Sugar-Salem High School's Sofia Hepworth was the best of the best in eastern Idaho in 2009-10. Monte LaOrange / mlaorange@postregister.com
Several girls basketball players in the area matched Sugar-Salem guard Sofia Hepworth’s trophy count and slate of personal accolades.
However, nobody could match Hepworth’s relentless nature or penchant for the highlight reel, making her the Post Register’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The Post Register has already written the book on Hepworth over the course of her four-year career. Instead of rehashing old news, we asked the coaches who faced Hepworth to chime in on her four-year career and on the headaches they suffered trying to stop her.
“Without question, her athleticism and her desire to absolutely beat you that I see in her, I don’t see in a lot of other kids. She’s out there to play. What a fierce competitor.”
Don Betts, Teton
“What stands out to me about Sof(ia) is her ability to change the game on either end of the floor. When they need a steal or a stop, she seemed to come up with it. She stands out because she can change the game either way.”
Burke Davis, Shelley
“Any time she started to drive, we tried to double team her, but she always did a good job of finding the open person. She didn’t score a lot against us, but she caused a whole lot of problems by running offense and finding the open person.”
Clyde Nelson, Rigby
“I honestly think she’s most dangerous without the ball in her hands. Whether she’s playing defense or moving to get the open shot, she has such a feel for the game and sees the floor as well or better than any kid I’ve ever watched. She just knows what’s going on out there and sets herself up to make the right play.”
Don Betts, Teton
“I saw her make a no-look, one-handed pass that even guys don’t make. Her player wasn’t ready for it and it hit her in the nose, but it was as good a pass as I’ve seen.”
Clyde Nelson, Rigby
“I found myself watching her play rather than trying to figure out how to stop her. That happens with the kids. She’ll do something, and they think, ‘I can’t do that.’ Then they want to see her do it again even though it’s against them.”
Don Betts, Teton
“I don’t know if you’ll ever see a player like Sofia come through again. She’s a hard player to replace, one of a kind. You better start young and work hard if you want to play like Sofia.”
Todd Jensen, Sugar-Salem
Hepworth’s career at a glance
– Won state titles in 2007, 2009.
– Finished third at state in 2008, fourth in 2010.
– Named 2009 Idaho Statesman 3A Player of the Year after leading Sugar-Salem to second title in three years.
– Named Mountain Rivers Conference Player of the Year in 2009, 2010.
– Averaged 16.3 points, 2.7 assists, 4.4 steals as a senior.
– Set 3A state tournament records of 38 points and 16 field goals against Marsh Valley in Sugar-Salem’s 64-32 win in this year’s consolation game. For the game, Hepworth shot 16 of 26 with six steals in four rebounds in 25:09 minutes of action.
