CEDAR CITY – The boys and girls basketball teams of Iron County’s three high schools have seen mixed success in early preseason action thus far. Cedar, Canyon View and Parowan high schools are all beginning their respective regular seasons either this week or next week. Following are snapshot looks at their progress to date.
Canyon View guard Jace Farrow drives inside during home preseason game vs. Cedar, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 1, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
First, in boys basketball, the Canyon View Falcons hosted crosstown rival Cedar High on Dec. 1. The game was deadlocked 16-16 after one quarter, but the Falcons outscored the Reds 24-10 during the second period to build a 40-26 halftime lead.
Canyon View continued to pad its lead throughout the second half, eventually posting a decisive 81-58 victory. Ty Attig led the Falcons with 21 points, with Carson Miles adding 20, Felps Sanders scoring 16 and Jace Farrow contributing 12. Cedar was led by guard Easton Albrecht’s 15 points, with Landon Kreitzer adding 10.
The win marked 3A Canyon View’s second straight home win over a 4A opponent from Region 9; earlier in the same week, on Nov. 28 , the Falcons outlasted Pine View, 61-59. Pine View trailed for the entire game until Nash Schroeder swished two free throws with 10 seconds left to tie the score at 59-59. On the ensuing possession, however, Canyon View’s Attig got fouled with 3.5 seconds left, after which he made both free throws to seal the victory.
Canyon View boys
After going 2-3 in preseason action, the Canyon View boys are scheduled to open their regular season at 7 p.m. Friday evening (Dec. 15) at Region 12 rival Richfield. The Wildcats are 4-4 so far this year, after finishing second in the region last year with an overall record of 18-6.
Although the bulk of Canyon View’s remaining schedule will be against Region 12 opponents, later this month the Falcons will once again be hosting the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic invitational tournament, which is held annually between Christmas and New Year’s. Canyon View’s opponents this year are Hurricane on Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m., Grantsville on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. and Panguitch on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., with all games taking place at CVHS.
Cedar boys
Cedar’s Landon Kreitzer dribbles the ball at Canyon View, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 1, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Cedar High boys started off 0-7 in preseason play, with their closest game in that span being a two-point loss at Sky View on Dec. 9. Although Cedar led 49-38 heading into the final quarter, the Bobcats outscored the Reds 20-7 during the fourth period to pick up the comeback win.
On Thursday night (Dec. 14), the Reds picked up their first preseason win with a thrilling 79-76 overtime victory over SLAM Academy of Henderson, Nevada, with the game being played at Pine View High School as part of the Coach Walker Classic being hosted by multiple schools in the St. George area this weekend.
In Thursday’s back-and-forth battle, Cedar’s Tate Stubbs swished a pair of free throws with one minute left in regulation to tie the score 67-67. Cedar then led for much of the overtime period; however, the Bulls managed to briefly take the lead 76-75 with about a minute to go. However, Cedar’s Parker Englebright answered with a layup that gave the Reds back the lead, 77-76 with about 30 seconds remaining. The Bulls were unable to score again after that, with Stubbs eventually icing the game with two more free throws with 1.7 seconds left.
The Reds’ two remaining opponents during the Coach Walker Classic are Manti on Friday at 5 p.m. and Spanish Fork on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., with both games taking place at Crimson Cliffs High School in Washington City.
Cedar’s top statistical leaders thus far this season (through seven games) are Easton Albrecht, averaging 12.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists; and Landon Kreitzer, averaging 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Next Wednesday, Dec. 20, Cedar will host Hurricane in the Region 9 regular-season opener for both teams. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Cedar girls
The Cedar girls basketball team started off their preseason schedule with a 43-34 win at home over Canyon View on Nov. 15, just days after the teams had finalized their rosters.
Kenzie Bird of Cedar dribbles past Maylee Spencer of Canyon View, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Cedar has since compiled a 5-2 record over its first seven games, with their only two losses being a 45-38 defeat at Beaver on Nov. 30 and a 53-38 loss at Timpview on Dec. 8. However, Cedar did pick up two wins during that same road trip to Utah County, with the Reds defeating Timpanogos 51-17 on Dec. 7 and Mountain View 43-31 on Dec. 9.
Leading the way for the Reds in scoring has been sophomore guard Gabby Gomez, who is averaging 14.9 points per game. Senior center Kiara Hansen and junior forward Annalyse Shimada are each averaging 8.3 points per game and are also the team’s top two rebounders. Once again at the helm for the Reds is Corry Nielsen, who is now in his seventh year as head coach.
This weekend, the Reds are scheduled to play at Moapa Valley, Nevada on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a home game against Lehi at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Cedar is scheduled to open Region 9 play on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Hurricane, with tipoff at 7 p.m. The Tigers are also off to a strong start this year, posting a 6-2 preseason record to date.
Canyon View girls
Maylee Spencer of Canyon View dribbles past Cedar guard Gabby Gomez, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Following their season-opening loss to Cedar, the Canyon View Falcons bounced back with a 59-53 win at Crimson Cliffs on Nov. 21. Maylee Spencer scored 17 points to lead the way for Canyon View, with Maya Nichols adding 13 and Hadlee Farrow scoring nine.
On Dec. 1, the Falcons traveled to North Sevier in Salina and defeated the Wolves by a resounding 68-38 margin. Spencer was once again Canyon View’s top scorer, making 14 points, while Nichols added 12 and Bethanee Vargas made 11.
Since then, the Falcons have lost four in a row, including setbacks on the road at Kanab, Beaver and Snow Canyon.
Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the Falcons opened the Region 12 slate with a 36-32 loss at home to Richfield. Spencer scored 10 to lead the Falcons, while Vargas collected a team-high seven rebounds.
Canyon View’s second region contest took place Thursday night (Dec. 14) at North Sanpete in Mount Pleasant, with the Falcons picking up a 55-40 victory to improve to 2-0 in Region 12 play.
Parowan girls
Last year, the Parowan Rams finished 15-10 overall and ended up in fifth place at the state 2A tournament.
Panguitch’s Tayt Miller knocks the ball away from Parowan guard Bella Robinson, Parowan, Utah, Nov. 30, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
The Rams have started this season with just one win in their first six games, a 41-31 victory at Altamont on Dec. 9. Senior guard Bella Robinson scored 29 points to lead the Rams against Altamont. Robinson has made 121 points in the Rams’ first six games for an average of 20.2 points per game, which constitutes more than two-thirds of the team’s offensive output to date.
Parowan’s regular season began on Tuesday, Dec. 12 with a 52-32 loss at Millard.
After playing three additional non-region contests this weekend, the Rams will resume their Region 18 schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when they host Enterprise at 7 p.m.
Parowan boys
Despite finishing 5-5 and finishing fourth in region play last year, Parowan peaked just in time for the state 2A playoffs, winning four straight games to capture the state championship.
However, the Rams lost several senior players from that squad to graduation, including 6-foot-9 center and MVP Brock Felder, who now plays for Southern Utah University.
After starting off this season with four straight losses (to Bryce Valley, Panguitch and Valley in November and to North Summit on Dec. 1), the Rams have since won three in a row to improve to 3-4 in preseason play.
A few days after edging the Eagles at Duchesne 49-48 on Dec. 2, Parowan opened their regular season schedule with a 63-31 home win over Region 19 rival Water Canyon on Dec. 6. Then, on Wednesday Dec. 13, Parowan defeated Millard 51-47 at Parowan to improve to 2-0 in region play.
Pacing this year’s Parowan team thus far has been sophomore forward Hunter Bettridge, who is averaging 12.9 points per game. Bettridge led the Rams in scoring against both Water Canyon and Millard, with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Among the other players contributing to Parowan’s balanced offense have been Daniel Bernhardi, Austin Edwards and McQuade Abbott.
After playing at 1A’s Milford on Friday night, Parowan’s next scheduled region game is at Enterprise on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
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