EVANSTON — After a few days off to enjoy the holidays, several area prep teams will be back in action this weekend, with a full slate of wrestling and boys’ and girls’ basketball action scheduled for in and around Uinta County.

Evanston wrestling

Thoman Soda Ash

Wrestling Invitational

The Red Devil grapplers will open 2020 at the Green River Invitational, beginning today (Friday) and running through Saturday. Evanston is off to a promising start for the 2019-20 season, with a fifth-place finish at the Evanston Invitational and a seventh-place finish at the Viewmont Invitational in Utah.

Individual wrestlers making an impact so far this season include sophomore Jaxin Moore, who has recorded a pair of second-place finishes at 120 pounds.

Fellow sophomore Kendell Cummings is starting to turn heads at 138 pounds, finishing second at the Viewmont and third at the Evanston Invite. Cummings’ championship match at the Viewmont, a 9-6 loss to Duchesne’s Kaleb Sanchez, was a battle, according to EHS head coach Larry Wagstaff.

“Kendell’s a young kid, just a sophomore,” Wagstaff said. “That match [against Sanchez for the title] was one of the best I’ve seen in quite a while, those kids really got after each other. Both kids were scoring, and just pushed each other the whole match.”

Red Devil senior Rigden Wagstaff has also made the podium in both tournaments, finishing third at the Evanston Invite and fourth at the Viewmont at 170 pounds.

In all, Evanston placed nine wrestlers on the podium at their home invite and five at the Viewmont. This weekend’s Thoman Soda Ash Wrestling Invitational in Green River will be an excellent opportunity to shake of the holiday rust as the Red Devils begin the 2020 portion of the season.

Lyman boys’ and girls’

basketball v. Star Valley

The Eagles and Lady Eagles will get a week’s head start on their Bridger Valley counterparts today (Friday) as they welcome Star Valley to the friendly confines of the LHS gym. The girls tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the boys at 7 p.m.

For the boys, head coach Kevin Lueck has guided the Eagles to a 5-2 record to start the season. Andrew Housekeeper leads the team with a 3A West-leading 18.8 points per game, followed by Alex Bradshaw (10.3 PPG) and Carter Smith (9.3 PPG). Preston Brewer is third in the 3A West in rebounds, averaging 7.3 per game, while Housekeeper also leads the team in assists, with three per game.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Eagles are off to a slower start at 2-6, though head coach Jason Hansen said his team continues to improve with each contest. Sophomore Brice Hansen is averaging 14.8 points per game to lead the team, while Charlsie Rose is second with 11.8 points per contest. Hansen is also averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, with Mandy Eyre averaging 2.8 steals to lead the team.

The Class 4A Star Valley Braves come into the contest with a 1-4 record; the Lady Braves have compiled a 5-2 record so far this season.

Rich County boys’ and girls’ basketball

Over in Rich County, Utah, the 2-5 Rebels travel to Kamas, Utah today (Friday) to square off against the 3-8 South Summit Wildcats at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, over on the girls’ side, the 7-1 Lady Rebels play host to the 2-7 Providence Hall Patriots. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.