PLEASANT VIEW -- The state 5-A runner-up Titans are hitting their stride, but how do you combat the state's highest-scoring girls basketball team?
Three-time defending Region 1 champion Syracuse High pulverized the Warriors -- outscoring Weber 47-25 in the second half -- to remain undefeated with a decisive 80-52 victory Friday in Richard R. Conolly Gymnasium.
The Titans, one of the state's two unbeaten girls teams and averaging 70.64 points per game, improved to 48-2 in league play since the 2008-09 season.
"This was our best overall game this season. We got after it," said Syracuse senior guard/forward Makenlee Williams, who splashed in a career-high 35 points on 15-of-18 shooting.
"It doesn't feel like I had 35 points," said the 17-year-old Williams, who has signed with Utah State. "I give it all to my teammates. They were giving me the ball and giving up their shots. This was a pretty important game for me. I wanted to come out and play well -- the team did too -- and it showed."
Williams, the No. 4 scorer in the 5-A ranks at 17.91 ppg, went 4-of-5 from 3-point range and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. She also had two assists, four steals and only one turnover for the Titans, who shot 51.5 percent (35-of-68) -- a sizzling 62.5 percent (5-of-8) on 3-point goals -- outrebounded Weber 42-28 and committed 17 turnovers.
"I think we played good defense," Williams said. "We mixed it up between a 2-3 zone, man-to-man and the 2-2-1 full-court press. We wanted to limit Weber to one shot and one shot only, and then when we got the ball, to push it and go."
Oklahoma State signee Brittney Martin, the No. 3 scorer in 5-A at 18.64 points per game, went 8-of-20 from the floor for 18 points. She finished with 11 boards, one assist, three steals and three blocked shots for Syracuse (12-0 overall, 4-0 league), which had 16 assists and 14 steals but attempted just six free throws.
"We're really coming together as a team and it's showing," Williams said. "We're looking forward to the Layton game on Jan. 27. Weber is a very good team, so this was a great little test for us."
Erica Olpin scored a team-high 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting with two 3-pointers, two rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Warriors, who shot a frosty 27.8 percent (15-of-54), including 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from downtown, and committed 18 turnovers.
Chantil Martin had nine points, five rebounds and an assist for Weber (11-4, 2-2), which is 4-4 in its last eight games.
* FREMONT 39, NORTHRIDGE 28: At Layton, Silver Wolves played to the "9s" on Friday afternoon, turning back the Knights for the first region win.
Fremont burst out to a 22-9 lead then had to match the Northridge intensity the rest of the way.
Keely Swander, Taneesha Daniels and Amanda Wayment each scored nine points for Fremont (1-4 league, 4-11 overall).
Sydnee Accord led the Knights (0-4, 5-9) with 12, while Kenzi Martin added nine points.
* LAYTON 47, DAVIS 41: At Layton, the Darts hung around against the Lancers right to the end before unbeaten Layton secured the home win.
Courtnee Wood paced Layton (4-0, 14-0) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Maddi Smith added 13 points.
Courtney Hurst scored 17 points for Davis (1-3, 9-6).
Region 6
* CLEARFIELD 44, EAST 27: At Salt Lake City, the Falcson evened their league mark at 2-2 with a solid road 'W.' A 17-5 burst in the final quarter proved to be the difference.
Jaquoy Walton and Mickenzey Wiberg scored seven points apieced for Clearfield (3-12 overall).
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