A year ago, the Utah High School Activities Association implemented the RPI system and abandoned region standings as the determining factor in playoff seedings. This has lessened the importance of where a team finishes in its league.

But there’s still a lot to say about playing for a region title. 

This week, Region 5 boys basketball teams begin their league schedule. Bountiful, Viewmont and Woods Cross all get a fresh start as each will battle to finish at the top of the competitive region. 

Bountiful

In non-region games, no Region 5 team had a better record than Bountiful. The Redhawks went 5-3 in November and December. All three losses were by six points or fewer. 

Bountiful opened Region 5 with a home game with Box Elder Jan. 3, after our press deadline. The Redhawks hadn’t played since before Christmas on Dec. 20. 

In its first eight games, Bountiful averaged 66 points a game while allowing 55. Three players are averaging in double figures in scoring, starting with senior forward/center Carson Smith, who is putting up 16.6 points an outing. Junior Bryson Heath is next with an average of 13.1 points per game, followed by junior guard/forward Charlie Smith, who chips in 12.4 points an outing. Senior Faletau Satuala averages 7.9 points per game, and he paces the Redhawks in rebounding with 6.5 a game. Heath is the leader in assists with an average of 3.4 a game. 

After facing Box Elder, Bountiful will travel to Viewmont to play the Vikings on Friday. On Jan. 8, the Redhawks head back to non-region action for a home game with Judge Memorial before getting back to the Region 5 slate. 

Viewmont 

It was a rough non-region schedule for Viewmont, which went 1-8 in November and December. The Vikings played at Roy Jan. 3 for their Region 5 opener. 

Last week, the Vikings participated in the Utah Autism Classic, falling in a pair of games Dec. 28, 29. The first game, against Highland, was a close one that saw Viewmont fall 61-58. Viewmont trailed the entire way but made a valiant comeback late in the game with a 25-point fourth quarter. Drez Jensen led Viewmont with 21 points, while Preston Weaver contributed 11 points. 

The following day, the Vikings had a tough task against perennial state power Olympus, which entered the contest with only one loss Viewmont fell behind early and couldn’t overcome the Titans, losing 77-51. Jensen and Weaver once again had good games in defeat. Jensen had 13 points and six rebounds. Weaver also had 13 points and added three rebounds. 

Woods Cross

The Wildcats are also 1-8 and looking to bounce back from a challenging non-region portion of the schedule. 

However, Woods Cross did stop an eight-game losing streak Dec. 29 by winning its first game of the season. The Wildcats took down Kearns 56-46 on the road in a big win. 

After a tight first half that saw Kearns lead 20-18, the Wildcats went on a 38-26 second-half run. Woods Cross got big games from Bryson Watson and Hunter Jackson, who each had 17 points. Jackson had eight rebounds and three assists, while Watson pulled down six rebounds of his own. Seven Woods Cross players scored. 

The Wildcats played at Bonneville on Wednesday, after our press deadline and next host Box Elder on Friday.