Brighton High’s Lady Bengals – the newly crowned 5A girls basketball champions – were honored Thursday. Feb. 26, 2015 at Utah’s Capitol Hill.

They were invited to Capitol Hill by Utah Sen. Brian Shiozowa,R-Cottonwood Heights, and Rep. Marie Poulson, R-Cottonwood Heights. In addition, the students were congratuated on the win by Utah Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, and House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, among others. 

The team and the school also received an official citation from the lawmakers. “The Utah State Legislature recognizes and congratulates the Brighton High School Lady Bengals Basketball Team on their outstanding achievement,” reads the citation. “We honor those hardworking athletes and extend best wishes for their continued success.” 

The state-title win on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 was the first for the Brighton High’s girls basketball program since 2004. The team won 49-40 against last year’s top 5A team, the Fremont Silverwolves. 

In conversations with reporters immediately following the championship game, Brighton Coach Jim Gresh joked that his navy-blue sweater may have been the team’s good luck charm during the 5A tournament held at Salt Lake Community College

“My wife said stop wearing that sweater. … She may have to wash it tonight,” Gresh told the Deseret News

Perhaps the sweater helped a little bit – but the Bengals’ defense and rebounding are being touted as the big reasons the team bested the reigning champs.  The final-round game was a battle from beginning to end – but the Bengals pulled away in the last quarter to claim the trophy.

Additional honors were announced this week for ome members of the Brighton squad. As voted by news reporters at the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News, McCall Christensen was named the 5A Most Valuable Player and Dani Barton and Lindsey Johnson earned enough votes to be named to the All-Tournament Team.  In the championship game, Christensen, Barton and Johnson scored in double-digits.

See Canyons District’s Facebook page for a photo album of the celebration following the title win.