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LAYTON — An undefeated regular season doesn't come around every year.
And for the Layton girls basketball team, it's been nearly three years in the making, according to Lancers guard Sunnie Martinez.
"As sophomores, we were a really good group and we played together well," said Martinez, just moments after the Lancers wrapped up a 21-0 regular season with a 60-42 win at West. "I just thought ever since we played sophomore ball that we were a special group. It's been an awesome ride with them, and it would be awesome to go out on top this year."
The Region 2 champion Lancers (21-0, 12-0 Region 2) will open the 2016 Class 5A state tournament Monday against Taylorsville at 5:50 p.m. at Salt Lake Community College. While the team is trying to put its singular focus on the Warriors (12-12, 7-7 Region 3) and the rest of the 5A field — including fellow unbeaten Copper Hills (22-0, 13-0 Region 3) — leading scorer Hailey Bassett admitted taking an unblemished record into the postseason was always one of the Lancers' goals.
"That was our one of our two goals: stay undefeated through region. Now our mentality is that we are 0-0, and we want to take that state championship," said Bassett, who has signed with Utah State.
The Lancers set a goal early in the season to finish undefeated, and accomplished a major part of that goal Tuesday night.
"The girls themselves wanted to win every game," Layton coach Van Price said. "They were focused every game, and they just looked one game ahead, and never got any further than that. It's a good goal, and I think they should be proud of themselves."
Chemistry played a key role down the stretch as Layton averaged a 24-point margin of victory, with five of the final seven games decided by more than 30 points. The Lancers have only played in four games decided by single digits, and one by a sole possession — a three-point win at Bingham on Dec. 16.
"I think what helped was that we trust each other, we are united, and we're all best friends," Bassett said. "That's the best — playing with your best friends."
The chemistry is shown in the team's multiple assist-makers on the team. Utah women's soccer signee Livia Borges averages a team-best 3.2 assists per game, but Martinez adds dishes at a 3.0 assists per game clip, and No. 2 scorer Clara Wood adds 3.2 assists to her 9.7 points per game.
The Lancers' offense has rolled behind the strong combo play of Bassett, who averages 19.1 of Layton's 57.8 points per game. The team is shooting at a 43 percent clip from the field, and Martinez and Wood both average about nine points per game, as well.
But Bassett is always conscious of where her team can improve, and focusing on what the Lancers do best will be key to her team's success in the state tournament.
Game Night Live
Region titles and state tournament berths
The 4A and 5A boys basketball teams end the regular season next week, when the 4A and 5A girls have their state tournaments. Meanwhile, postseason play has already begun in the 1A, 2A and 3A classifications."I think we need to stay mentally focused," said Bassett, who also averages 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. "Most of our problem is we get chaotic, which is good on defense. But on offense, we need to slow things down."
Martinez said it's also time to put the regular season behind them; the Lancers have bigger goals in mind than just winning a regular-season title.
"It's cool, but honestly we don't look at it as a streak," she said. "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."
Contributing: Matthew Glade, Jeremiah Jensen
