As rivalries go, the one between the Bingham and Riverton girls' basketball teams is as heated as any BYU-Utah contest. The two schools are separated by less than four miles, but the chasm feels as wide as the Grand Canyon.

The animosity starts at the top with the head coaches, Rand Rasmussen of Bingham and Riverton's Ron Ence. There is no love lost between two of the most successful coaches in recent memory.

It continued this past Thursday night when Bingham narrowly edged Riverton 32-30, another classic chapter in this budding story. Defense was the theme in this stanza, as evidenced by the low score and high number of turnoverss.

The win gives the Miners the season series as they defeated the Silverwolves 41-30 on Jan. 12. But more importantly, it gives Bingham a full game lead over Riverton in Class 5A, Region 3, and keeps them even with Taylorsville at 5-1 in region play.

"We're not Riverton fans, it's no secret," said Rasmussen, "They have one of the top programs over there, and we know the road to the playoffs starts with beating them."

Since 2004, Riverton has amassed a 105-14 record overall and a 49-5 record in region play, including back-to-back undefeated region years in 07-08 and 08-09. Those undefeated years include season sweeps of the Miners, which has stuck like a thorn in Rasmussen's side.

"I haven't talked to the press in a long time, and part of that has to do with Riverton," said Rasmussen, "Their fans said some things on a blog that really upset me and my family, and that kind of stuff does not fly with me."

Rasmussen, who recently passed the 400 career victory mark, knows that winning the season series was the first step toward another state championship. He feels like his team is starting to peak at just the right time, and is looking forward to a rematch against Taylorsville, who sits atop the Region 3 standings at the moment because of their 43-42 overtime victory over Bingham last week.

With both Taylorsville and Bingham tied at 5-1 in region play, the region crown may come down to the last game of the year -- provided both teams win out -- held at Bingham on Feb. 16.

"In this region, it's not a sprint, but more of a marathon." Said Bingham assistant coach Cami Low, "We're trying to keep the girls on an even keel so that they aren't too jacked up for any one game."

That proposition is always easier said than done, especially with high school athletes. But the Miners get it. They know what their ultimate prize is, and with the playoffs just around the corner, they have positioned themselves for a top seed in the tournament.

Led by a trio of seniors in Chalese Fankhauser, Rachel Gines and Nicole Newbold who supply Bingham with all the intangibles like leadership, rebounding and defense, you can see why opposing coaches have sleepless nights devising game plans for Bingham.

Add in the startling emergence of sophomore Dezz Ramos, who leads the team in scoring at just under 11 points per game, and the Miners look like they will be a threat once again in the 5A tournament.

And after being shockingly routed by 20 points against American Fork in the semifinals last year, one of only three losses on the season (the other two were to Riverton), look for Bingham to come out swinging in this year's playoffs.

It's just the way their coach likes it.