Sandy» Last season, even with one of Class 5A's youngest teams, the Alta girls' basketball team advanced to the first round of the playoffs, only to lose to favorite American Fork.
However, a ton of good came from the loss to the Cavemen. First, Alta was a heavy underdog, but the game went down to the waning minutes. Second, even in defeat, Kristi Jensen's team developed more than a little confidence. Alta also has some of the best guards in the state, and they all returned for another season.
Those factors have translated into a 9-2 start for a Hawks team that's undersized in the paint but as explosive on the perimeter as any Class 5A team.
These Hawks hit three-pointers. They get out and run in transition. They're dangerous off the dribble, share the ball and have multiple options.
"We're not going to win any battles in the lane, but we have four very good guards," Jensen said. "Can we compete for a state title this season? Well, every coach is supposed to feel that way and I'm no different. This year is as good for us as any."
If nothing else, Jensen certainly has the guards needed to compete. Makenzi Morrison is simply one of the state's best sophomores. She averages 19 points per game, makes threes and is one of the better guards in the state at reaching the basket. In addition, Morrison averages four assists per game and a whopping five steals per game.
Becca Beaudoin has hit 37 three pointers and averages 16 points per contest. Erin Foster scores 10 points per game and Hayli Schurtz makes big shots, as proven in a win against Pleasant Grove when she made the game-winning three-pointer in a 57-47 victory.
"I think we have the best guards in the state," Schurtz said. "We all know each other well, we've all played with each other during the summer, and we like playing with each other. This is a tough region, so we have to take everything by the game. But we feel like we have a very good team this season."
In many ways, the best is likely yet to come for Alta. Of the Hawks' leading scorers, only Beaudoin is a senior. But much of what determines Alta's destiny lies in how well the team plays in the paint.
That doesn't mean offensively. The Hawks don't have a post scorer, and there's nothing at this point they can do about that. But defense and rebounding will always be a concern.
Against Pleasant Grove, Jennifer Hamsen was unstoppable, scoring a game-high 33 points. However, Alta rebounded very well in that game and the Hawks generated steals and turnovers to offset Hamsen's dominance.
"We have to rebound well," Jensen said. "We did that against Pleasant Grove and if we can do that for the rest of the season, this can be an exciting team."
Alta's Becca Beaudoin makes a pass during a recent practice. (Jim Urquhart / The Salt Lake Tribune)
Alta's Hayli Shurtz runs sprints during a recent practice. (Jim Urquhart / The Salt Lake Tribune)
