Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — After Bingham High tied up its Class 5A quarterfinal game against Layton at halftime, the Miners appeared to have all the momentum for a run to the state semifinals.
Julian Blackmon made sure that didn’t happen Wednesday at Weber State’s Dee Events Center.
Blackmon scored eight of his 14 points in the second half, and brother Jarriesse Blackmon added 24 points and 10 rebounds, to help the Lancers overcome the Miners 62-53 and advance to the school’s first state semifinal since 1998.
Layton will play Viewmont in a 5A semifinal Friday at 4:10 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.
For Julian Blackmon, the shift came down to a change in mindset for the Lancers (16-7).
“We came out with a little fire, because we knew that if we wanted this, we were going to have to work hard,” said the younger Blackmon brother, who also had seven assists. “We stuck to the game plan that coach gave us and kept on doing what we were doing. It worked out.”
After Bingham’s Jared Holman led the Miners on a 6-0 spurt to tie the game at 25-25 right before the halftime whistle, Layton coach Kelby Miller told his team they needed to come to play in the second half.
“We beat (Bingham) in the early season, and they wanted it,” said Jarriesse Blackmon, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara "We just had to go out there and want it more. I think we did a good job of sharing the ball, being smart and being able to build that lead.”
Seeing his brother excel for the second-straight game was one of the individual highlights for the Division I-bound Jarriesse Blackmon.
“It’s the best thing,” Blackmon said of playing with his brother, who also had 19 points against Hillcrest on Monday. “I couldn’t imagine a better senior season than being able to try and get a state championship with my little brother.”
The Lancers outrebounded Bingham (20-4) 31-19, a point of emphasis for the Region 1 team against 6-foot-8 junior center Yoeli Childs and the champions of Region 3. Layton also dished out 11 assists on 22 shots made, and made 13-of-14 free throws to ice the game down the stretch.
Mike Green’s jumper with 1:20 left on the clock pulled Bingham within three points at 54-51, but the Miners would get no closer and Julian Blackmon sealed the win with a layup with 20 seconds remaining to go up 60-53.
“These guys thrive in that environment,” Miller said. “They don’t like making it easy on me. Whenever it’s a few-point ballgame, that’s where we’re really good.”
