Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — The regular season has concluded, and now the attention turns to playoffs.
Here's a look at the bracket, the favorites, and the dark horses, for every classification for the UHSAA boys state championships.
6A boys basketball
Favorite: Who knows?
This year's 6A playoffs are as wide open as they've ever been. There are many teams that are getting hot right now, as we speak; Westlake has won three straight after starting 0-7 in region play, while Farmington picked up back-to-back wins to close out its region campaign. Copper Hills also appears to have it rolling after picking up their first region win against Riverton last Tuesday, and American Fork laid down the gauntlet in their wire-to-wire win over Skyridge last Friday to claim a share of the Region 3 crown.
Dark horse: The winner of No. 12 Bingham vs. No. 5 American Fork (Friday, 7 p.m. MST)
These two teams are the hottest in 6A right now, and both are long and athletic. Bingham will have their hands full with American Fork's large front line, while American Fork will be tested by the Miners' shot-making ability.
Last year, in this seedline showdown, No. 12 Davis rallied from a 12-point deficit to stun No. 5 Riverton at home. Will another upset be in the cards? Or will Ryan Cuff's team be able to survive and advance? Whoever does will earn the right to be called the dark horse — and potentially be the favorite to win it all.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
5A boys basketball
Favorites: Alta Hawks and Olympus Titans
If it's possible, this version of Travis Ohrn's team is better than last year — and they won a state championship. A huge front line anchors this Alta team, and they have size on the wings and at the guards. So does Olympus, led by forward Reef Smylie and guard Dutch DowDell. It was behind these two that the Titans made a major statement, beating the Hawks by 19 points two weeks ago. If it's No. 1 vs. No. 2 like we expect, this is a toss-up.
Dark horse: West Jordan Jaguars
If there's one glaring weakness Alta and Olympus have, however, it's getting into a scoring fest. Both teams love to run and gun, and that's exactly what Carter Dorenbosch and Colton Blackham can do, too. They can also slow down the tempo and keep teams off balance, and they are very efficient at running their sets. Even though they might not match up on paper with the size of Olympus and Alta, in an up-tempo game, West Jordan will have the edge on these two squads.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
4A boys basketball
Favorite: Dixie Flyers
Layton Christian and Dixie seem to be on a collision course for the UCCU Center at the end of the month, but I would say Dixie has the edge because they have an experienced group of players, led by senior wing Logan Weidauer, a transfer from Copper Hills, who has given a tremendous boost to both the offense and defense for the Flyers.
Dark horse: Cottonwood Colts
If there's a team that can give others problems, however, this is it. The Colts' defense has been plenty good to stand up to teams in Region 10 this season, and with their length and athleticism, led by 6-foot-8 center Chris Cox, they're going to give teams a lot of problems on the boards, both offensive and defensive. Dixie has not faced a lot of long, athletic teams this season outside of Crimson Cliffs, and with the Colts in their part of the bracket, if both teams make the semifinals, look for Cottonwood to have the edge.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
3A boys basketball
Favorite: Ogden Tigers
Head coach Trent Porter has done a masterful job with these Tigers this season. Ogden's defense has been suffocating, allowing only four opponents to go over 60 points on them. They also defeated No. 1 ranked South Summit in a shocker earlier this season, in which the Tigers rallied from a late deficit to stun the Wildcats. If Stockton Marriott can continue his hot streak, it'll be hard to see anyone stopping Ogden.
Dark horse: American Heritage Patriots
If there was ever a team hotter in 3A right now, the Region 14 co-champions are up there. The Winitana brothers, Mana and Nawihi, were held in check in their second-round win, but Brady Peery stepped up to score 30 points, and West Larson scored 25 more, including 5 3-pointers, as the Patriots knocked out Juab in double overtime on Friday. This the most complete basketball you could ask for at this time of the year. They are also facing a South Summit team that has wobbled in recent weeks, especially following their upset loss to Ogden. If the Patriots take out South Summit, they would be the only hurdle left to clear for the Tigers to win the title — and they'd be the toughest one.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
2A boys basketball
Favorite: Kanab Cowboys
The Kanab Cowboys are on a mission this season. With a team loaded with experience, they've mowed through Region 18 with 10 dominant wins. After being denied in overtime by Parowan last season, they want to return to Cedar City to finish what they started. It'll be hard to see anyone stopping this juggernaut.
Dark horse: Duchesne Eagles
This was the only team to show they were capable of hanging with Kanab in the preseason. They not only hung with them, they beat the Cowboys — by 12 points. Parker Crum has been guiding a methodical offensive attack anchored by forward Dallin Porter, who is coming off a 23-point performance against Region 17 co-champion American Leadership. If the Eagles and Cowboys meet in the final, expect some major fireworks.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
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1A boys basketball
Favorite: Rich Rebels
The Region 22 champions are the runaway favorite in this year's 1A playoffs. A balanced scoring attack has anchored them all season long, piloted by Jaden Desch. Their defense has also given teams plenty of problems, especially on the wings, where their length has led the charge.
Dark horses: Piute Thunderbirds and Panguitch Bobcats
On the other side of the bracket lies the only teams that matched up well with the Rebels all season. These two teams both defeated Rich in the 1A Preview preseason tournament in November — and both came by double-digits. It's hard to say who has the edge over Rich in this case, but Lex Cornia's Rebels will need to beat one — or both — to win a state title.
(Scroll to see full bracket)
