This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Alta girls basketball coach Sean Yeager felt his team accomplished its main goals during a four-game swing in California over the holidays. But that didn't mean there still wasn't work to be done back in Utah before the team launches into region play.
Although the Hawks cruised to a 61-22 victory over Cottonwood on Tuesday night, Yeager pulled out two of his starters not even a minute into the contest at Alta.
"It was just a lack of focus. We're trying to think fast and always know what we're in next," Yeager said. "I just didn't feel like we were doing that. I still have complete confidence in our girls, but sometimes you have to talk to them, let them think about it a little while."
In a low-scoring first quarter, Alta (6-6) was up 7-5 with 1 minute, 30 seconds left when Mariah Martin scored on a fast-break layup. The Hawks then started the second quarter by registering the first 12 points as part of a 19-2 run.
No Alta player reached double figures. Martin and Madyson Quigley paced the team with eight points apiece. Stephanie Brennisian added seven as the Hawks emptied their bench from the opening moments of the second half.
Cottonwood (5-5), which started the season by winning four of its first five, got 10 points from post Andrea Brady.
"We had a rough week last week," said Colts coach Janae Hirschi, whose squad committed 34 turnovers in the loss. "The girls were just mentally not ready to go. I felt we could have done a better job with the last few teams that we've played and probably beaten them had they shown up mentally."
Cottonwood starts region play Tuesday with a game at West. Alta opens its region schedule with a road game at Jordan on the same night. —