Ben Lomond coach Lyndon Johnson expects increased depth and improved quality for the boys basketball program as the team prepares for its season opener against North Sanpete on Nov. 20.
According to a November 9 report, roughly 30-plus students attended the first open tryout for the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 9, at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden.
This marks Johnson's second season leading the program and his first since returning to the Ben Lomond football program as defensive coordinator for Ty Smith this fall.
Johnson noted that the program has seen improvements in numbers, effort, and offseason workouts due to coaching consistency. He stated that the increased participation will provide the depth necessary to execute a high-pressure, fast-paced style of play, a strategy that was difficult to implement last year because the team was outmanned.
The Scots will retain their entire coaching staff from last season, supplemented by new additions Brock Randall and Efrain Puente. Randall is a former Ogden High head coach, while Puente is a faculty member at Ben Lomond and a fitness trainer based in Farr West.
Returning players for the varsity roster include seniors Kru Boyle, Dom Harris, and Anthony Herrera. Last year, the team finished with a 2-22 record with a roster of 16 players.
The upcoming schedule includes a home matchup against 5A West High and a three-day tournament in Evanston, Wyoming, scheduled for Dec. 10-12. Other noted challenges include games against Roy, Bonneville, and schools from Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Ben Lomond has not had a winning season since the 2021-22 campaign, when the team finished 15-10 under former coach Tanoka Beard. The program recorded 13 wins during the 2022-23 season before Beard's resignation following the 2024-25 season.
The team's nonregion slate will include several challenges following the Thanksgiving break and throughout December.
