Changes abound for Brighton boys hoops
If things appear different with Brighton High’s boys basketball team this season, it won’t be without reason.
The Bengals expect to go through a transitional year from top to bottom this season. Much of the team’s scoring punch has graduated, while longtime coach Lyndon Johnson resigned in March. Still, the cupboard isn’t entirely bare, and new coach Jeff Gardner brings a fresh perspective to the team.
Brighton finished 15-8 overall and 7-5 in the ultra-tough Region 4 last season, good enough for third place. The Bengals lost to Murray in the 5A quarterfinals 76-65. Corbin Miller, who averaged 19 points per game, Loi Masina and Austin Hudson have since graduated from that team. Miller earned a scholarship to Harvard, while Masina and Hudson combined to average 23 points per game.
Miller made the all-region first team, Hudson was on the second team and Masina earned honorable mention. Miller was also a second-team all-state honoree.
In their place, Gardner expects returnees Brandon Miller and Zach Wertz to carry much of the load. Miller, a junior, averaged eight points per game and made 26 3-pointers last season. Wertz, a senior, comes off the football season and averaged eight points with 20 3-pointers last year. However, no other returnee averaged even one full point per game for the Bengals last season.
Role players Derek Newell, Greg Peterson and Ethan Wilcox have also graduated for Brighton, which averaged 67 points per game last year while allowing an average of 62.
Gardner, meanwhile, comes over after coaching the past five seasons at Mountain View. Johnson had posted a 115-65 coaching record in eight seasons with the Bengals.
Despite the lack of returnees, Brighton has reason to be optimistic this season. First, the move to Region 3 is a welcomed change after spending the past seasons in what was considered 5A’s toughest region with traditional powers Lone Peak and American Fork. Jordan and Alta also moved to Region 3, which now includes Copper Hills, Cottonwood and West Jordan.
Brighton and West Jordan are the only Region 3 teams that posted overall winning records last season. Jordan, Alta, Copper Hills and Cottonwood went a collective 37-51.
West Jordan is widely considered the region favorite and one of the top contenders for the state championship. The Jaguars earned the Region 3 co-championship with Bingham and have University of Utah commit Jordan Loveridge, Jordan Pryor and Skyline transfer Jaden Jackson to contend with.
Brighton was scheduled to open the season Nov. 29 at West.
