Cragun's buzzer-beating putback lifts Layton to 5A hoops title, first since 1988

(Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News)


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OGDEN — Matt Cragun knew somebody needed to step up for Layton’s boys basketball team in the second half of the Class 5A state title game against Brighton.

The Lancers, who trailed 27-20 at halftime and saw the deficit balloon to 33-20 early in the third quarter, knew just who to go to — Cragun.

The 6-foot-4 senior guard scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including the game-winner, as the Lancers rallied from 13 down to knock off Brighton 48-46 at Weber State’s Dee Events Center for their first state title since 1988.

Saturday’s championship was the Lancers’ first boys basketball title since making the jump to 5A.

“I’ve started a lot of games, and I know how it feels to finish games,” said Cragun, who also had seven rebounds and two steals. “I’m usually our finisher on that side.”

With 12 seconds remaining in the final quarter of a 46-46 game, Layton point guard Julian Blackmon took the ball off an inbounds pass and started speeding down the lane with seven seconds on the clock.

Blackmon drove into the lane, lobbed a shot towards the backboard — and hit Cragun right in the hands for the layup with 2.3 seconds left.

In the previous timeout, Layton coach Kelby Miller told Blackmon to use his speed — the fastest on the team — and find an open shot, which is exactly what he did on his game-winning assist.

Julian Blackmon of Layton forces one of Brighton's 17 turnovers during the Class 5A state championship game in Ogden Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Layton won the state title. (Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News)
Julian Blackmon of Layton forces one of Brighton's 17 turnovers during the Class 5A state championship game in Ogden Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Layton won the state title. (Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News)

“Once it hit seven, he told me to just attack and we’ll see what we get,” said Blackmon, who finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. “Matt Cragun hit a big play and got that rebound. I’m so glad he got in and made that shot, because we’re state champs.”

UC Santa Barbara signee Jarriesse Blackmon led the Lancers (18-7) with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals, and Jakoby Kemp scored nine of his 11 points after the halftime break fueled Layton’s second-half surge.

“That’s nothing for this team to come back from,” Miller said of the 13-point deficit. “They’ve been doing that type of stuff all season long. This is a special group; they find ways to win, and that’s what we did.”

Brighton jumped out to a hot start, finishing the first quarter on a 10-2 run to go up 18-8 after eight minutes. Brock Miller scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half, and John Gremillion added nine of his game-high 15 points before the break.

The Bengals (16-10) did more of the same coming out of the locker room. Simi Fehoko cheekily pulled up from a long jumper, driving down the lane for a reverse layup to put Brighton on top 33-20 with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

But Kemp took over from there, scoring four-straight points to help the Lancers finish the quarter on a 10-2 sprint that pulled them back into the game.

“That’s just the attitude that these guys have,” said Miller, whose team knocked off Brighton 52-49 on a last-second three by Cragun in the Elite Eight tournament Dec. 11. “They’re all good players in their own right, and when certain guys aren’t doing their normal thing, it just seems that they have a knack for stepping up in those opportunities.”

Gremillion wouldn’t let the Bengals go away, scoring six points in the final period. But the Lancers outscored Brighton 8-0 in the final 3:11 of the game to finish the job.

Derek Devashrayee scored seven of his 12 points in the second half to go along with six rebounds and two assists, while Osa Masina chipped in six rebounds. But Layton’s “hot defense” forced the Bengals into 17 turnovers, including 11 steals, to pull out the comeback.

“It just shows that our team has heart,” Julian Blackmon said. “We don’t back down from anybody. Once we got down by about 13, coach just said to keep doing what we were doing. We were fine. And we came back.”

Just minutes after Cragun was mobbed by his teammates when the final buzzer sounded, the senior was speechless while his teammates passed around the UHSAA’s championship trophy.

“I honestly can’t describe this,” Cragun said. “I’m just so grateful for my team and all that we’ve been through. I’m so happy.”

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