Admittedly, Bingham boys basketball coach Kyle Straatman knew the preseason was going to be a struggle—and it was, as his team went 1-6, from the start of the season on Nov. 22, 2022 to Dec. 19. 

“We are a very inexperienced team but are a very scrappy group. This team is fun to coach because they show up every day and work very hard to get better,” Straatman said of his Miners squad.  

But the grind of playing against some of the top teams in Utah and elsewhere is beginning to pay off for Bingham [9-12, 5-3 Region 3]. It makes life a tad easier for the coach who in his fifth year is trying to rebuild his team after five players graduated from a team that went 22-3. 

The reason for this resurgence is as old as the game itself. 

“I have been going in at 6:00 a.m. every morning and we have multiple players getting up extra shots before school starts on our two shooting machines,” Straatman said. “They also are working very hard in the weight room and have really bought into the team concept and do not care who gets the glory. We have great leadership on this team, and they are doing a great job picking up where last year’s group left off with continuing our Bingham Brotherhood culture.” 

That buy-in by Bingham’s starters, who all average between 7 and 11 points per game, has led to an 8-3 record since Dec. 20. In that span the Miners have defeated 6A schools Westlake and Pleasant Grove, took Region 1 champs Cyprus to the brink to close out preseason before fading late, and have yet to be swept by any school in Region 3. 

“We play one of the toughest schedules in the state which helps us get ready for our region,” the Bingham coach said, who has another five kids averaging at least 2 points per game. 

“We have won three region championships in a row and have a goal of trying to make it four in a row this year. It is going to be very difficult this year with a very tough region.” 

In order of their jersey numbers, the 2022-23 Bingham Miners boys basketball team is: Carson Bagley

Luke West

Caden Wood

Gabe Sivulich

Donavan Averitte

Tyson Shewell

KJ Jenson

Tyson Averett

Rhett Dawson

Alex Kartchner

Owen Simpson

Jason Peterson

Stockton Tueller

Gage Vance

Brayden Whitehead

Rykan Meadows

Austin Goodwin

Luke Cantwell