As the 2024-2025 Utah high school basketball season unfolds, two teams in the region are drawing attention: Piute and Kanab. Both schools are making their mark in the competition, with each team showcasing distinct strengths and challenges throughout their early performances. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of these two teams based on their records, statistics, and upcoming matchups.

Piute High School (5-5 Overall, 0-2 Region)

Piute, located in the central part of Utah, has had a mixed season so far with a .500 win percentage (5-5), which highlights their competitiveness but also their struggle in regional play (0-2). The team has been fairly balanced in home and away games, with a 3-2 record at home but a tough 0-3 record on the road. Despite the challenges in regional competition, Piute has managed to put up strong offensive numbers, averaging 45.3 points per game.

Team Scoring Breakdown:

• First Quarter: 10.6 points
• Second Quarter: 11.2 points
• Third Quarter: 10.9 points
• Fourth Quarter: 12.0 points
• Overtime: 6.0 points

Piute’s leader on the court is Cash Mortensen, who leads the team in multiple categories, including points (13.6 PPG), assists (4.1 APG), and steals (1.5 SPG). Another standout is Trajen Glazier, who contributes heavily in the rebound (6.6 RPG) and block (2.0 BPG) departments.

Despite these individual efforts, Piute has faced challenges in terms of team performance against common opponents. They have a 0-3 record against shared competition, showing the need for improved consistency if they hope to make a deeper run in the region.

Common Opponents: Piute has struggled against teams like Beaver, Bryce Valley, and North Sevier, losing all three matchups. These results highlight areas where the team will need to improve, particularly in high-stakes games against familiar rivals.

Kanab High School (6-3 Overall, 2-0 Region)

Kanab, on the other hand, has experienced a more successful start to their season, with a 6-3 record and a perfect 2-0 in regional play. Their overall win percentage of .667 shows they are a formidable team, particularly at home, where they hold a 3-1 record. The team’s road record is also strong at 3-2, and they are looking to build momentum as they head into the second half of the season.

Team Scoring Breakdown:

• First Quarter: 13.8 points
• Second Quarter: 12.7 points
• Third Quarter: 11.5 points
• Fourth Quarter: 15.7 points

Kanab’s offensive output is higher than Piute’s, averaging 51.3 points per game. A key player for Kanab is Caden Anderson, who has been their offensive leader, while Jacob Jensen stands out in defensive stats with 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. The team’s overall balance on both offense and defense has been a significant factor in their success thus far.

Common Opponents: Kanab has fared better than Piute against common opponents, holding a 1-1 record in these matchups. They managed to defeat Valley by a wide margin (61-36) and face other top-tier teams in the coming weeks. Kanab’s ability to win against regional rivals and tough non-league opponents is a testament to their competitive edge.

Head-to-Head Comparison

• Piute: 5-5 overall, 0-2 region, 3-2 home, 0-3 away
• Kanab: 6-3 overall, 2-0 region, 3-1 home, 3-2 away

Both teams have demonstrated strong potential but have faced different challenges. While Piute is working to find consistency, particularly in regional play, Kanab has enjoyed success in their early regional contests and will look to build on that momentum.

Looking Ahead

Both teams have a challenging schedule ahead, with Piute facing off against Millard and Panguitch, while Kanab will see action against Bryce Valley and Panguitch. The regional matchups will be crucial as the teams prepare for a potential playoff run.

In summary, Piute and Kanab both have promising players and solid team dynamics. While Kanab currently holds the edge in regional play, Piute’s resilience and standout performers like Mortensen and Glazier make them a team to watch as the season progresses. With the right adjustments and consistency, both teams could be key contenders as they approach the latter part of the season.