Last season, the Farmington girls basketball team had some struggles in a 10-13 campaign. Just five games into this season, the Phoenix had already won four contests. 

At 4-1, Farmington was tied with Weber for the best overall record in Region 1. League play is still more than five weeks away, but Farmington is looking strong, particularly defensively. As of Dec. 5, Farmington is allowing just 32.2 points per game, best in Region 1. 

In its most recent outing, Farmington limited Spanish Fork to 33 points, including a single point in the second quarter. In fact, the Phoenix surrendered just 10 shots from the floor the entire game. Offensively, Farmington was led by Olive Wayland’s 13 points. Ellie Dorius scored 11 points. Farmington got to the foul line often, hitting 17 of 22 from the line. 

Farmington’s lone defeat so far came Nov. 24 at Green Canyon when it fell 41-40. That was also the only contest in which an opponent has scored at least 40 points. Twice so far, the Phoenix kept their opponent under 30 points, including a masterful defensive effort in the season-opening win at Northridge, 36-23 on Nov. 18. 

Offensively, Farmington hasn’t scored a ton of points, though it hasn’t had to yet. Dorius paces the squad with 9.6 points per game, with Wayland right behind with an average of 9.2 points a contest. Makelle Weber, just a sophomore, scores 8.6 points a game. 

Farmington hosts Bonneville on Dec. 9 and then travels to Pleasant Grove on Dec. 11. 

Davis 

The Darts have also played five games so far this young season. Head coach Nicole Waddoups has guided Davis to a 3-2 start. 

On defense, Davis hasn’t been too far behind Farmington, giving up only 38.8 points per game. The most the team has surrendered in a game so far is 53 in a four-point loss at Fremont on Nov. 25. However, Davis has held the three opponents it has defeated to no more than 34 points. Clearfield reached that clip against the Darts on Dec. 4, but Davis managed 47. 

The win was far from easy, though, and required some late-game heroics. 

Against Clearfield, Davis trailed 20-13 at the break. A 12-5 advantage for Davis in the third quarter tied things up at 25-25 heading into the fourth quarter. That’s when the Darts cranked up the offense, tallying 22 points in a decisive final six minutes. Lydia Tarbet had a team-high 14 points, while Emma Loveland scored 12 points, all courtesy of three-pointers. Kate Willard added nine points for Davis. 

Two days before this win, Davis kept Sky View in check with just 32 points in a 15-point triumph. Playing on the road, the Darts gave up just 14 points in the first half and outscored the home team 13-5 in the fourth quarter. No one for Davis reached double figures in points, put three players—Loveland, Emma Knight and Hannah Garlock—each had six points, and Kiara Zwonitzer had eight points. The Darts connected on six three-pointers and only allowed two from Sky View. 

The Darts still have multiple non-region games on the slate, with Mountain Ridge visiting on Dec. 9 for the next contest. Davis then plays at defending Class 6A runner-up Copper Hills on Dec. 11.