The Jordan boys basketball team is made up of mostly underclassmen this season. But that hasn’t stopped the Beetdiggers from posting some impressive wins.

“We are a young team overall, but we have some very good players,” coach Trace Bevell said. “They are getting better and better the more we play.”

Jordan has compiled an 8-7 record with a strong 8-5 preseason tally, including wins in two different tournaments.

The Beetdiggers played in the Free Tax Shootout in Orem in early December, taking on schools from Hawaii, Colorado and Washington. They then went up against Utah schools in the Olympus Utah Autism Tournament during the Christmas break. Jordan picked up one win against Hawaii in the first tourney, then went 3-1 over the second series.

“The boys got to see how other teams in other states play,” Bevell said. “It helps them learn the game from a different perspective.”

Jordan is led this season by a trio of seniors who are using their experience to bring along the underclassmen. Seniors Tanner Monson and Calvin Hayward are starters on the squad, and senior Parker Morgan comes in as relief on the inside.

Hayward is the second-leading scorer on the team, accounting for 194 points and averaging over 12 points per game from the wing position.

“Hayward is one of our best three-point shooters this year,” Bevell said. “He worked hard throughout the offseason to improve his skill set and it is paying off for us this year.”

Monson plays in the power forward slot and is the third-leading scorer for Jordan, with 173 points this year.

“He is a big kid that can shoot from outside,” Bevell said. “He is good on the offensive boards and leads the team in overall rebounding.”

Monson is averaging over five rebounds per game with 83 boards this year. He plays about half the game as a reserve post player. Although at 6’4” he is usually guarding taller players, he doesn’t give up much inside.

“He is an undersized post, but he makes up for it by being a hard-nosed worker when he is on the court,” Bevell said.

Jordan relies on a sophomore guard who has proven to be a good all-around athlete at the school. Spencer Curtis is leading the team in scoring despite his youth, scoring 199 points this year. Curtis was also a starter as a freshman.

“He is a great defender and a good three-point shooter. He can pull up off the dribble and be deadly from beyond the arc.”

Curtis also earned all-state honors as a receiver on this season’s football team.

Alta also relies on junior point guard Stockton Christensen to run the floor.

“Christensen is a triple threat for us,” Bevell said. “He can hit the outside shot, drive inside or pass to an open player.”