With a renewed focus on defense, the two-time defending 5A state champion Bountiful High girls basketball team open the season against the two 6A squads that competed for last year’s championship in Copper Hills and Lone Peak. The Redhawks return an experienced squad that lost just one senior to graduation last year.

“It’s been an awful special ride with a special group of girls,” said head coach Joel Burton. “They’ve accomplished a lot, but are also pretty grounded. They now keep hearing me say, ‘Last year is done. What have you done this year?’”

Bountiful will be led this year by 5A Player of the Year Taylor Harvey, First Team All-State guard Milika Satuala, Honorable Mention All-State center Mae Johnson and Adelaide Stevenson. “They are all huge for us for different reasons,” Burton said. 

The Redhawks have spent the offseason with an emphasis on mental strength and staying in “learning mode” to keep getting better, raise their shooting percentage and have more overall consistency in their play. “We also have given ourselves some new wrinkles on offense,” Burton said. 

Also on the BHS squad this season are seniors Anna Larson, Isabeau Hoff and Abby Orme; juniors Brooke Dodge, Charlotte Johnson, Abrielle Kattelman, Caroline Cannon and Aimee Moore; sophomores Mia Loya, Maleah Nelson, Brynna Castleton, Carlie Nielson, Faith Nixon, May Hale, Morgan Rogers and Natalie Killgore; and freshmen Tess Morley, Mina Marriot, Lauren Smith, Dylan Carpenter, Norah Harrison, Annabelle Gilbert, Amelia Geilman and Kayd Kupfer.

Burton has added Kelsie White, a Bountiful alumni – and the school’s girls volleyball coach – to the coaching staff this season to coach the sophomores. “I worked with her as a junior high kid and always tried to get her to play for me,” Burton said. “I finally got her, this time as a coach.”

After games with Copper Hills and Lone Peak on Nov. 22 and Nov. 26, respectively, the Redhawks will play Maple Mountain Dec. 4, Cyprus Dec. 6, Alta Dec. 10, Brighton Dec. 13, Spanish Fork Dec. 18 and Snow Canyon Dec. 20 before Region 5 home-and-away games begin with Box Elder, Viewmont, Northridge, Bonneville, Clearfield, Roy and Woods Cross. The 5A state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 18-28. λ