DAVIS COUNTY — It was a matchup to remember as the Woods Cross Wildcats and Bountiful Braves converged on the hardwood of the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

And while the rival’s clashed to determine who got to fight Highland for the state 4A boy’s basketball title, the rest of the winter sports world was filled with stories to remember.

From the Woods Cross girls swim team taking home their first ever state title to the Davis County Independent (DCI) hockey team winning the independent hockey crown, winter sports were chocked full of excitement from start to finish.

All of the winter sports seemingly kicked off with a bang all at the same time, as the Darts and Vikings boys basketball teams started their season off with strong performances.

The Vikings girls, under the regime of new head coach Clint Straatman and transfer player Xojian Harry, started winning the tight games they weren’t used to in years past, and the Woods Cross Lady Cats were off to a very slow start following their region championship the year before.

All four local schools’ swim teams dived into action as Viewmont and Davis were dominating their swim meets with other schools.

Woods Cross and Bountiful, meanwhile, also battled all the way to regionals with strong performances of their own.

As wrestling hit the mats with some familiar faces from the football field and other sports, Davis, Viewmont and DCI hit the ice and started a season for hockey fans that they won’t want to forget.

At the halfway point, most of the teams in all the sports either stayed in position or were ready to make a run to the playoffs.

The Lady ‘Cats, once 0-7 to start the season, went on a seven game winning streak and won 11 of their last 13 games to finish in second place in Region 6.

The Lady Braves, meanwhile, fell from the region lead to finish in third place.

The Lady Vikes made the playoffs with a strong finish, while every boys’ basketball, wrestling and swim team were all gearing up for an appearance in the state competition.

During state, the Bountiful Mandonelles swept through all three competitions to win another state drill title, while the Lady Wildcats swim team was poised for a state title run of their own at the pool.

On the hardwood, two of the three girls basketball teams (Bountiful, Woods Cross) were shown the door in the first round of the 4A playoffs, while the Lady Vikes were kicked out in the second round after holding a 22-point halftime lead against Fremont in the quarter-finals.

Both Davis and Viewmont boys’ teams exited the state tournament in the first round, while the Braves and Wildcats had a semi-final to remember at the Dee Events Center.

The Braves won, but ultimately lost to Highland in the final game.

DCI’s strong push to an independent title was led by Dax Hobbs, a speedy skater that scored in nearly every breakaway opportunity and was close to leading the entire state in points for the season in hockey.

Finally, as the Lady ‘Cats swim team claimed its state title, the Darts were still hoping to make a leap at the 5A wrestling crown.

But with few wrestlers in the finals, they ended up finishing ninth. The Vikings were two spots behind them in 11th place while Layton finished second behind Pleasant Grove.

With three of the five sports crowning a state champion from south Davis County, the 2011-12 winter sports season should lead to bigger stories ahead.

sgillet@davisclipper.com