Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Every team starts the season with high hopes, but this week's KSL.com Clean Simple Eats high school hoops players of the week helped their respective teams realize those hopes with 5-0 starts.
Syracuse senior Avery Sanders is lighting it up as the starting point guard for the Titans' girls team so far this season, sitting her team in the top 10 in the state in total points scored and top five in assists and steals.
"I think we're playing well as a team," Sanders said. "It's early in the season, so we still have time to connect. I think there's multiple players who can hit big shots. I think we're good."
The Titans started the season with five straight wins before getting their first loss over the weekend at Copper Hills. Despite scoring just 39 points as a team in the loss, Sanders scored 16 to extend her double-digit scoring streak to six, and then seventh straight with 29 points against Dixie Tuesday.
Speaking about her personal goals this season, Sanders said she wants to "be a leader on the court, take advantage of all the opportunities, and have a good time."
Junior Easton Hawkins and the Lehi Pioneers' boys team got their fifth consecutive win to start the season with an 87-51 dismantling of Taylorsville Tuesday. Hawkins had seven of the team's first 11 points, and never looked back, dropping at least 20 points for the third straight game with 21 against the Warriors.
"The first two games I wasn't really shooting that good, and then the past few games I've had a bunch of 3's that I've actually been able to hit," Hawkins said. "So it's just really been my teammates that really kept me involved and got me going."
Hawkins and teammate Cooper Lewis are both in the top 20 in the state in scoring, providing a powerful one-two punch for the Pioneers.
"It's fun getting to be with all the guys," Hawkins said of playing with a mostly senior starting lineup. "But just knowing that they're gonna be gone next year kind of hurts me a little, because those are my guys."
The Pioneers are aiming for a state championship in their first year in 6A after bowing out of the 5A playoffs last year in the quarterfinals. Syracuse also exited last year's girls playoffs in the quarterfinals.
Syracuse welcomes Timpview Friday for its next contest, while Lehi will also be at home to take on the Highland Rams.
If you'd like to nominate a basketball player for their impact on or off the court, email our sports team at onlinesports@ksl.com.
Most recent High School stories
Related topics
Caleb Turner
