Colts making strides despite losses
Records can be deceiving, as Cottonwood High’s boys basketball might indicate.
Though the Colts were just 4-8 overall and 0-1 in Region 3 as of press deadline, six different players have led the team in scoring during games this season. Additionally, several players have also established career-highs in individual points per game average thus far.
Still, Cottonwood has its work cut out to hang with its region foes. West Jordan and Alta appear to be the frontrunners, given their combined 19-3 record in preseason play. In fact, the Colts were the only Region 3 team not to have a winning preseason record (4-7).
After starting the season 1-3, Cottonwood has gone 3-5 over the last month. The Colts defeated Hillcrest (70-64) in overtime, Juan Diego (49-38) and Taylorsville (52-46), and lost to Davis (46-36), Highland (41-32), Riverton (64-58) in overtime, Bountiful (59-41) and West Jordan (66-36). Cottonwood was scheduled to resume region play Jan. 17 at Brighton and Jan. 20 against visiting Jordan.
Phoenix Passey was leading the Colts in scoring at 10 points per game. Ryan Mackay averaged nine points and four rebounds, Parker Swope seven points, Braxton Budo and Steven Haglund six apiece, Connor Durrant five and Hunter Hanks four points and three assists. Of the returnees, only Swope and Hanks averaged more than one points per game for the Colts last season.
Mackay has led the team in scoring three times, while Swope, Passey, Budo and Durrant have each led the team twice and Haglund once. However, team scoring has been an issue. The Colts have averaged 47 points and allowed 54 thus far -- the fourth-worst differential in 5A.
Although there are 11 seniors on the roster, Cottonwood has had trouble finding a post presence. Budo, Haglund and Passey are all 6-4, but the team has relied more on its perimeter game.
Mackay scored 12 points and Durrant and Haglund had eight apiece in the loss to Davis. Swope, who has made 19 3-pointers, scored 22 points in the overtime win over Hillcrest. Budo and Mackay each scored 16 points as the Colts outscored the Huskies 10-4 in overtime.
Durrant paced Cottonwood with 16 points in the win over Juan Diego, as Mackay added 12 points and Swope seven. Budo netted 11 points and Mackay 10 in the loss to defending 4A state champ Highland.
The Colts got solid individual contributions from several players, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Riverton in overtime. Passey scored 20 points, Swope had 12 and Mackay and Haglund added eight apiece. Haglund led another balanced effort against Taylorsville with 13 points. Hanks had nine points, Swope eight, Budo seven and Passey six for Cottonwood.
Durrant scored 12 points in the preseason finale against Bountiful. Budo added 10 points, Swope had six and Passey five. Mackay led the effort against West Jordan with nine points. Hanks and Haglund each scored seven points and Budo added six for the Colts.
Cottonwood missed the playoffs last season after finishing 9-12 overall.
