The Brighton varsity basketball team (Salt Lake City, UT) will host a home conference game against Highland (Salt Lake City, UT) on Friday, January 31, at 7 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Utah High School Basketball
Who: Highland vs Brighton
When: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game Preview: Highland vs Brighton

As the Utah high school basketball season heats up, two top-tier teams, Highland and Brighton, are making waves in their respective regions. These teams have showcased impressive performances, and their upcoming clash on January 31st promises to be an exciting contest.

Team Overview: Highland vs. Brighton

Highland enters this season with an impressive record of 15-2, boasting a .882 overall win percentage and a dominant .833 region record. Their performance has been consistent across all settings, with a perfect 5-0 record at home and 5-1 away. With a total of 1,169 points scored and 920 points allowed, they’ve averaged an impressive 67.5 points per game. The team’s well-rounded play includes an average of 28.1 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 9.9 steals, and 7.9 blocks per game.

Key player Vai Higby leads the team with 13.7 points per game, while Soren Ries contributes heavily in rebounds (7.9 per game). Highland’s success has been built on solid defense and balanced offensive play.

Brighton, on the other hand, holds a record of 10-7. Though their win percentage is lower at .588, they’ve shown their strength, particularly on the road, with a 4-2 away record. Brighton’s offense averages 62.2 points per game, slightly trailing Highland, but they’ve managed 25.9 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 7.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.

The star of the team is Josh Mawhinney, who leads with 17.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Mawhinney’s all-around play has been pivotal for Brighton, and he’ll be essential for the team’s hopes of pulling an upset in their upcoming matchup.

Head-to-Head History

These two teams recently faced off on January 10th, with Highland coming out on top 67-54. The game featured a strong showing from Highland in the second and third quarters, where they outscored Brighton by a significant margin. Highland’s depth and balance in scoring were evident, with multiple players contributing to the victory. This win only solidified Highland’s dominance in the region.

Now, Brighton will look to make adjustments as they host Highland on January 31st, hoping to secure an important win at home.

Statistical Comparison

Key Players to Watch

• Highland: Vai Higby (13.7 PPG) – The offensive leader for Highland, Higby’s ability to score efficiently will be a key factor in their success.
• Brighton: Josh Mawhinney (17.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG) – Brighton’s primary weapon, Mawhinney will need to dominate both ends of the floor for Brighton to have a chance in this game.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents this season, with Highland boasting a 5-2 record against shared teams, while Brighton is 4-3. Notably, both teams have encountered challenges against top-tier teams like Davis and Olympus, with Highland dropping close games to both. Brighton, however, has also had its fair share of difficult matchups, including losses to Olympus and Skyline.

The teams have had varying success against similar opponents, with Highland having a slight edge in these contests, but Brighton’s ability to compete and win key games shows that they can rise to the challenge when needed.

The Upcoming Game: January 31, 2025

As the two teams gear up for their next matchup on January 31st, this game is sure to be a battle. Highland’s offensive firepower, led by Vai Higby, will face off against Brighton’s tough defense, with Josh Mawhinney anchoring the paint. Will Brighton manage to level the playing field at home, or will Highland continue their strong campaign and extend their region dominance?

Stay tuned as these two powerhouses clash once again on the court!