favorite memory when he said, “Beating Viewmont for homecoming in triple overtime was sick, so that was definitely my favorite.”
The Bees then got a win over first-year school, Farmington, before losing to Roy on the road for their lone region loss on the year.
The team then secured a share of the region championship with their third overtime win, this one coming over Woods Cross.
With so many come-from-behind and last-second victories under their belt this season, everyone on the team was shocked when they had a chance to win their first playoff game, but were unable to finish the job as the Bees were bounced in the first round, 17-13, by Springville.
Looking ahead to next season, the Bees have a lot of reason for excitement with several key players returning, including sophomore quarterback Parker Buchanan.
Of the underclassmen, coach Gunter said, “The example of hardwork and leadership that these seniors set is what we need the younger guys to take into next year. We need them to set the example of being good students, be great in their other sports, and then come summertime, we need them to be the leaders of the work. We have a great group coming back that is capable of some great things, but it’s the effort that they’ll have to put in that will make all the difference.”
Thrilling finishes marked 2018 season
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a year full of overtime games and last-second heroics, 2018 will surely be remembered as a season of highs and lows for the Box Elder High School football team.
The team kept fans—and coaching staff—on the edge of their seats as they finished an impressive 4-0 in games decided in the final minute, including pulling off three overtime wins on their way to a share of their first region championship since 2004.
When asked about the season, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I feel like this was a group of kids that competed hard and stayed together. They had every bit of confidence right until the game was over that they could win, and they just did a great job all year.”
This season also served as a turnaround from last year’s campaign, which saw the Bees finish 4-6 overall, including 0-4 in region play.
“I feel like, coming in, the kids worked really hard in the summer,” Gunter said. “Plus, a lot of these kids played last year, and I think because of the year we had last year, these kids pushed a little harder. They also did a great job with leadership. All the kids that came back from last year came back with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder like they wanted to be better.”
Coach Gunter also attributed that chip to a lot of the late-game success the team had this season. “That chip gives you that little extra at the end of a game, and they did a great job with that this year. There was a point when we were 6-1 and we were about eight plays away from being more like 2-5. Every game is a game of inches, and we got the inches we needed, for the most part.”
The Bees started off the season notching wins over Layton and rival Bear River to reclaim the coveted Golden Spike trophy before getting tripped up by Mountain Crest in a game held at E.L. Romney stadium on the campus of Utah State University.
The Bees then started a run of exciting games with a dramatic, last-second win over Green Canyon in their final preseason game, followed by two straight overtime victories against Bountiful and Viewmont to start region play.
Several players cited the win over the Vikings during the homecoming game as their highlight of the season and favorite memory they’ll take with them going forward.
Three-year starter Ethyn Butler said, “From this year, it was definitely the triple overtime win for homecoming. That was a pretty fun game, so, for me, it would most definitely be that.”
Fellow senior Mike Davis echoed Butler’s feelings about his favorite memory when he said, “Beating Viewmont for homecoming in triple overtime was sick, so that was definitely my favorite.”
The Bees then got a win over first-year school, Farmington, before losing to Roy on the road for their lone region loss on the year.
The team then secured a share of the region championship with their third overtime win, this one coming over Woods Cross.
With so many come-from-behind and last-second victories under their belt this season, everyone on the team was shocked when they had a chance to win their first playoff game, but were unable to finish the job as the Bees were bounced in the first round, 17-13, by Springville.
Looking ahead to next season, the Bees have a lot of reason for excitement with several key players returning, including sophomore quarterback Parker Buchanan.
Of the underclassmen, coach Gunter said, “The example of hardwork and leadership that these seniors set is what we need the younger guys to take into next year. We need them to set the example of being good students, be great in their other sports, and then come summertime, we need them to be the leaders of the work. We have a great group coming back that is capable of some great things, but it’s the effort that they’ll have to put in that will make all the difference.”
Girls claim elusive title
Bees post perfect region record, set to defend state title this week
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team capped a perfect run through region play last Thursday with yet another straight-set win, this time over Roy.
The match against the Royals served mostly as a victory lap for the Bees as they had wrapped up the region title with their win over Bountiful last week, however, the team wanted to leave their mark and legacy by running the table in region.
With emotions running high during their final home game of the year, the Bees seemed to make more errors than they were accustomed to and let the visitors hang around in the match.
But, each time the Royals tried to make a run, the Bees had an answer as they cruised to a 25-15, 25-13, 25-14 win.
Statistically, the Bees showed a lot more firepower than the Royals. Box Elder racked up 40 kills on the night as a team while limiting the visitors to just 17.
Senior middle blocker Jaida Burt led the offensive charge with 13 kills in the match.
Burt and fellow senior Emily Isaacson also led the Bees defensively with 13 and 14 digs respectively.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said it has taken a lot of focus and dedication over a long time to get the team to this point.
“It’s always a huge accomplishment to win region,” Harding said. “It hasn’t happened for us since 2011, and even then, it was co-champions. So to outright win it, it takes a lot of mental strength and consistent play throughout the season to come out 10-0. It’s a huge accomplishment for the girls and it’s always great for the program as well.”
The Bees didn’t simply just manage a perfect region record, they dominated the competition, and in 10 matches only lost three sets.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Bees will begin their state title defense when they square off against Wasatch in the first round of the state tournament.
The Wasps enter the tournament as the fourth seed from Region 8 and are winners of three out of their last four matches.
Meanwhile, the Bees, who started the season as the number one ranked team in 5A after winning the state tournament last year, have maintained that position throughout the season as they finished 22-4 overall.
When asked about any additional pressure of being the top team, coach Harding said, “One of the biggest strengths of our team is, we are tunnel-vision. The only thing that matters is the first match, 3:30 on Thursday. That’s it. And when that match is over, we’ll start thinking about match number two. We’ll prepare our girls for multiple teams and multiple looks, but we’re not talking about anything other than match one and getting to match two.”
A win in their first match would set the Bees up with a quarterfinal matchup with the winner between Skyline and Timpview tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., while a loss would send them to the consolation bracket to face the loser.
Two wins on Thursday would see the Bees through to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday morning starting at 11:30. A loss in either of their first two matches tomorrow would mean the Bees will play Friday as well.
Check back next week for full coverage and results from the 2018 5A state volleyball tournament.
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team capped a perfect run through region play last Thursday with yet another straight-set win, this time over Roy.
The match against the Royals served mostly as a victory lap for the Bees as they had wrapped up the region title with their win over Bountiful last week, however, the team wanted to leave their mark and legacy by running the table in region.
With emotions running high during their final home game of the year, the Bees seemed to make more errors than they were accustomed to and let the visitors hang around in the match.
But, each time the Royals tried to make a run, the Bees had an answer as they cruised to a 25-15, 25-13, 25-14 win.
Statistically, the Bees showed a lot more firepower than the Royals. Box Elder racked up 40 kills on the night as a team while limiting the visitors to just 17.
Senior middle blocker Jaida Burt led the offensive charge with 13 kills in the match.
Burt and fellow senior Emily Isaacson also led the Bees defensively with 13 and 14 digs respectively.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said it has taken a lot of focus and dedication over a long time to get the team to this point.
“It’s always a huge accomplishment to win region,” Harding said. “It hasn’t happened for us since 2011, and even then, it was co-champions. So to outright win it, it takes a lot of mental strength and consistent play throughout the season to come out 10-0. It’s a huge accomplishment for the girls and it’s always great for the program as well.”
The Bees didn’t simply just manage a perfect region record, they dominated the competition, and in 10 matches only lost three sets.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Bees will begin their state title defense when they square off against Wasatch in the first round of the state tournament.
The Wasps enter the tournament as the fourth seed from Region 8 and are winners of three out of their last four matches.
Meanwhile, the Bees, who started the season as the number one ranked team in 5A after winning the state tournament last year, have maintained that position throughout the season as they finished 22-4 overall.
When asked about any additional pressure of being the top team, coach Harding said, “One of the biggest strengths of our team is, we are tunnel-vision. The only thing that matters is the first match, 3:30 on Thursday. That’s it. And when that match is over, we’ll start thinking about match number two. We’ll prepare our girls for multiple teams and multiple looks, but we’re not talking about anything other than match one and getting to match two.”
A win in their first match would set the Bees up with a quarterfinal matchup with the winner between Skyline and Timpview tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., while a loss would send them to the consolation bracket to face the loser.
Two wins on Thursday would see the Bees through to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday morning starting at 11:30. A loss in either of their first two matches tomorrow would mean the Bees will play Friday as well.
Check back next week for full coverage and results from the 2018 5A state volleyball tournament.
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Fumble in final minutes is killer for Bees
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer After a season full of them, the Box Elder High School football team couldn’t come up with another final-minute miracle last Friday in their first-round playoff game against Springville as the Red Devils advanced with a 17-13 win. The Bees were managing a promising drive in the final minutes of the game that became even more promising after converting a fourth down to set themselves up on Springville’s 15-yard line with just over two minutes to play. But a missed exchange between quarterback Parker Buchanan and running back Bernard Pena resulted in a fumble, which the Red Devils recovered to preserve the win. After the game, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said that, despite some mistakes, the team executed their game plan and gave themselves a chance to win, which is exactly what they wanted. “We had a game plan to control the ball tonight,” Gunter said. “We knew [the Red Devils] were a power team, and we did a good job stopping the run. We wanted to keep them off the field and we were able to do that.” Even heading into the final minutes trailing by a score, coach Gunter said his team never lost any faith on the sideline. He said, “We always felt like we were going to win that game. Late-game heroics are very common for this team and that’s something that has been a lot of fun about this season. We’ve been on the other side of close games a lot, so this one definitely hurts.” The Bees finished with a big advantage in time of possession, 35:07 - 12:40, and number of offensive plays run, 72 - 32, but were unable to muster enough scoring drives to advance in the tournament. |
Senior Ryan Gunn reacts to the Bees’ defeat at the hands of Springville in the first round of the state playoffs last Friday, as junior Bentley Miles consoles senior Kash Christoffersen as they leave the field.
Tyson Madson stretches the ball forward as he’s pushed out of bounds to secure the first down and keep the Bees’ final drive alive. Madson had four receptions for 52 yards.
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The need for speed
At 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weighing in at 4,900 pounds, the Turbinator II smashed its own world record this month.
New record in land speed racing set by Vesco family
Rick Vesco
By Nancy Brown · Staff writer · Oct. 24, 2108
Even when many in the auto racing industry said it couldn’t be done, former Brighamite Rick Vesco’s race car was clocked on the Bonneville Salt Flats Oct. 2, at 503 mph.
Christened the Turbinator II, Vesco’s streamliner car crossed the finish with the fastest time ever recorded for a wheel-driven car, breaking the 500-mph barrier in land speed racing.
Never before has a car with an internal combustion engine and pneumatic tires hit such a speed, but undoubtedly, the 5,000-horse power gas turbine engine had something to do with it.
Vesco, who formerly owned and operated a motorcycle and snowmobile sports center for 30 years in Brigham City with his brother, Chuck, now lives in St. George.
“I’d been creeping up on 500 in other races,” he said in an interview. “People from all over the world were just going crazy over it. It’s a huge deal in the racing world; a major, major accomplishment.”
Rick Vesco hit 455 mph in August during the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association Speed Week, then 482 mph in September at the World of Speed event, followed by 503 mph on Oct. 2, at the World Finals Speed event.
The record was hit during a qualifying run, with the final race scheduled for the next day, Vesco said. Unfortunately, rain cancelled the final run. Normally, an average of the two races would be taken.
So, while the 503 mph is not considered an official record for the event, it is still the fastest speed ever recorded in the world.
Land speed racing uses a track five miles long from the starting line to the last timing light. The first four miles of the record-setting race lasted 65 seconds, with the last mile completed in seven seconds.
“That translates into 727 feet per second or two and a half football fields per second,” said Vesco.
Streamliners have a very low center of gravity. They are 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weigh 4,900 pounds.
Every part on a streamliner has to be completely custom made, like the customization of a turbine engine from a Chinook helicopter in the Turbinator II.
“The low center of gravity helps with stability,” Vesco said. “When you’re close to the ground like that there’s less chance of tipping over.
“On the Salt Flats, there’s nothing to hit. One guy crashed at 450 miles per hour and didn’t get hurt at all. It’s always dangerous to be going at those speeds but even if the car goes upside down and the parachute is out, you’re going to be okay.”
Winning driver, Dave Spangler, who has driven race cars for Vesco since the late 1970s, said it was an honor to drive Turbinator II and set a new world record in October.
He said he and Vesco have been pushing their “Project first to 500” since Vesco’s brother, Don, first set the world record at 458 mph in 2001. “That’s when we decided to set the goal of 500.”
There is no speedometer in the vehicle so Spangler said he didn’t know for sure if he’d passed 500 mph until the crew signaled him.
“I’ve done it enough to know it was fast,” he said. “I set a record at all three meets this year so I knew it was a pretty good run.”
Was it scary?
Spangler said he gets asked that question a lot and that his answer is probably anti-climactic.
“I’m concentrating so hard that I don’t have any feelings of an adrenalin rush,” he said. “I’m all business in there and super concentrating so as to stay ahead of the car.”
He said at those speeds you need to make micro adjustments in your steering. If the car starts moving around too much requiring macro adjustments then you’re going to be in trouble.
Vesco added, “It’s your brain that tells you when things are scarier than they really are,” he said. “The car is designed to go fast so you just don’t feel it like you’d think. When you start coasting down to 100 miles per hour, it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving.”
The family has only had one major accident in a streamliner. In 1981, Vesco blew a rear tire while racing at Bonneville and flipped over. He whizzed past the finish at about 300 mph upside down but thanks to seatbelts and leg and arm restraints, he wasn’t hurt.
Vesco was born into an auto racing family with his dad, Johnny Vesco, competing in the first Utah Salt Flats Racing Association race in 1949. But Johnny’s passion for the sport began in the early 1930s in Southern California.
Rick’s brother Don, “is the only human in history to hold the world speed record in both a car and a motorcycle.” Rick’s daughter, Rhonnie Vesco, a Box Elder High School graduate, also has taken up the sport, hitting a 310-mph record of her own.
At only six years old, Rhonnie can be heard in a family recording stating her intentions to be a race car driver, said her father.
There is no prize money awarded in land speed racing, “just trophies and bragging rights and a chance to have fun with our crew of about 20 people,” said Vesco. “We have a great time together out there.”
With a cache of trophies in his possession, Vesco said the “holy grail” of trophies is the Hot Rod Magazine Trophy. “I won it three times in a turbine car and once in 1978, on a motorcycle going 330 miles per hour.”
He said that particular trophy is given to the fastest timed mile on any vehicle during the Speed Week competition. “That year, a motorcycle just happened to beat the cars.”
The Turbinator II streamliner was featured on the History Channel’s program, “Counting Cars.” Filming began at the Team Vesco shop in February and was aired in October 2017, in a two-part episode, “Bonneville Bound.”
Even when many in the auto racing industry said it couldn’t be done, former Brighamite Rick Vesco’s race car was clocked on the Bonneville Salt Flats Oct. 2, at 503 mph.
Christened the Turbinator II, Vesco’s streamliner car crossed the finish with the fastest time ever recorded for a wheel-driven car, breaking the 500-mph barrier in land speed racing.
Never before has a car with an internal combustion engine and pneumatic tires hit such a speed, but undoubtedly, the 5,000-horse power gas turbine engine had something to do with it.
Vesco, who formerly owned and operated a motorcycle and snowmobile sports center for 30 years in Brigham City with his brother, Chuck, now lives in St. George.
“I’d been creeping up on 500 in other races,” he said in an interview. “People from all over the world were just going crazy over it. It’s a huge deal in the racing world; a major, major accomplishment.”
Rick Vesco hit 455 mph in August during the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association Speed Week, then 482 mph in September at the World of Speed event, followed by 503 mph on Oct. 2, at the World Finals Speed event.
The record was hit during a qualifying run, with the final race scheduled for the next day, Vesco said. Unfortunately, rain cancelled the final run. Normally, an average of the two races would be taken.
So, while the 503 mph is not considered an official record for the event, it is still the fastest speed ever recorded in the world.
Land speed racing uses a track five miles long from the starting line to the last timing light. The first four miles of the record-setting race lasted 65 seconds, with the last mile completed in seven seconds.
“That translates into 727 feet per second or two and a half football fields per second,” said Vesco.
Streamliners have a very low center of gravity. They are 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weigh 4,900 pounds.
Every part on a streamliner has to be completely custom made, like the customization of a turbine engine from a Chinook helicopter in the Turbinator II.
“The low center of gravity helps with stability,” Vesco said. “When you’re close to the ground like that there’s less chance of tipping over.
“On the Salt Flats, there’s nothing to hit. One guy crashed at 450 miles per hour and didn’t get hurt at all. It’s always dangerous to be going at those speeds but even if the car goes upside down and the parachute is out, you’re going to be okay.”
Winning driver, Dave Spangler, who has driven race cars for Vesco since the late 1970s, said it was an honor to drive Turbinator II and set a new world record in October.
He said he and Vesco have been pushing their “Project first to 500” since Vesco’s brother, Don, first set the world record at 458 mph in 2001. “That’s when we decided to set the goal of 500.”
There is no speedometer in the vehicle so Spangler said he didn’t know for sure if he’d passed 500 mph until the crew signaled him.
“I’ve done it enough to know it was fast,” he said. “I set a record at all three meets this year so I knew it was a pretty good run.”
Was it scary?
Spangler said he gets asked that question a lot and that his answer is probably anti-climactic.
“I’m concentrating so hard that I don’t have any feelings of an adrenalin rush,” he said. “I’m all business in there and super concentrating so as to stay ahead of the car.”
He said at those speeds you need to make micro adjustments in your steering. If the car starts moving around too much requiring macro adjustments then you’re going to be in trouble.
Vesco added, “It’s your brain that tells you when things are scarier than they really are,” he said. “The car is designed to go fast so you just don’t feel it like you’d think. When you start coasting down to 100 miles per hour, it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving.”
The family has only had one major accident in a streamliner. In 1981, Vesco blew a rear tire while racing at Bonneville and flipped over. He whizzed past the finish at about 300 mph upside down but thanks to seatbelts and leg and arm restraints, he wasn’t hurt.
Vesco was born into an auto racing family with his dad, Johnny Vesco, competing in the first Utah Salt Flats Racing Association race in 1949. But Johnny’s passion for the sport began in the early 1930s in Southern California.
Rick’s brother Don, “is the only human in history to hold the world speed record in both a car and a motorcycle.” Rick’s daughter, Rhonnie Vesco, a Box Elder High School graduate, also has taken up the sport, hitting a 310-mph record of her own.
At only six years old, Rhonnie can be heard in a family recording stating her intentions to be a race car driver, said her father.
There is no prize money awarded in land speed racing, “just trophies and bragging rights and a chance to have fun with our crew of about 20 people,” said Vesco. “We have a great time together out there.”
With a cache of trophies in his possession, Vesco said the “holy grail” of trophies is the Hot Rod Magazine Trophy. “I won it three times in a turbine car and once in 1978, on a motorcycle going 330 miles per hour.”
He said that particular trophy is given to the fastest timed mile on any vehicle during the Speed Week competition. “That year, a motorcycle just happened to beat the cars.”
The Turbinator II streamliner was featured on the History Channel’s program, “Counting Cars.” Filming began at the Team Vesco shop in February and was aired in October 2017, in a two-part episode, “Bonneville Bound.”
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Bees survive Wildcats, claim share of region title
October 17, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A key penalty, some late game heroics by Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan, and a missed extra point by the Woods Cross’ place kicker, combined to help propel the Bees past the Wildcats, 35-34, and claim a share of the Region 5 championship.
With 8:34 left in the game, and with the game tied, Box Elder was looking at punting the ball away, and potentially going down another score. But a Woods Cross roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive.
But the Bees’ starting quarterback, Parker Buchannan had been on the sidelines since suffering an ankle injury on a fake punt earlier in the game. After converting one first down, the Bees’ running game stagnated, and they faced a 4th-and-6 from the Woods Cross’ 28-yard line.
Still not at 100 percent, Buchanan came off the sidelines and promptly hit Tyson Madson with a pass for a first down. Two plays later, Buchanan found Connor Stevenson from 17 yards out for a touchdown, and to take the lead, 35-28.
On the ensuing drive, Wildcat quarterback Carston Naegle found Jordan Johnson for a two-yard touchdown to pull the visitors within a point with just 25 seconds left in regulation.
But the Wildcats were unable to convert the extra point, and all the Bees needed was to kneel down once before celebrating their first region championship since 2004, when they shared the title with Mountain Crest.
After the game, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter gave a lot of credit to the Wildcats, especially their offense, for making it such a tight contest.
“[The Wildcats] had some guys get hurt a few weeks ago and they had everybody back healthy tonight,” Gunter said. “They are a really explosive team and we knew we’d have our hands full with them.”
In a game of contrasting styles, coach Gunter went on to say, “I felt like from our end, our O-line did a great job creating holes for our backs and we had good balance with all the position groups touching the ball. I loved how our kids kept competing and they never got rattled on the sideline. We thought the game was headed to overtime, but our kids were ready for that because we’ve been there before.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-0 this season in games decided in the final minute or overtime, so they had a lot of past experience from which to draw.
The Bees knew coming into the game that the Wildcats would look to throw the ball in most any situation that presented itself and Woods Cross did not deviate from their plan.
Naegle found wide receiver Luke Hyde from 10 yards out on their first drive to open the scoring in the game.
Not to be deterred from their game plan, the Bees came out wanting to establish a physical presence and run the ball.
Buchanan capped the Bees’ opening drive with an eight yard run for a touchdown to tie the score.
Running back Bernard Pena gave the Bees their first lead early in the second quarter when he plowed in from a yard out.
Woods Cross was able to tie things up again just before the half when Naegle found Tucker Goodfellow for an 18 yard score.
But it was the Bees who would have the final say in the first half as senior speedster Nate Wheatley found a crease on the ensuing kickoff and took it 85 yards to the house to put the Bees up 21-14.
The Wildcats tried to seize the momentum before the break, but their drive was squashed when Box Elder defensive back Kash Cristoffersen stepped in front of a pass from Naegle to end the drive and preserve the lead.
The Bees got the ball to start the second half and made the most of that chance with Pena finishing the drive from four yards out to put the home team up two scores, 28-14
Pena finished the night with 53 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.
The Wildcats were threatening again on their next possession, but the defensive secondary again came up big for the Bees as Skyler Laurenti came up with an interception in the end zone to keep the Wildcats off the board.
But the momentum shifted right back to the Wildcats as a fumble by Pena set up the Wildcats with excellent field position.
They capitalized on the next play as Naegle connected with Johnson from 19 yards out to cut the lead to 28-20. The extra point was no good—foreshadowing how the game would ultimately be decided.
Following a failed fourth down try from the Bees, the Wildcats were able to tie the game as Naegle again found Hyde, this time from 24 yards out, for the score. Naegle then hit Goodfellow in the corner of the end zone on the two-point try to knot the game at 28 all.
Stevenson lead all Bees receivers with four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. Buchanan completed 7-of-13 passing attempts for 90 yards and the one score.
The win put the Bees in a three-way tie for first place in Region 5 as Roy took down Farmington, 52-21, and Viewmont blanked Bountiful, 35-0, to land all three teams at 4-1.
A coin toss decided the final standings. The Royals landed in the top spot, with the Bees second and Vikings third.
The Bees will host their first state playoff game against the No. 3 seed from Region 8. The Utah County-based teams look to be headed to a play-in game coming down the stretch, so the Bees may not find out who their opponent is until early next week.
The state playoff game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., but could get pushed to Saturday if a play-in game ends up being necessary.
As for this week, the Bees scheduled a tune-up game during their short week and will be in action tonight in Washington Terrace against Bonneville. The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
A key penalty, some late game heroics by Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan, and a missed extra point by the Woods Cross’ place kicker, combined to help propel the Bees past the Wildcats, 35-34, and claim a share of the Region 5 championship.
With 8:34 left in the game, and with the game tied, Box Elder was looking at punting the ball away, and potentially going down another score. But a Woods Cross roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive.
But the Bees’ starting quarterback, Parker Buchannan had been on the sidelines since suffering an ankle injury on a fake punt earlier in the game. After converting one first down, the Bees’ running game stagnated, and they faced a 4th-and-6 from the Woods Cross’ 28-yard line.
Still not at 100 percent, Buchanan came off the sidelines and promptly hit Tyson Madson with a pass for a first down. Two plays later, Buchanan found Connor Stevenson from 17 yards out for a touchdown, and to take the lead, 35-28.
On the ensuing drive, Wildcat quarterback Carston Naegle found Jordan Johnson for a two-yard touchdown to pull the visitors within a point with just 25 seconds left in regulation.
But the Wildcats were unable to convert the extra point, and all the Bees needed was to kneel down once before celebrating their first region championship since 2004, when they shared the title with Mountain Crest.
After the game, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter gave a lot of credit to the Wildcats, especially their offense, for making it such a tight contest.
“[The Wildcats] had some guys get hurt a few weeks ago and they had everybody back healthy tonight,” Gunter said. “They are a really explosive team and we knew we’d have our hands full with them.”
In a game of contrasting styles, coach Gunter went on to say, “I felt like from our end, our O-line did a great job creating holes for our backs and we had good balance with all the position groups touching the ball. I loved how our kids kept competing and they never got rattled on the sideline. We thought the game was headed to overtime, but our kids were ready for that because we’ve been there before.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-0 this season in games decided in the final minute or overtime, so they had a lot of past experience from which to draw.
The Bees knew coming into the game that the Wildcats would look to throw the ball in most any situation that presented itself and Woods Cross did not deviate from their plan.
Naegle found wide receiver Luke Hyde from 10 yards out on their first drive to open the scoring in the game.
Not to be deterred from their game plan, the Bees came out wanting to establish a physical presence and run the ball.
Buchanan capped the Bees’ opening drive with an eight yard run for a touchdown to tie the score.
Running back Bernard Pena gave the Bees their first lead early in the second quarter when he plowed in from a yard out.
Woods Cross was able to tie things up again just before the half when Naegle found Tucker Goodfellow for an 18 yard score.
But it was the Bees who would have the final say in the first half as senior speedster Nate Wheatley found a crease on the ensuing kickoff and took it 85 yards to the house to put the Bees up 21-14.
The Wildcats tried to seize the momentum before the break, but their drive was squashed when Box Elder defensive back Kash Cristoffersen stepped in front of a pass from Naegle to end the drive and preserve the lead.
The Bees got the ball to start the second half and made the most of that chance with Pena finishing the drive from four yards out to put the home team up two scores, 28-14
Pena finished the night with 53 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.
The Wildcats were threatening again on their next possession, but the defensive secondary again came up big for the Bees as Skyler Laurenti came up with an interception in the end zone to keep the Wildcats off the board.
But the momentum shifted right back to the Wildcats as a fumble by Pena set up the Wildcats with excellent field position.
They capitalized on the next play as Naegle connected with Johnson from 19 yards out to cut the lead to 28-20. The extra point was no good—foreshadowing how the game would ultimately be decided.
Following a failed fourth down try from the Bees, the Wildcats were able to tie the game as Naegle again found Hyde, this time from 24 yards out, for the score. Naegle then hit Goodfellow in the corner of the end zone on the two-point try to knot the game at 28 all.
Stevenson lead all Bees receivers with four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. Buchanan completed 7-of-13 passing attempts for 90 yards and the one score.
The win put the Bees in a three-way tie for first place in Region 5 as Roy took down Farmington, 52-21, and Viewmont blanked Bountiful, 35-0, to land all three teams at 4-1.
A coin toss decided the final standings. The Royals landed in the top spot, with the Bees second and Vikings third.
The Bees will host their first state playoff game against the No. 3 seed from Region 8. The Utah County-based teams look to be headed to a play-in game coming down the stretch, so the Bees may not find out who their opponent is until early next week.
The state playoff game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., but could get pushed to Saturday if a play-in game ends up being necessary.
As for this week, the Bees scheduled a tune-up game during their short week and will be in action tonight in Washington Terrace against Bonneville. The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.