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SALT LAKE CITY — It wasn't always pretty for the Layton High girls basketball team. But the end result is the same for the Lancers: a 21-0 regular season.
A 22-2 run to open the game probably helped, too, to finish the regular season with a 59-42 win at West on Tuesday evening.
The Lancers clinched the outright Region 2 title and No. 1 seed for next week's Class 5A state tournament at Salt Lake Community College, and the fast start was a big reason for it. Layton is one of just two undefeated teams remaining in the state, along with Copper Hills' girl's basketball team.
"We try to come out aggressive and wanting to attack," said senior Hailey Bassett, who has signed with Utah State. "We try to keep it going, but in the second and third quarters it fell apart. Then we finally knew we had to get it done."
Bassett scored 10 of her game-high 22 points in the first quarter, and assisted on the Lancers' first two field goals, to help Layton capture the outright region title after sharing it a year ago with Fremont.
After one quarter, the Lancers (21-0, 12-0 Region 2) were up 24-10 — including the Panthers' 8-2 run in the final two minutes of the first quarter.
"I think we played as a team in the first quarter, and then started getting selfish in the second and third before finally executing in the fourth," said Bassett, who also had 10 rebounds. "It was a rough game, and had to grind it out, definitely.
"We definitely need some work. We never stop working."
Layton had to work plenty to get the win. There wasn't much doubt in the 17-point win, but the Panthers came back to make things interesting. Both teams combined for just 11 total points in a sluggish second quarter, as the Lancers took a 30-15 halftime lead.
We try to come out aggressive and wanting to attack. We try to keep it going, but in the second and third quarters it fell apart. Then we finally knew we had to get it done.
–Layton forward Hailey Bassett
Free throws then put them ahead through the first six minutes of the second half. Layton made just one shot from the field — a layup by Bassett just under 90 seconds into the half — but the Lancers outscored the Panthers 9-4 until the 2:26 mark of the third quarter.
West (11-10, 8-4 Region 2) closed out the period on a 9-4 run to pull within 42-27, but could get no closer.
A pair of 3-pointers by Bassett and Clara Wood, who had nine points and four assists in the win, gave the Lancers all the room they needed with 4:30 remaining in the game. Livia Borges added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Lancers.
"We look for the next game, and focus on that, and after that we try to go game-by-game," Bassett said. "We definitely need some work."
Abena Bakenra led West with 14 points, and Reili Aiono added eight for the Panthers.
The Lancers will face the fourth seed from Region 4 in Tuesday's opening round at SLCC. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:50 p.m.
"It's cool, but honestly we don't look at it as a streak," said Layton guard Sunnie Martinez, who had six points, five rebounds and two steals. "I look at it as being focused and determined to go into the state tournament. Everyone is 0-0, and we have very good teams that we have to play."
