With still two games to play in the regular season, the Bountiful boys basketball team has wrapped up at least a share of the Region 5 championship. 

The Redhawks entered this week’s games – the final two before the state tournament begins – with an 11-1 mark in Region 5. Second-place Viewmont sat in second at 9-3, with Woods Cross sporting an 8-4 record. When Bountiful visited Roy on Wednesday, after our press deadline, it was playing to clinch a solo league title. 

Bountiful is 17-4 and hosts Woods Cross on Friday in the regular-season finale. The Class 5A state tournament begins Feb. 19 with first-round games. However, Bountiful will get a bye in round one and will start its postseason play Feb. 21 at home. 

The Redhawks had a pair of double-digit wins a week ago. 

On Feb. 5, Bountiful defeated Bonneville at home, 55-45, allowing just 13 points in the second half. The Redhawks trailed 18-7 after one quarter and 32-24 at halftime before turning the tables thanks largely to a stout defensive effort. Lincoln Smith paced the Redhawks with 12 points in the win, while Charlie Smith had six points and a team-high six rebounds. 

Two days later, the Redhawks earned at least a co-region title by defeating Clearfield 54-41 on the road. Despite getting off to a slow start, Bountiful pulled away to win for the fifth game in a row. Bryson Heath had 10 points and four rebounds. Lincoln Smith added eight points and seven rebounds. 

When Bountiful and Woods Cross hook up on Friday, it will be a chance for the Redhawks to avenge their only region loss of the season. Woods Cross won the previous meeting, 59-55 on Jan. 22. 

Viewmont

The Vikings were mathematically still in the hunt for a co-region championship as this week began. Viewmont, 13-9 overall, needed to win both of its games this week and for Bountiful to lose both of its contests. 

A pair of victories last week helped Viewmont’s cause. 

The Vikings edged Woods Cross 56-53 on Feb. 5 in a matchup between the two rivals. Viewmont used a 16-6 second quarter to take a 10-point halftime lead and hold on the rest of the way. Drez Jensen had a big game, compiling 17 points and six rebounds. Teammate Austin Morgan added 13 points and six rebounds. 

On Feb. 7, the Vikings won again, this time at home over Northridge, 73-61. Viewmont had 47 points in the second half and shot nearly 50% from the field. Jensen was the game’s top scorer, posting 21 points while adding seven rebounds. Carson Tovey also had seven rebounds on the day, and he chipped in 14 points as well. Nine other Vikings got into the stat sheet with points. 

Viewmont played at Bonneville on Wednesday and cap the regular season with a home game with Clearfield on Friday. 

Woods Cross

The Wildcats won’t be able to get to first place in Region 5, but they have had a nice run in region play and began this week with a 13-8 record overall. 

Before ending the regular season at Bountiful, the Wildcats faced Northridge at home on Wednesday. 

In Woods Cross’ loss to Viewmont last Wednesday, Elliot Bendinger had a stellar outing, posting a double-double. The junior forward had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the 56-53 setback. Madden Johnson added 15 points, while Hunter Jackson had a good all game with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. 

On Feb. 7, Woods Cross blew past Roy 68-44 at home. Woods Cross outpaced Roy 22-5 in the third quarter alone. Bendinger once again had a double-double, this time scoring 26 points and pulling down 11 boards. Jackson had nine points, four rebounds, six assists and six steals.