With talented teams such as Corner Canyon, Bingham and Riverton, Region 2 boys basketball is as competitive as you’ll find in the state. That makes Herriman’s season look even more impressive so far. 

The Mustangs were 4-1 halfway through the region portion of the season, after going 10-3 in non-region play. Herriman was averaging 68.7 points per game through 18 contests while giving up 60.7. The team has been good in close games and routed some opponent as well. 

In the team’s first five Region 2 games, Herriman defeated Mountain Ridge, 57-51 on Jan. 12; Riverton, 96-93 in a double-overtime thriller on Jan. 19; Bingham, 74-64 on Jan. 23; and Copper Hills, 55-48 on Jan. 26. The Mustangs’ only region loss during that stretch was to Corner Canyon, the No. 1 team in Region 2, 51-46 on Jan. 16. 

A quartet of Mustang players score in double figures, leading the way for the offense. The top scorer is Ike Palmer, a senior who can play both guard and forward. He is scoring 16.1 points per game this season and dishes out 2.7 assists. Palmer’s top game in scoring came in impressive fashion Jan. 5 when he lit up the scoreboard with 39 points against Westlake. He also had 31 points in the win over Bingham. Senior forward/center Malcom Johnson has been a force down low. The 6-foot-7-inch player scores 13.7 points a game and pulls down 6.5 rebounds. He has 13 games in which he scored in double figures during the first 18 outings. He also had six double-doubles (in points and rebounds) during that stretch. 

Cale Barclay, a junior forward/center has been effective near the basket and on the perimeter. He scores 13 points per game and hit 15 three-pointers in the first 18 games and also averaged almost five rebounds a game. Carlo Mulford, a guard who’s just a sophomore, has chipped in 11.5 points per game and tops the team in assists with 4.1 a contest. 

Stockton Blanchard averages 8.9 points a game for the Mustangs, while Luke Brooks, Jayden Newman and Beckham Willes have also seen valuable time on the floor. 

At press time, Herriman had the No. 3 spot in RPI rankings, despite losing to Corner Canyon. The state tournament starts Feb. 21. Herriman concludes the regular season at Copper Hills on Feb. 16. 

Last season, Herriman lost in the second round of the state tournament at Corner Canyon 71-55. λ