Morgan’s leading scorer had poured everything she had into the girls basketball program led by head coach Sterling Mack. Walking off the floor mere minutes removed from a 14-point loss to No. 5 Emery, Birkeland and her four fellow seniors were in disbelief.

“There were a lot of rough emotions,” Birkeland said. “But it was still a good season so I think we just tried to focus on that. … It just felt like everyone wasn’t in it all the way. Even if you all play your best, wanting to win and wanting to be there makes a big difference.

“All of us, I think, expected us to win.”

Birkeland is the 2025 Standard-Examiner All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

By the numbers, Birkeland had every right to be there. Morgan’s team captain walked into Orem as one of the state’s most efficient 3-point shooters — finishing the season No. 2 in the state with 80 made 3s behind Draper APA’s La’La Baldwin — and averaged 19.4 points per game. But Birkeland, who commanded 20-plus scoring during seven of Morgan’s last eight regular-season dates, was in for much different game the team bus crossed into Utah County.

As the No. 4 seed, Morgan spent nearly nine minutes after tipoff searching for a field goal. Birkeland, helping draw the Trojans within five to begin the second half, would be limited to just six points behind a team-high 12 by freshman Zoe Rockenfield. Emery produced a heavy third-quarter run and found the right baskets late to push over the Trojans, sliding into consolation play and ending the season with another defeat, 41-29, to No. 8 Judge Memorial Catholic.

Birkeland and Morgan went to Utah Valley University understandably confident. The Trojans hung a 31-point win on No. 13 North Sanpete in the second round, reassuring themselves after closing the regular season with consecutive losses heading into Mack and Morgan’s seventh postseason run together. Mack, reflecting on the unfortunate finish during a car ride to Logan, still struggles with the “question marks” around the most recent season.

“I still sit here and I just wonder what I could have (done) better to make sure all the girls were mentally just in it, give everything,” Mack said. “I don’t think I did enough or the right approach with this group. It was just a different feel this year. We had so many different personalities and not everyone was locked into it.”

But among the personalities leading his program, Mack didn’t need more than a few seconds to jump into how Birkeland waded through rough waters to put his team in a position to not only win basketball games, but grow as the individual leaders Mack will be desperate to find next year.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Whatever Mack was uncertain about, he’s certain Morgan’s better off for having Birkeland in the locker room.

“They’re going to follow her lead, her tenacity and just never complaining,” Mack said. “She was a coach’s person and her game showed it. … That’s what you need to compete in sports and I think she’ll leave that behind.”

Birkeland spent all four years playing basketball for a Mack-led Morgan. As a sophomore, she witnessed the program’s second state championship in five years but as the subsequent seasons veered, Birkeland began to appreciate how much effort goes into the player-coach relationship.

Mack fascinated the outgoing senior.

“He’s the most in it of any other coach I’ve seen,” Birkeland said. “I think he watches more film (and) puts in more work than any guy I’ve ever met. He does a good job making sure everyone’s comfortable, learning everyone’s different strengths and what they need.”

Switching between basketball and softball, Birkeland said the contrast in coaching brings out the best qualities of different sports. Birkeland encourages multi-sport athletes for this very reason, as it’s what led her to understanding each sport a little deeper and drove her interest in basketball specifically.

“You’re getting used to different ways of being taught and coached,” Birkeland said. “I think that helps build more relationships, friendships and just being more comfortable with being on two different teams.”

Mack shared Birkeland’s feelings, and was quick to highlight Birkeland’s high potential at the next level despite a lack of outside interest from area schools.

“I’m still dumbfounded by (Weber State),” Mack said. “They never showed interest, which blows my mind.”

Mack continued:

“The only thing, we’ve spoken about it and she works on it, is driving with her right hand,” Mack added. “She’s right-hand dominant but she loves to pull up with the left hand. When you get to the next level, you get coaches that are going to game plan and be able to scout you better. … But she’s a knockdown shooter, she can pull up off the dribble, she can create her own shot and she gets to the paint. She can play college ball.”

College basketball’s in the cards for Birkeland, Mack said, and Birkeland currently plans to play whenever she lands the right fit. Birkeland is undecided on her college choice but plans to study business or communications.

Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.