The day after the Judge Memorial game probably wasn't the best time to debate the merits of moving from 5A to 4A with Lehi girls' basketball coach Troy Gifford.

Here were the Pioneers at 6-0, back on the state radar and enjoying the kind of success they haven't seen since George W. Bush's first term and bam, they go to Judge Memorial and get beaten by 23 points.

That's Class 3A Judge Memorial, which has also done some damage to 4A and 5A competition.

"To be honest, moving to 4A isn't that big a deal. I don't think there's much difference between 4A and 5A,'' Gifford said. "Judge Memorial is pretty good and they're 3A. Springville's probably the best team in the state and they're 4A. We're just playing good basketball."

Judge Memorial aside, everything has fallen into place, including that move from 5A to 4A and out of the ultra-competitive Region 4.

With last year's coach Dave Robinson moving to Westlake to coach the boys, Gifford took the reins of a program that hadn't posted a winning season since 2006 -- its only winning season since the 2003 squad reached the state semis.

But it wasn't like Gifford had to start from scratch -- he was the sophomore coach and has coached this core of players in AAU ball.

"We've been around each other for about four years," Gifford said. "They've come a long way."

Playing together has produced one of the area's most balanced scoring efforts. There's no franchise player on the Pioneers -- Katie Rogers' 10.4 average is the highest -- but the next three leading scorers are in the 8-9 point range.

In victories over Spanish Fork and Granstville, Lehi had four players in double figures.

"This team is so unselfish," Gifford said. "We're getting a good chemistry and we're learning what it takes to win games."

Lehi started the season with a two-point victory against Payson and eked out a one-point win against Spanish Fork. Two other victories in the six-game streak were decided by six points or less.

"We've played some great games against some pretty good teams," Gifford said. "Every game somebody has stepped up and contributed."

Rogers, a senior, has contributed in the post while Barnes has provided outside shooting with 15 three-pointers, including five in the Spanish Fork game. Jackie Cattani has made a three-pointer in six of the seven games, while Gabby Granthem started the season with four consecutive double-figure games. Briar Sands rounds out the starting five.

"I knew they had potential," Gifford said. "After being around this team for so long, I expected us to be above .500 [at this point]. To be 6-1 is a pleasant surprise."

Gifford's confident of his program's future with a promising junior varsity team and support from the school administration.

"I have a great coaching staff, players who want to work and the administration's been great," Gifford said.

Lehi ended a five-game road swing Tuesday against Bear River and will open Region 7 play Dec. 30 against Westlake.