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Richfield • The Class 1A boys' basketball tournament often offers the most geographic diversity of any of the 10 events, as well as some of the biggest mystery. The teams and leagues are so spread across Utah that favorites sometimes fall and surprises are often the norm.

Throw in year-ending league tournaments that often scramble standings, and any one of a number of teams could come away from the state meet that begins Wednesday after Tuesday play-in games at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield.

This year, for example, you have Monument Valley, which is about as far south as you go before hitting Arizona, hoping to make the tournament. There is Rich on the Utah-Wyoming-Idaho border. And there is Wendover, which is only a few yards from the Nevada state line.

Region 17 champion Rich comes into the tournament as the favorite, though the Rebels have struggled in recent years to get past the semifinals. Wyatt Muirbrook and Mike Jarman lead a team with many players from the state football title team that could be dangerous.

That said, Region 19 champion Monticello surprised a lot of experts by winning it all a year ago and could easily be the co-favorite in this one, with Sheldon Black and Matt Freestone returning from a very good team.

And it's a rare year when Region 20 isn't the mix. Valley, the regular season champion, was knocked off in the league tournament by Piute, but could be dangerous, as could the Thunderbirds.

Ogden Catholic school St. Joseph comes in as a league champion, but in recent years Region 18 hasn't been as strong.

A good first-round test sends Tintic and Valley against each other. Both have 17-5 records. How this turns out should give an indication to the relative strength of the regions.

A team that also could surprise is Green River, which comes into the tournament with a 17-5 mark. Don't be surprised if 16-4 Tabiona isn't in the mix, either.

After Tuesday's play-in games, there will be eight first-round games Wednesday followed by quarterfinals Thursday, semifinals Wednesday and the title game Saturday at 5 p.m. All games will be played at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield

Twitter: @tribtomwharton —

1A boys' basketball

P At the Sevier Valley Center (Richfield)

Wednesday's schedule

10 a.m. • Wayne 10-13 vs. Wendover, 19-10

11:30 a.m. • Rich 18-4 vs. Diamond Ranch/Pinnacle winner

1 p.m. • Monticello vs. Manila/Mt. Vernon winner

2:30 p.m. • Tintic 17-5 vs. Valley 17-5

4 p.m. • Tabiona 16-4 vs. Monument Valley/Telos winner

5:30 p.m. • Piute 16-6 vs. Dugway/Bruce Valley winner

7 p.m. • St. Joseph 18-6 vs. Panguitch/West Ridge winner

8:30 p.m. • Green River 17-5 vs. Duchesne/Milford winner