Estimated read time: 4-5 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Layton Christian 76, Rowland Hall 59
OGDEN — Layton Christian used a balanced effort to blow past Rowland hall in the first semifinal of the boys 2A state tournament.
Eagles head coach Bobby Porter said he believes one word can explain the difference between last year’s team that lost in the semifinals and this year’s team: Defense.
“We got a team that likes each other," Porter said. "We got a team that will sacrifice for each other. We got a team that loves defense."
Not only did Porter’s team get it done on the defensive side of the floor, but the offense wasn’t too bad either. Five Eagles players scored in double figures on their way to a 76-59 win that put them in the championship game.
Layton Christian led throughout most of the first quarter, jumping out to a 16-9 lead before a Rowland Hall timeout. The Winged Lions responded after the timeout, scoring five straight to end the quarter to trim the lead to two, 16-14, going into the second.
The Eagles would extend their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Lions 27-16. Dominique Ramikson scored 11 points in the quarter and Jesus Tomasi added two back-to-back 3-pointers to put Layton Christian up by as much as 15. Layton Christian led Rowland Hall 43-30 at the break after shooting 7-of-12 from behind the arc in the half.
Layton Christian kept things rolling in the third quarter, pushing the lead to as much as 21 at 61-40. The Eagles, who outscored the Winged Lions 20-6 in fast-break points, scored several of their third quarter baskets right at the rim on fast-break plays.
Trailing 61-42 going into the final quarter, Rowland Hall would make one final push to try to get back into the game. The closest the Winged Lions would get was 14, though, as Layton Christian responded to push the lead back up to as much as 22.
“Our third team pushes our second team," Porter said, speaking about his team's ability to keep their foot on the gas and be competitive. "Our second team pushes our first team. They’re competing in everything.”
Tomasi and Micah Petty led the Eagles in scoring with 15 apiece. Trey Provost led the Winged Lions with 16 in the loss.
Parowan 51, Kanab 27
Parowan handled Kanab in the second semifinal game of the evening Friday. The Rams locked Kanab down from the beginning, holding the Cowboys scoreless in the first quarter on their way to a 51-27 victory.
Porter Wood and Max Topham led the way for the Rams in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead going in the second.
Parowan head coach Lance Stubbs said he was glad his team was able to dominate on the defensive end after not playing as well in the previous round.
“Defense is our stable,” Stubbs said. “We just made some adjustments from last night and got back to playing Parowan basketball.”
After failing to score in a first quarter, Kanab finally recorded their first points of the game on a pair of free throws early in the second quarter. The Cowboys were able to work their way back into the game, winning the quarter 10-7 to make it 21-10 at the break.
Kanab wasn’t ever able to cut the lead to less than 11 in the second half, though, as Parowan went on a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter to extend the lead to 18. A 5-0 run to end the quarter would bring things a little closer for the Cowboys, who trailed 33-20 going into the fourth.
But Parowan went to Wood, their bread and butter, in the fourth quarter, who scored seven of his team’s 18 fourth quarter points along the way to a 51-27 victory.
Wood led the Rams in scoring and was a key factor in his team outscoring the Cowboys 32-8 in the paint. Wood finished with 19 points, while also hauling in 14 rebounds.
“He is just a phenomenal kid, athlete, competitor and person,” Stubbs said of Wood after the game. “He’s our only senior; and in my eight years of coaching, I haven’t seen a better teammate.”
Derek Houston led the Cowboys with 8 points in the loss.
Parowan will take on Layton Christian in the boys 2A championship game on February 23 at 7 p.m. Kanab will face Rowland Hall in the 2A consolation game at 3 p.m.
Both games will be played at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
