So, how much trouble can the Miners really be in? Probably not much.

But to listen to coach Rand Rasmussen talk, it seems his team is on death's door. Last year he ranked his team ninth among eight teams. This year he put Riverton at the top of the pack in Region 3 and his own Bingham team at the bottom.

"My main goal is to not get fired by the end of this year," he said.

The veteran coach certainly will not get himself fired. If anything, last year's performance in the Class 5-A playoffs ensured he's one of the top prep coaches around.

And once again, despite Rasmussen's dire predictions, Bingham should be sitting near the top of the pack. But it will be sitting there without any seniors.

The two returning all-staters, both juniors, are center Megan Marks (6-feet-3) and guard Stephanie Sampson.

Cami Hymas, the younger sister of all-stater Kris Hymas, who graduated last year, is on the team but didn't start last year.

Look for the Miners to play that same scrappy style they used so well last season. Only time will tell if they are able to reach the championship game and avenge last year's loss to 5-A champion Layton, but certainly don't look for them at the bottom of the region.

"It depends on how fast we'll understand," Rasmussen said. "And to tell you the truth, we'll do just fine."

Copper Hills

The Grizzlies just might be the Miners' opposites.

Coach Dave Seaman said the team lost four starters, including Tribune all-stater Janell Allen, but should begin this year with seven seniors toting along plenty of varsity experience.

Guards Sierra Taylor and Brittany Sosa will be back. And Chelsey Sandberg, out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury last year, will return to the court. Among the returning seniors are three post players with experience as well.

The Grizzlies will be senior-heavy and packing some depth to boot, but will they be able to turn the tide and post some crucial wins in Region 3 this year? The bigger question, though, is will they finally be able to make it past the first round of the playoffs?

Seaman is counting on another year of experience and fine-tuning to move the team along.

"We're really close to having an outstanding season," he said.

Riverton

The Silverwolves might have the most solid team in Region 3. Coach Rob Ence lost two seniors to graduation, but neither started.

The team's only real casualty is losing senior forward Brie White, who chose to put more time into her schoolwork.

"I tried to talk her back," Ence said.

Though she won't play, the team isn't hurting for players.

Ence is planning on rotating eight or nine players each night.

"I think the thing we have this year is a lot more depth," Ence said. "Lots of good kids to choose from."

Leading his list of returning players is senior Tribune all-state guard Dayna Burgess. Ence said Burgess is the first girl from Riverton to be selected first-team all-state.

Also returning is second-team all-state post player Amanda Hansen and junior shooting guard Shannon Hildreth.

"These three will do most of my scoring," Ence said.

Ence cautiously is optimistic about this year but believes the team that wins Region 3 will have to go through Bingham to get it. Riverton has the experience.

After last year's winning season, with only four losses, the Silverwolves lost in first round of the playoffs, 65-62 to Viewmont.

Don't look for that to happen again.

"We'll just prepare and be competitive," Ence said.