Taylorsville, Kearns girls hoops coming on strong

Seemingly everywhere you look, solid individual contributions are benefiting Taylorsville and Kearns High’s girls basketball teams this season.

Whitney Mitchell, Pela Tapusoa and Siu Lo’amanu are among those leading the Warriors, while Micaelee Orton, Rachel Graham and Tala Faumui are a big reason behind the Cougars’ success.

As of our press deadline, Taylorsville was 10-4 overall, and more importantly, 3-0 in Region 2 play. Kearns has been more inconsistent, going 6-8 overall and 1-2 in region. While the Warriors have won eight of their last nine games, the Cougars have lost five of their last nine. The longtime rivals were scheduled to battle for the first time this season on Jan. 19 at Taylorsville.

Taylorsville

After starting the season 2-3, the Warriors won their next five games. After the streak was broken by Weber, Taylorsville promptly started another streak, winning three straight.

The Warriors defeated Murray 59-28, Cottonwood 55-23, Timpview 62-46, Riverton 54-39, West Jordan 64-57, West 64-23, Granger 58-45 and Hunter 64-47. Still, the loss to Weber (61-43) probably sticks out the most to Taylorsville coaches and players.

Mitchell was averaging 16 points per game (sixth in 5A), Tapusoa 11 and Lo’amanu nine, while Abi Black averaged seven points and Karlee Jensen six. Mitchell, Tapusoa and Black have combined to make 56 3-pointers thus far. Taylorsville is outscoring opponents 53-47 on average.

The win over Hunter gave the Warriors plenty of reason to celebrate. Not only did they remain undefeated in region play, but Mitchell also reached 800 points for her career in the game. This year, Mitchell has only two games of scoring fewer than 10 points (eight against Weber and Riverton). She pumped in a season-high 25 points along with five 3-pointers in the win over Granger.

Tapusoa, meanwhile, has really come on this season. The sharpshooter averaged slightly less than five points per game last season but was already averaging 11 this year.

Taylorsville was also scheduled to host Viewmont on Jan. 17.

Kearns

The Cougars can thank Orton, Graham and Faumui for keeping them in most games, as the trio by far lead Kearns’ statistical categories. Orton, who has committed to BYU, is averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, Graham averages 10 points and has already made 32 3-pointers, and Faumui averages seven points and eight rebounds for the Cougars.

Orton was leading 5A in rebounding and was fifth in scoring, while Graham led 5A in three-point field goals made per game (2.29).

Orton, who has finally overcome injuries to have a healthy season, has seven double-doubles this year and has scored in double digits in all but one game, a loss to Davis. Graham has already surpassed last year’s 3-point total and has made five in one game (Brighton) and four three different times. She has gone only one game without a 3-pointer, against Murray. Faumui has three double-doubles.

C’era Valdez averages three points and Haily Ross five rebounds for Kearns, which has been outscored by opponents 45-44 on average.

The Cougars, who also started the season 2-3, have been up and down since. Kearns has been able to put together consecutive wins twice this season, but only two games each time. The Cougars defeated Clearfield 53-47, Springville 54-35, Murray 42-15 and West 43-33, and lost to Lehi 50-45, Judge Memorial 66-52, Brighton 46-43, Hunter 41-38 and Viewmont 45-36.

Kearns was scheduled to host Granger on Jan. 17.