Jordan looking to rebound for new season

After what head coach Steve Crandall called “a disappointing, but learning” 2010-2011 season where the team had a 3-17 record, the Jordan girls basketball team is looking to come back strong in a new season and in a new region.

With the new 5A region alignments, Jordan will now compete in Region 3. It will still face off against longtime rivals Alta and Brighton, two teams Jordan could not beat last season. However, the team will now also face Copper Hills, Cottonwood and West Jordan.

“The new region will be an opportunity for us to show who we are and hopefully, make a bigger impact,” Crandall said. “Our hope is to place in the region so that we can make it to the state playoffs.”

Crandall believes that with the returning talent he has for this season and the amount of offseason work his girls have put in, the Beetdiggers will have a chance at rebounding and finding success this year.

“These guys have played a lot during the offseason and have really worked on developing specific skills,” Crandall said. “They have already made some big improvements, and it will be exciting to see them bringing that to the court.”

Junior point guard Abbie Bird is looking to continue leading the team’s offensive drives. Last season, Bird averaged 15.5 points a game and was given a 5A All-State honorable mention from the Deseret News.

Forward Patty Daley and post Ashley Anjewireden will be leading the team on defense. Daley, a junior, averaged more than eight rebounds a game and had 10 blocked shots last season. Crandall is looking for a repeat performance from Daley this year and sees the potential impact that senior Anjewireden can have for his team.

“Ashley is a hard worker, and she is very dedicated,” he said. “She has worked hard to become a bigger part of the team on offense and on defense for this year.”

After graduating only three seniors from last year’s team, Crandall hopes that his returning players will enter this season more experienced and ready to play.

“We have a great group of girls that will be a part of the team,” he said. “Any one of them can really shine. If they work well together, we will have a good chance of improving our record this year.”

The season opened well for the Beetdiggers on Nov. 22 when they defeated Judge Memorial at home by a score of 56-50. Jordan then lost its match against Granger 48-41 on Nov. 29 and also lost a nail-biter against Hunter on Dec.3, 48-47.

Jordan bounced back with a 62-45 victory against Murray on Dec. 8. The Beetdiggers were then defeated by Westlake on Dec. 13, 64-48, and by Bingham on Dec. 15, 58-48.

Region competition begins Jan. 10 with Jordan playing West Jordan at home.