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OREM — Tyrin Jones was so adamant about playing in the 4A state championship game Wednesday that he learned how to tape his own ankle after spraining it last week.
He then delivered the decisive blow in a back-and-forth battle that went down to the wire.
Thanks to Jones' clutch corner 3-pointer with under 90 seconds remaining in the game, giving him 11 points for the game, the No. 1 seed Layton Christian Academy Eagles finished off their championship run with a heart-stopping 58-53 victory over No. 6 seeded Cottonwood in front of a raucous UCCU Center.
The Eagles overcame a big performance by Cottonwood's Chris Cox, who scored 26 points, much of it coming in the second half.
"These guys work harder than any group I've been around," Layton Christian head coach Casey Stanley said. "They've definitely earned this; they deserve it."
No one deserved it more than Jones, who was clearly hobbled late in the game, but battled through the pain to help preserve the win. He also set the tone with a ferocious dunk for the first basket of the game, letting out a roar as he went down the court.
"I put everything aside this morning and just decided even if I didn't score, I would still make a difference defensively," he said.
Jones wasn't the only one, as Cottonwood struggled with the length of the Eagles early on. Layton Christian was hitting shots from beyond the 3-point line as wing Luka Kulundzic and forward Ottavio Armani each found the range to give LCA an early 19-8 lead.
The Colts never got closer than 10 points and went into the half trailing 36-22. That was where head coach Marc Miller delivered a clear message to his team.
"We said if you're going to play soft, you're not going to play," Miller said. "We needed to match their physicality."
Cox certainly got the message and scored 8 points by himself to begin the second half. Guard Luke Park also turned up the heat on LCA guard Timmie Olubisi, forcing the Eagles out of a rhythm.
Miller said Cox's performance to start the second half cemented him as a once-in-a-decade player.
"He's not about himself, he's about the team," Miller said. "When we give him the green light, he'll do it."
Cox's strong start trickled down to the Colts, as well. After holding the Eagles to just 7 third-quarter points, the Colts made it a 49-44 game with less than four minutes remaining in the final period.
"It's just about them being confident and making winning plays," Stanley said of the final minutes.
That included Jones, whose 3-pointer to make it a 52-44 game was the difference as Cottonwood couldn't quite find enough down the stretch to cap off the comeback. The Colts also committed multiple costly turnovers that stymied their momentum.
"We just couldn't hit enough shots or make enough big plays," Miller said. "Props to Layton Christian; they were the better team."
And the Eagles, a team composed mostly of international players, will certainly treasure the win for a long time.
"All these guys, they're my guys, and they came to the United States for moments like this," Jones said. "To be around them every day is a blessing."
That especially true for Stanley, who took over for legendary head coach Bobby Porter in the offseason. Stanley said the winning culture and thirst for success was already instilled in the program. It led to trust among the players, which Jones said "has been there since Day 1."
"It's not what I did in my first year that made a difference," Stanley said. "I'm so grateful Layton Christian gave me this opportunity."
And as Stanley cut down the net, waving it in a circle above his head, now he can say he's repaid that culture with what matters most — a championship.
