The Copper Hills varsity basketball team (West Jordan, UT) will host a conference game against Mountain Ridge (Herriman, UT) on Friday, January 24, at 7 PM.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Utah High School Basketball
Who: Mountain Ridge vs Copper Hills
When: Friday, January 24, 2025
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here
Game Preview: Mountain Ridge vs Copper Hills
As the 2024-25 Utah high school basketball season heats up, an exciting matchup is on the horizon between the Mountain Ridge Sentinels and the Copper Hills Grizzlies. Both teams have shown promise this season, and with a head-to-head battle scheduled for January 24 at Copper Hills and a rematch on February 14 at Mountain Ridge, fans are in for a thrilling competition.
Team Overview & Standings
Mountain Ridge enters the game with an 8-7 overall record and a 1-2 mark in regional play. They have shown solid performance at home (3-3) and on the road (4-3), proving their resilience in both environments. Meanwhile, Copper Hills boasts a stronger overall record of 10-6 and a slightly better regional record at 1-2. The Grizzlies have demonstrated consistency at home (3-2) and an even stronger showing on the road (5-2), which could be a key factor in their upcoming matchups.
Statistical Comparison
Copper Hills holds a slight edge over Mountain Ridge in points per game, averaging 66.4 compared to Mountain Ridge’s 62.5. However, Mountain Ridge dominates the rebounding category with 28.8 rebounds per game, significantly outpacing Copper Hills’ 23.4. Assists are nearly even, with Copper Hills averaging 12.5 per game and Mountain Ridge close behind at 12.3. Defensively, Mountain Ridge also holds advantages in steals (8.1 vs. 6.9) and blocks (3.1 vs. 1.3), which could be crucial in slowing down the Grizzlies’ offensive attack.
Key Players to Watch
For Mountain Ridge, the standout performer is Landon Blackwell (#1), who leads the team in multiple categories:
- Points per game: 16.4
- Assists per game: 4.4
- Steals per game: 2.5
- Blocks per game: 1.0
Meanwhile, Copper Hills relies on Isaiah Reiser (#2) to drive their offense, leading the team with 18.9 points per game and 5.1 assists. Reiser will be key in setting the tempo and creating scoring opportunities.
On the boards, Will Lindsay (#21) of Mountain Ridge is a dominant force with 9.3 rebounds per game, while Jacob Curtis (#31) of Copper Hills leads his squad with 4.5 rebounds per game.
Scoring Trends
Mountain Ridge tends to have a strong third quarter, averaging 18.3 points, their highest-scoring period. Copper Hills, on the other hand, maintains a balanced attack throughout the game but sees a scoring uptick in the fourth quarter, averaging 16.6 points, which could be critical in closing out tight games.
Common Opponents & Performance
Both teams have faced similar competition this season, with comparable results:
- West Jordan: Both teams secured wins (Mountain Ridge 90-46, Copper Hills 73-54).
- Farmington: Both won their matchups (Mountain Ridge 68-56, Copper Hills 71-55).
- Herriman: Both suffered losses (Mountain Ridge 60-47, Copper Hills 71-66).
- Corner Canyon: Both fell short in close contests (Mountain Ridge 63-61, Copper Hills 74-65).
- Riverton: Both teams emerged victorious (Mountain Ridge 70-66, Copper Hills 95-73).
- Bingham: Only Copper Hills has played Bingham so far, suffering a 74-60 loss.
With a nearly identical performance against common opponents (Mountain Ridge 3-2, Copper Hills 3-3), this upcoming matchup appears evenly matched, setting the stage for a highly competitive game.
Game Outlook & Predictions
This game will likely be a battle of strengths—Mountain Ridge’s rebounding and defensive presence versus Copper Hills’ high-scoring ability and late-game execution. If Mountain Ridge can control the boards and limit Copper Hills’ fourth-quarter surge, they have a strong chance of coming away with a win. However, if Copper Hills can capitalize on their offensive efficiency and strong road record, they could secure a key regional victory.
Regardless of the outcome, fans can expect an intense and hard-fought matchup between two talented teams vying for positioning in the Utah high school basketball rankings. Be sure to catch the action on January 24 and the rematch on February 14!
