CORTEZ – Coming off a year in which the M-CHS boys basketball team earned their highest finish as a member of the Intermountain League, the Panthers earned a bounty of recognitions on the all-conference team.
Four Panthers from the boys team and Taylor Whited from the M-CHS girls squad landed all-IML honors after a season in which both programs advanced to the 4A postseason in their first year back in the larger classification. Boys head coach Mike Hall landed the Coach of the Year award after guiding the team to a jump from fourth in 2023-24 to second place in this winter’s league standings.
The Panthers (17-7) enjoyed their first season back above .500 since the 2018-19 season, thanks in large part to an upperclassmen core that has been instrumental in the gradual improvement over the past few years. Seniors Tay Wheat and Caidin Leonard both earned recognition, with Wheat named to the first team, while Leonard landed on the honorable mention squad.
In their final year on the hardwood, Wheat and Leonard both averaged double figure scoring, while also combining to lead the team in assists.
Sophomore Trey Hall joined Wheat on the first team, while junior Trace Hartsoe made the honorable mention list. Hall also tallied a double figure scoring average, while pacing the Panthers in rebounding and steals. Hartsoe also provided steady scoring and rebounding as part of a high-energy starting five.
The impressive win total – their third highest in a season in the last 20 years – catapulted the Panthers into the postseason for the third straight year.
Meanwhile, the girls team navigated their way back into the postseason in back-to-back years, thanks in large part to their leading scorer Taylor Whited. M-CHS (7-17) leaned on Whited’s ability to impact the game on many levels, leading the Panthers in scoring, assists, and steals. Whited also etched her name into the M-CHS record books with a single-game school record 42 points on her way to landing on the All-IML first team.
All-conference performers were selected by coaches vote after the conclusion of the season.
