High school basketball season tips off this week for county teams

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The 2022-23 basketball season will tip off this week for high school teams in San Juan County. The defending 2A state champion San Juan Broncos will do the honors on Wednesday, November 16 when they travel all the way to Junction, UT to take on Piute in the 1A-2A Champions Game.
It’s an exhibition between the 2021-22 1A and 2A state champions, so it won’t officially count, but it will still be fun. Of course, the teams aren’t the same as they were last season, specifically San Juan.
Gone are all the Bronco starters from last year’s team along with their head coach. Johnny Slavens is the new head coach for the team. Tip’s set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and you can watch the game live on teamhive.live.
The Broncos will play their first official game on Monday, November 21 when they head to Moab to take on the rival Grand County Red Devils. Tip is at 7 p.m. for that one and it will be broadcast live on Redrock 92 with streaming video on pictureitpalmer.com.
The San Juan girls will also get underway this Wednesday, November 16 at Grand at 7 p.m. They’ll return home to host Monument Valley in the Cougars’ season opener Tuesday, November 29 at 7 p.m.
The Bronco girls have a new head coach as well. Kade Palmer has taken over in his first head coaching assignment. For Monument Valley Terri James is entering the first year of her second stint as head coach and fifth overall.
The Monticello girls will open their season at the 1A Preview in Richfield this Friday and Saturday, November 18-19. They play Bryce Valley at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and Milford at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Buckaroos are coached by Marcia Shumway who is entering her third season at the helm.
The MHS boys have a couple extra weeks to get set for the start of their season. They tip it off against Grand in Monticello on Tuesday, November 29. Buckaroo Head Coach Josh Keyes is also entering his third season.
The Monument Valley boys will travel to Orderville, UT to take on the Valley Buffalos in their season opener this Friday, November 18. The Cougars are coached by Merrill Smith, who’s entering his fourth season.
The Whitehorse girls will join Monticello to open their season at the 1A Preview at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield this Friday and Saturday, November 18-19.
They’ll face Wayne at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Escalante at 9 a.m. Saturday. Raider Head Coach Joni Dickson is entering her second year.
The Whitehorse boys tip off their season at the Jerry Richardson Invitational in Shiprock, NM Thursday through Saturday, December 1-3. Evan Grant is head coach of the Raiders.
We’ll have more detailed season previews of all the teams and conversations with the coaches in upcoming issues of the San Juan Record.