By Brian Shaw | [email protected]

Coming off a 12-10 season in which they tied for second in Region 7, the Cottonwood Colts girls basketball team only lost three seniors to graduation.

Cottonwood also hosted its first 5A state playoff game in many years and had its first winning season since 2014.

“I anticipate them having a little better year than what they had last year,” said Cottonwood athletic director Greg Southwick of the girls team after watching tryouts Nov. 9.

Experience is why there’s such optimism at Cottonwood, added Southwick, who was a longtime high school basketball coach before he became an athletic director. 

In the front court, the Colts return their leading scorer, forward Ali Tripp (16 points per game) and 6-foot-tall center Kennedy Covili, who was their leading rebounder. Both seniors will provide size and length to the squad.

With junior Alivia Hutton who was unmistakable last year in her pink dyed hair, and that other half of the Tripp sisters (sophomore Ashlyn) along with junior forward Avea VanDerBeek making up the backcourt, the Colts have shooters and defenders to compete with anyone.

Cottonwood head coach Tess Soracco will have plenty of other options as well. Junior guard Ciel Budge and senior Rio Barrowes along with junior forward Isabella Morris and one or two kids from the Colts JV team replacing those graduated seniors will make it one to watch once Region 7 play starts.

To get them ready for the region, the Colts will face a daunting preseason schedule. They will tip off November with two games against Class 6A opponents. First, at Granger on Nov. 22—then they will have their first home game against Mountain Ridge on Nov. 29.

Cottonwood will then travel to 5A Park City on Dec. 1, host 6A Taylorsville Dec. 5 and play at 5A Timpview Dec. 8.

After a one-week break for finals, the Colts will host two games against 3A Summit Academy (Dec. 15) and 6A Hunter (Dec. 20) before they hit the road for a three-day holiday tournament from Dec. 28-30.

After that, Cottonwood will open Region 7 play with a home game against Cedar Valley on Jan. 3, 2023 for a season that many hope will be even better than the last.

With a loaded lineup featuring their top returning scorer last year in senior forward Ali Tripp along with their third, fourth and fifth scoring options (Covili, VanDerBeek, and Hutton), you’ve got to think the Colts have a good shot to have a great year.

There will be a complete recap of the Colts’ first few games in November and early December in next month’s South Salt Lake Journal.