Valley Top 5: Lone Peak girls basketball returns to top spot

By Staff | Feb 12, 2024

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Lone Peak senior guard Shawnee Nordstrom drives to the basket during the Region 3 game against Skyridge in Highland on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Each week, Daily Herald sports experts Jared Lloyd, Darnell Dickson and Brian Preece rank the top five teams in the Utah Valley in boys and girls basketball and boys and girls wrestling (records as of Feb. 11):

Boys basketball

1. Lehi (18-3)

Pioneers routed Westlake and Skyridge to continue rolling.

2. Orem (16-5)

Tigers 11-game winning streak snapped by last-second Springville shot.

3. Provo (16-8)

Trey Johnson with season-high 16 points in win at Mountain View.

4. American Fork (13-8)

Cavemen hoping to put together another strong state tourney run.

5. Timpview (15-6)

T-Birds were dominant in wins vs. Salem Hills and Maple Mountain.

— Darnell Dickson

Girls basketball

1. Lone Peak (13-6)

Losses by teams higher in the rankings mean Knight margin of victory in Region 3 (34.1 points per game) is impossible to ignore.

The Wasps just edged Timpview and Cedar Valley at home to take control of the Region 7 race.

2. Wasatch (17-4)

The slow start at Spanish Fork doomed the Wasps.

3. Timpview (16-5)

The Thunderbirds struggled to score in Friday’s loss at Maple Mountain.

4. Salem Hills (14-7)

The Skyhawks played great defense in their home win over Cedar Valley.

5. Lehi (13-7)

The Pioneers have emerged as the second-best team in Region 3 — but a monumental challenge at Lone Peak looms on Tuesday.

— Jared Lloyd

Boys wrestling

1. Westlake

Thunder easily won their divisional tourney with five individual champions.

2. Spanish Fork

It was total domination as the Dons put 12 wrestlers into the championship finals with nine individual champions.

3. Pleasant Grove

Vikings have good individual firepower in the upper weights.

4. Wasatch

Wasps were second to Box Elder in their 5A divisional and crowned four individual champions.

5. Payson

Lions won their divisional and set sights on Uintah in battle for 4A crown.

— Brian E. Preece

Girls wrestling

1. Salem Hills

The Skyhawks soared, winning their 5A divisional.

2. Wasatch

Wasps peaking and are a threat to win the 5A title.

3. Cedar Valley

Aviators finished third at the divisional tournament but are still a legitimate title threat.

4. Springville

Red Devils have the star power to be a trophy threat.

5. Mountain View

Bruins hope to be in the top five at the 4A tourney.