What an up and down season it was for the Cottonwood boys basketball team. It started out amazingly. A 7-1 mark out of the gates had these Colts galloping. And yet the proverbial wheels fell off to the point that Cottonwood lost five of its next 11 games. 

After that point in the season though, or Jan. 8 to be exact, the Colts were not fazed. They started winning and didn’t stop—on the way to a fourth straight league title. 

“Had a great finish! Won nine in a row to secure region championship,” said Cottonwood Athletic Director James MacIntyre. 

Before the region-clinching game in a solemn ceremony, a jam-packed Cottonwood High School gym held a beautiful tribute for the family of the late Greg Southwick, the recently retired Cottonwood AD who passed away recently in a Cedar City hospital, in a speech written by MacIntyre. 

“Before tonight’s game, Cottonwood High School would like to take a moment to honor and remember Greg Southwick, whose life and service left a lasting mark on this school and community. As part of that remembrance, we would like to present flowers to Greg’s wife, Robyn, as a small token of the Cottonwood community’s love, gratitude and continued support.

Greg was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, coach, educator and friend. He proudly served Cottonwood High School as Athletic Director, and dedicated more than three decades to education and athletics. Throughout his career, Greg was known for his steady leadership, his integrity and his unwavering belief in the potential of young people.

For Greg, working with students and athletes was never just a job—it was a calling. He cared deeply about character, relationships and doing things the right way. The lessons he taught extended far beyond the classroom, course and the court. His influence will continue to be felt through the countless lives he touched.

This evening, we are honored to have Greg’s family and friends with us. We extend our deepest gratitude to them for sharing Greg with Cottonwood High School, and for allowing him to serve this community with such passion and commitment for many years.

Tonight’s cowboy theme is dedicated to Greg—Cottonwood’s favorite cowboy—whose spirit, strength and leadership continue to ride with this program and community. In honor of Greg’s life, his service and his enduring legacy, we ask that you please join us in a moment of silence.”

The Colts boys and coaching staff then rode that emotion from losing someone they knew and loved to a 12-8 lead after one quarter against Judge Memorial Catholic. After that, Cottonwood poured in 16 points in the second quarter and another 40 in the second half to thump Judge 64-49 and capture a fourth straight league title. 

It was a great way to honor Southwick, as Cottonwood (18-5, 10-2 Region 10) finished off the regular season in style. He would’ve been proud of how they got right back in the saddle and kept riding. The Colts culminated the month of January with two huge wins. The first came Jan. 27 at Murray, a game that Cottonwood’s archrivals led by two points after one quarter of action. 

In the second quarter though, the Colts showed why they hadn’t lost a game since Jan. 6. They poured in 25 second-quarter points, aided by 6-foot-9-inch big man Luka Cecez’ 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, rolling to a 53-45 win over Murray. It avenged a 55-54 loss at home to the Spartans earlier in the season, setting the stage for another big showdown against the only other team to hand the Colts a loss: East. 

There would be no first quarter jitters for the Colts on Jan. 30, however. Galloping out to a 19-15 lead on their home floor, Cottonwood looked good after one quarter of play but East caught fire in the second, putting Cottonwood in a one-point hole at the break. 

In front of a raucous crowd, the Colts raced out to a 24-point third quarter and clamped down on East for a 70-64 win. In this one, Malei Atem was the top scorer, dropping 19 points while shooting 70% from the field. 

It was the second straight victory for Cottonwood in which it avenged an earlier loss and put the Colts right back in the thick of the Region 10 title chase. 

From there, Cottonwood would clinch a No. 4 seed in the 4A state tournament, and with it, a first-round bye. 

As this Cottonwood community just found out, good things and people in life do sometimes come to an end. The Colts fell in the 4A state second round Feb. 13 to Mountain View by a final score of 76-72 to end their season with an 18-6 record, but the kids honored Southwick with dignity and courage. 

Itay Lustgarten and the Colts won nine in a row to win the region championship. (City Journals)