San Juan girls basketball team wins three of first four games to open 2024-25 season

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School girls basketball team is off to a strong start with three wins in their first three games over the course of the past week.
They opened with a tough matchup on the road against the 3A Juab Lady Wasps on Wednesday, November 20. The Lady Broncos struggled offensively in a 60-18 loss.
Kaidence Mitchell led the team with 12 points in the loss. Hayden Shumway scored three, Tzosilah Etsitty got two, and Madi Adams rounded out the San Juan scoring with one point.
Two nights later the girls were back on the road for a long trip north to Ogden where they rebounded for a solid 33-20 win over the 3A Ben Lomond Lady Scots.
San Juan won every quarter on the way to their first win of the season and were led by Khimya Fullwood’s 14 points. Mitchell added 11, Syndel Atcitty scored four, and Shumway and Adams tallied two apiece.
On their way home from Ogden the Lady Broncos stopped by Herriman to face the Providence Hall Lady Patriots in their third game in a row against a 3A opponent.
San Juan jumped out to a 22-10 lead with their best quarter of the early season. Providence Hall rallied to outscore the Lady Broncos 16-7 in the second frame, but San Juan still held a 29-26 lead at halftime.
The Lady Broncos put together another solid quarter to start out the second half, outscoring the Lady Patriots 15-8 to stretch their lead to 44-34 heading into the final frame.
It was a battle with both teams scoring 13 points in the fourth, as San Juan held on for their second win of the season, finishing out a lengthy road trip in impressive fashion.
Mitchell led the offensive effort for San Juan with an 18-point game. Atcitty poured in 12 points, Fullwood scored nine, Adams got eight, Shumway added six, and Macee Palmer got four.
On Monday, November 25 the Lady Broncos finally played another 2A team in their home opener against Summit Academy where they kept the momentum rolling with a 46-32 win.
San Juan led the Lady Bears from start to finish, building a 13-10 advantage after one quarter and increasing it to 20-12 at the half. The girls got out of the gate quickly in the second half with a 17-point third quarter, setting the tone for the final score.
Madi Adams led scoring this time with a solid 13-point game. Khimya Fullwood backed her up with 11 and Kaidence Mitchell poured in ten points.
Hayden Shumway and Syndel Atcitty scored four points apiece. Daviegh Mitchell got in on the action with her first two varsity points of the year and Macee Palmer also got two points in the win.
Shumway and Fullwood pulled down seven rebounds apiece against Summit Academy. Kaidence Mitchell and Macee Palmer both got four each. Atcitty helped out the offense with six assists.
Laura Stearns, who has returned for her fifth season as San Juan Head Coach after a two-year hiatus, says the team was slow out of the gate against Juab, only shooting the ball 28 times while turning it over 51 times.
But the players received a bit of coaching following the loss, learning what changes were needed if they wanted to win. The girls have made those changes and some wins have followed.
Following the flurry of four games in six days to start the season San Juan is 3-1 heading into the Thanksgiving break.
“They are shooting the ball more and making the shots that they should,” said Stearns after her team’s win over Summit Academy. “Turnovers have decreased. They are moving without the ball.
“Most importantly they want to win and are fighting for each game. That is the most fun to see.” Stearns spoke about some of the key players on the team and what she’s seen so far this season.
“Our sophomores Syndel Attcity and Khimya Fullwood are vital parts of both our offense and defense. They are great team players and just fun to watch,” she explained.
“Syndel is literally everywhere on defense and Khimya runs down the court smiling after taking someone to the basket.
“Kaidence Mitchell is our steady and consistent teammate. She’ll do whatever you ask her 100 percent and do it well.
“Madi Adams has really stepped up. I see great things in her as a player. She has so much potential and has proved in the last two games that she can be a threat on the three-point line.
“Our returning seniors Hayden Shumway, Macee Palmer, and Tzosilah Ettcity are a trio of great leadership on and off the court. They put everything out on the court, whether it’s a rebound or a momentum-needed shot.”
Stearns says the team is looking forward to a fun and long season. San Juan is back on the court on Tuesday, December 3 with their second home game in a row against yet another 3A opponent – the Manti Lady Templars.