LAYTON — It was the talk of the town, both in Layton and Kaysville, all week long, or at least every day since Tuesday — the rivalry game between the Layton Lancers and the Davis Darts.
The rivalry is usually fierce and competitive, but Friday’s showdown was different. It promised to pit a pair of undefeated teams against each other, No. 2 (Davis) and No. 3 (Layton) in the RPI.
Everywhere the Layton Lancers boys basketball team went the past couple of days, they were reminded of it.
“We usually mention after games to enjoy the wins. And we are going to enjoy this one.” — Layton coach Kelby Miller
“A lot of people came up to us asking, ‘Are you ready for the big game? No. 1 versus No. 2?” junior Ethan Potter said.
“There was so much hype going into this game,” senior Tanner Kofoed added. “Before the game we were so pumped.”
So too was a sellout crowd, if ever the arena at Layton High School has seen one. It was standing room only and raucous to boot with Layton and Davis fans determined to turn the tide in favor of their team.
“We knew it was going to be crazy,” said Kofoed, “but we were ready.”
The host Lancers did not disappoint. Led by a starting five of Kofoed, Potter, Jacob Randall, Preston Squire and Boston Painter, each of whom scored in double-figures, Layton defeated Davis 67-62.
Potter led the way with 18 points, while Kofoed added 15, Painter 13, Squire 11 and Randall 10.
Davis, meanwhile, was led by senior reserve Dylan Perrenoud, who finished with 16 points.
“I knew coming into it it was going to be a big one,” Layton head coach Kelby Miller said. “It was a fun atmosphere for these kids and everyone involved.”
Nerves were a problem early, on both sides, but for Layton in particular.
“There were a little bit of nerves to start that game, but that was to be expected,” said Miller. “Our kids played through a rough start.”
Davis led after a quarter and at the end of the first half, the team’s were knotted at 29 points apiece.
Everything changed in the third period, however, decidedly in Layton’s favor. The Lancers kicked off the second half with a 7-2 run — all seven points were courtesy of Kofoed — and later in the period went on a 7-0 run that put them up by as many as 11 points.
“Honestly I thought we just played together as a team,” Kofoed said. We really came together and started gelling better.”
“We have really prided ourselves on being a second-half team,” added Miller. “We made a few adjustments at halftime and the guys responded. Guys like Boston Painter really stepped up for us, on the offensive glass and finishing strong.”
Painter was especially vital in the fourth quarter, as the Lancers were able to stay just ahead of the Darts thanks to the combination of offensive rebounds, most of which were grabbed by Painter, and made free throws.
“We shoot free throws a ton in practice, so we were ready for it,” said Kofoed.
Another showdown, this one against Fremont, looms for the Lancers, but before moving on to that game they made sure to celebrate the rivalry win, along with their many supporters.
After all, it isn’t every day that an undefeated Layton defeats a previously undefeated Davis.
“We usually mention after games to enjoy the wins,” Miller said. “And we are going to enjoy this one.”