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OGDEN — Layton’s Blackmon brothers helped the Lancers build up a six-point lead on first-round foe Hillcrest.
When the Huskies ran it back and tied the game in the final moments of the third quarter, Layton knew exactly where to turn.
Julian Blackmon scored 19 points and Jarriesse Blackmon added 16 points and 12 rebounds to help the Lancers survive Hillcrest 61-54 and move on Monday in the Class 5A state tournament at Weber State’s Dee Events Center.
“That’s just Julian being Julian,” Layton coach Kelby Miller said. “He’s a hard guy to stop, a hard guy to stay in front of. He can get into the paint and help us out. He makes some easy baskets for us, and he did a great job. He did what we needed him to do tonight.”
Eli Walch had 12 points and eight rebounds for Hillcrest, which erased a 30-24 deficit at halftime and tied the game at 41-41 going into the fourth quarter after Walch briefly put his team up with a soaring 3-pointer from the top of the key with 35 seconds left in the quarter.
That’s when Jarriese Blackmon did his best work. The 6-foot-7 senior who has committed to UC Santa Barbara scored eight of his 20 points in the final period, and his monster putback dunk with 2:57 on the clock ignited Layton’s final 11-0 run to close out the game.
Layton outscored Hillcrest 20-13 in the fourth quarter, a run helped by the Lancers’ defense, Miller said.
“The guys wanted to get out and play some man-to-man defense,” Miller said. “We thought we matched up better than what we had at the time. We played better defense (in the fourth quarter), then knocked down foul shots and did what he had to do.”
Boston Armistead drilled a 3-pointer from the right elbow to put the Lancers on top 55-54 with 1:43 remaining, and Layton would finish off the contest by knocking down 6-of-8 free throws to survive.
“Kids are kids. The big thing in this situation is just to survive and advance,” Miller said. “You’ve got them sitting around all day long, seeing everyone else play, and I’m sure that hurt a little bit.”
Armistead finished with 13 points for Layton.
Stockton Ashby had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Huskies, who got nine points from Troy Brinar.
“Anything is going to happen. I thought our kids showed a lot of composure in that one, to come back. You’re never really out of it.”
Layton will play Bingham in a 5A quarterfinal match Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.
