The Olympus girls basketball team has seen some highs and lows—as most teams do—over the past four seasons. Titans’ star Joss Baker has been a steady performer every step of the way. 

For the second year in a row, Baker is on pace to average double figures in both points and rebounding. The senior guard/forward is putting up All-State-caliber numbers for the Titans after leading the team in both scoring and rebounding the past two seasons. This season, through five games, she was scoring 17.2 points a game and pulling down 11.4 rebounds a contest. Last season, her averages were 15.6 and 10.1, respectively. As a sophomore, she averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds an outing. Even as a young freshman, she got valuable time on the court and scored 4.2 points and grabbed four rebounds a game. 

In her final year at Olympus, Baker is focusing on team goals. 

“This season, I think my team can compete with any team in our region,” she said. “We already have a great chemistry off the court, and I think we can go far in playoffs if we keep working and improving like we have these last weeks.”

The Titans were 2-3 after five games and are coming off a 13-12 season where they were 7-5 in Region 6, finishing in fourth place. As a sophomore, Baker played on a 14-8 Olympus team that tied for the region championship. The Titans were 19-5 in Baker’s freshman year, also sharing the Region 6 title with a 10-2 mark. 

Baker has loved her time at Olympus. She praises her coaches for what they’ve taught her and how they’ve helped her develop her skills. She loves making friends with others on the team and said the Titans enjoy a strong bond and good camaraderie. 

“Olympus has a great coaching staff, and the team is very close knit,” she said. “The girls are super supportive of each other and know how to have fun together.”

The competitive Baker first started playing competitively in the third grade at the urging of her mother. Incidentally, her mother coached her until Baker was in the seventh grade. She enjoys working toward a goal and accomplishing it. Seeing the fruits of her hard work has always been satisfying. 

“I enjoy the competitiveness and the friendships that basketball has brought me,” Baker said. “Seeing the results from the work I put in definitely motivates me to keep playing and keep pushing.”

This season, Baker scored in double figures in four of the team’s first games, with a season high coming Dec. 10 in a 74-49 win over Taylorsville. In that contest, Baker poured in 27 points. Arguably her best performance so far this season was in a losing cause when the Titans fell at Cottonwood, 79-76, on Dec. 4. In that close loss, Baker had 17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and six steals. 

All-around play has always been a hallmark of Baker’s production for Olympus. 

Last season, Baker had 15 games in which she had double figures in points and rebounds. Her season high in points a season ago was 25 at home over Skyline. She had a season-best 14 rebounds on two occasions. She also registered seven steals at home against Highland last season and dished out four assists two different times. She even had three blocked shots in two games. 

Baker said she has a strong drive to succeed and makes an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She is also a tenacious player and isn’t afraid to go toe to toe against any opponent. Another admirable trait that Baker possesses is that she gives a 100% effort each day, whether it’s in a big game or in routine drills. 

“I think my strengths as a basketball player is my defense, rebounding and aggressiveness,” she said. “I think I bring competitiveness to this team, to give our best in practice and in games.”

Still, Baker stays humble and motivated. She knows she is far from a perfect player and has room to grow and places where she can refine her game to better help her team. 

“Some improvements I want to make is making the right decision quicker and improving my shot selection,” she said. “I also want to work on increasing my shot range.”

Baker went from making seven three-pointers as a sophomore to 25 last season. She made four through the first five games this season. 

For Olympus to make a run at the region title and advance in the state tournament, it will have to get past some challenging foes in league play. The Titans must contend with the likes of West and Brighton, which both got off to good starts this season. Olympus also plays Region 6 opponents Skyline, Alta, East and Highland. The Titans face each league team twice during the regular season—once at home and once on the road. Baker and her teammates have enjoyed good success in region play the past few seasons. 

Once the season ends, Baker’s career at Olympus will be over. While she will miss the experiences of being a Titan and will hold fond memories, she looks forward to the future. Plus, her basketball career will be far from over. Baker will move on to the next level and play at Southern Utah University in Cedar City for the Thunderbirds. λ