Colt girls experiencing highs and lows
With the majority of its starting lineup having graduated, Cottonwood High’s girls basketball team expects to be a work in progress for much of the season.
Through the first four games, the Colts are adhering to those expectations.
Cottonwood was 2-2 as of our press deadline, with victories over Payson (45-29) on Nov. 22 and East (41-23) on Dec. 8 and losses to Layton (54-22) on Dec. 5 and Cyprus (44-37) on Dec. 7. Last year, the Colts had one of their best seasons in school history, reaching the 5A quarterfinals and finishing 15-6.
However, players such as McKenzie Anderson (10 points per game) and Vika Havili (12) have since graduated, taking their scoring with them. In their place, returnees Kari Uncles and Tina Hosea have picked up some of the slack. Uncles has made eight 3-pointers and averages 14 points per game, while Hosea, who averaged seven points per game last season, has upped her scoring to nine per game.
Uncles made four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points in the season opener against Payson. Hosea tallied 13 points and Brianna Jorgensen had 10, as Cottonwood led 28-16 at halftime on the strength of a 21-8 second quarter. Payson led 8-7 after one quarter but was outscored 38-21 the rest of the game.
The Colts found the opposition much more difficult against Layton, which led 27-6 at halftime and extended the margin to 39-10 after three quarters. Uncles scored 16 of Cottonwood’s 22 points.
Hosea and Uncles each scored 12 points in the loss to Cyprus. Christina Schwartz added six points and Andrea Brady had five. Cyprus led 20-15 at halftime and maintained the lead in the second half.
Cottonwood rediscovered its rhythm against East, building a 23-11 halftime lead. Uncles netted 17 points, Hosea 10, Brady six and Hayley King contributed four points.
While Uncles and Hosea have scored well thus far, only two other players – Brady and Jorgensen – average at least three points. Uncles averaged two points per game off the bench last year.
The Colts were scheduled to resume play Dec. 14 at Taylorsville and Dec. 16 at Hillcrest.
