Prep basketball preview: Hopeful Soter sees Clearfield girls as Region 5 contender
Falcons coming off first winning season since 2016
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- Clearfield’s Izzy Wyaskett, right, drives against Weber’s McKenna Whetton (1) on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Xiyah Yarbrough (2) takes contact in a game against Weber on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield and Weber players battle for possession in a game Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Amoree Scholer (24) and Bonneville’s Sidnee Geerdes (0) compete for the jump ball to start a game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
CLEARFIELD — Legitimate expectations follow JT Soter into Year 3 as head coach of Clearfield High’s girls basketball team coming off the program’s first winning season since 2016. The Falcons are depending on a familiar starting lineup this winter after losing three seniors to last year’s graduating class.
Soter considers the upcoming season a true litmus test for the future of his team, looking to improve upon a 17-7 finish and a 65-45 loss against Brighton in the 5A state tournament. Clearfield returns key pieces in junior center Amoree Scholer, senior guard Xiyah Yarbrough (11.4 ppg) and junior guard Izzy Wyaskett (11.0 ppg).
A Region 5 title isn’t out of reach for the upcoming squad, Soter said. The Clearfield coach said the ascent for his group begins with nailing down practice, week after week. Assistant coaches Matt Alverson, Luis Gomez and Rachel Watson are all set to return.
“I’m looking to improve practices from my perspective (and) my responsibility,” Soter said. “Really test them in practice so when it comes to game day, they’re even more ready. … We want to win (Region 5), that’s one of our goals. We want to compete at the state level and we feel like we can do that this year.”
Soter identified speed and ball handling as his offense’s most valuable traits entering the season, with outside shooting remaining a lingering concern heading into a tough preseason schedule including dates with Copper Hills and Wasatch.
But defense is where Soter feels his team can stand out after generating 16.3 steals and 11.6 turnovers per game last season. The return of Wyaskett, Region 5’s steal leader (5.1) a year ago, will be at the core of a defense hoping to replicate such aggressive numbers.
Asked about his region counterparts, Soter pointed to former colleagues Johnny Caine at Bonneville and Chris Smith at Northridge as partners that’ve helped grow his game in a short period.
“It’s pretty competitive with some good coaches,” Soter said. “It’s going to be a battle every night but I feel like we should be one of the top teams in the region.”
Clearfield opens the season at home, hosting Skyline on Nov. 20.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
