Going into this girls' basketball season, Woods Cross is a team on the brink, led by a player on the brink. The Wildcats have something to prove after having been eliminated in the first round of the state tournament last season in painful overtime fashion.
    On paper Woods Cross doesn't seem to have improved much since last season. After having lost several key players to graduation, the Wildcats have stocked their empty roster spots with inexperienced underclassmen.
    But despite the team's apparent shortage of game-tested skill, the Wildcats still manage to carry themselves with a certain confidence and swagger. And to understand that swagger, you just have to spend a few minutes talking with talented new team leader, junior Jamie Mokofisi. "We haven't picked team captains yet, but I would probably consider myself a team captain. I've been trying to help out the other players so we can figure out the difference between what could and should happen on the court," said Mokofisi.
    The junior made a name for herself last season as one of her team's leading scorers and best defenders. Her sophomore performance even managed to warrant an honorable mention in all-state voting.
    "She's a ferocious rebounder, a good athlete and she goes after the ball. She doesn't just wait for it," said Woods Cross coach Mitch Smith.
    Because of her strong sophomore season, and the large crop of new players, Mokofisi was capitulated into the leadership role for her team. A position, she believes, she's suited for.
    "I do feel extra responsibility. I'm a junior now and I want to help out the girls and push them a little bit. On the court, I'm not trying to just boss them around but I'm not just a cheerleader either," said Mokofisi.
    But as a player and leader, Mokofisi still has a lot to learn. During a playoff defeat last season, in a game decided by only a handful of points, Mokofisi missed a key shot in overtime.
    "It felt, like, terrible. I felt like I could have done better than I did, but it was worse for some of the seniors," said Mokofisi.
    To help improve her game, Mokofisi has spent the last nine months practicing and playing with several club teams to help sharpen her skills. But practice for her free throws and wind sprints aside, Mokofisi has also looked to improve upon her mental toughness.
    "I could have kept my head in the game better; I could have not been worrying about everything else. I thought sometimes I was worrying more about what was going on around the game than the game. I'm trying to work on that," said Mokofisi.
    Mokofisi is also learning to deal with the demands of both difficult basketball games, as well as the difficult academic demands of a high school student-athlete.
    The Woods Cross girls' basketball team is part of the highly competitive Region 5 and must be on top of their game to not only make it into the playoffs, but to advance in them as well.
    "One of our goals is to start playing more as a team. Right now, we're kinda playing like five different people on the court. We need to work as a team and trust each other more," said Mokofisi.
    Despite a young squad and feeling the pressure to lead her team, Mokofisi is optimistic about her team's chances.
    "We're a pretty young team, but our younger players are really good. They all have the heart and the talent. We're going to go far," said Mokofisi.
    Mokofisi's experience and talent have put her in a position to lead her team, yet it is unknown whether she will fill the obligation to do so. A role her coach will also be struggling to guarantee. But the gifted junior doesn't dwell on worry, and instead relies on her confidence.
    "Coach has probably thrown hints about a leadership role, but I have probably blown them off," said Mokofisi.