Boys basketball: Duft’s decision prompts 27-point finish in Fremont’s 63-61 win at Bonneville
Silverwolves snap four-game losing streak
- Fremont senior Easton Duft (5) looks for an angle around Bonneville senior Ben Tesch (3) during a game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
- Bonneville senior Colby Dunyon (0) runs through traffic during a game vs. Fremont on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
- Fremont senior Zach Masters (14, center) puts up a shot during a game vs. Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
- Fremont senior Will Ridgway (1) looks for an open basket against Bonneville senior Colby Dunyon (0) during a game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
- Bonneville senior Ben Tesch (3) brings the ball down the floor during a game vs. Fremont on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
- Bonneville freshman Bryson Landis (33) is greeted by his bench during a game vs. Fremont on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Washington Terrace.
WASHINGTON TERRACE — Easton Duft withheld his belated holiday surprise until the second half of Fremont boys basketball’s 63-61 stand at Bonneville on Friday.
Thirteen of Duft’s floor-high 27 points arrived in the fourth quarter, including a critical 3-pointer with just two minutes to go. The Silverwolves (4-7) answered a 3-pointer by Lakers (3-6) senior Ben Tesch with 19 seconds left, clinging to a one-possession win.
Snapping a four-game losing streak, Fremont opened the second half on a 7-0 run after trailing by as much as 10 during the second quarter. Receiving support from all corners, juniors Zach Hancock and Camden Campbell each added 10 points to the effort.
Duft defined his late-game contributions as a “decision” to stick by his teammates — advice the senior ballplayer credits Fremont head coach Corey Melaney with laying on the guys each week.
“(Melaney) preaches that every day,” Duft said. “We’ve gotta stay as a team so when games like these, close games, come around you can win them.”
The Bonneville-Fremont rivalry has grown into a regular reunion for Melaney and Lakers head coach Kyle Bullinger. The pair previously coached together at Fremont for three seasons before Bullinger accepted the Bonneville job in 2015.
“(Bullinger) is a great coach and friend,” Melaney said. “I respect him a great deal. He’s as sharp of a coach around.”
The Lakers confidently opened the night behind a trio of scorers — Tesch (17 points), senior Colby Dunyon (13 points) and Davis DeGroot (11 points) — pushing the tempo from the jump.
Dunyon and DeGroot, leading the Lakers to a 13-6 start, put on a clinic from 3-point land. Tesch added four early points to a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
A collision between Landis and Fremont senior Zach Masters (eight points) helped Fremont reorganize and climb back within five of the Lakers with Landis missing most of the remaining half.
Bonneville junior Jackson Call, finding a late 3, gave his side some breathing room with just 45 seconds remaining and Fremont, trailing 34-29 at halftime, squandered a last-second turnover by the Lakers.
Landis returned at the start of the third quarter but Bonneville’s offense noticeably slowed out of the gate and Fremont soon tied the knot 34-all in just two minutes. The freshman center kept Fremont in check through the third quarter, even as Duft surpassed his first-half output with eight third-quarter points.
The Lakers received another prime opportunity to seize the momentum when a misplaced Duft pass ended in Landis’s hands and soon Dunyon’s behind the arc as Bonneville lept to a five-point lead with over six minutes to go.
Duft soon corrected his mistake, pulling the Silverwolves within a possession from the 3-point line and doing so twice more until his group walked away with the win. One such 3-point bucket came on three consecutive rebounds by Hancock beneath the rim.
Duft and Hancock previously worked long hours together during the summer.
“(Hancock) didn’t realize he’d have to be in more of a scoring role this year,” Duft said. “Taking on a different role, he’s done that really well. He’s a really terrific player.”
Reflecting on the fourth quarter, Dunyon felt his group could’ve played a bit cleaner basketball while commending the Lakers’ performance.
“It’s a manly game and it comes down to who wants it more,” Dunyon said. “It’s a battle but it’s fun. … I think in the second half, really, it came down to fouls and turnovers and things that we can obviously fix. But I think all the way through we played really well.”
Bonneville opens region play at Woods Cross on Tuesday, Dec. 31 (2 p.m.). Fremont hosts Skyridge on Friday, Jan. 3 (7 p.m.).
BOX SCORE
Fremont 10 19 17 17 — 63
Bonneville 17 17 10 17 — 61
FHS (63): Duft 27, Hancock 10, Campbell 10, Masters 8, Ridgway 4, Bruce 2, Calvert 2.
BHS (61): Tesch 17, Dunyon 13, DeGroot 11, Call 8, Landis 6, Hall 6.
LAYTON 87, MURRAY 62
HOLLADAY — Layton totaled five players in double figures to top Damani Wilkerson’s 28 points for Murray and outpaced the Spartans in every quarter Friday at Olympus High’s Utah Autism Holiday Classic.
Jonah Fullmer shot 5 of 5 at the foul line and led Layton (8-1) with 20 points. Karter Miller scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. Chase Randall and Josh Checketts each scored 11 points and Sam Romer pitched in 10.
ROY 50, MTN CREST 40
ROY — Roy used a 17-10 lead after one quarter and held off Mountain Crest at home.
Colby Frokjer led Roy (2-7) with 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Boston Greenhalgh added 10 points and six rebounds, and Tyrece Holbrook scored seven points. Tripp Randall blocked five shots.
SYRACUSE 63, SNOW CANYON 52
RIVERTON — Syracuse won the fourth quarter 15-5 to overtake Snow Canyon at the Riverton High tournament.
Carter Robinson led Syracuse (5-5) with 18 points. Beckam Rees scored 17 points and Skyler Orton added 15.
LAYTON CHRISTIAN 52, SANTA MARGARITA-CA 51
LA VERNE, Calif. — Alan Gballou totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds to help lead Layton Christian to a win Thursday at the prestigious The Classic at Damien tournament.
Omar Mowafak scored 15 points for LCA (6-4). Tyrin Jones totaled 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Sports editor Brett Hein contributed to score reports.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.