Boys basketball: In another rivalry epic, Layton again outlasts Davis on late Katoa basket
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- Layton’s Mekhi Martin, center, leans to the basket against two Davis players on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton High’s KJ Miller (42) shoots over Davis High’s Coleman Atwater (1) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Caleb Taylor (5) shoot a layup pasts Layton’s Cade Tidwell (11) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Caleb Taylor (5) shoots over Layton’s Mekhi Martin (1) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Coleman Atwater (1) handles the ball against Layton’s Cade Tidwell (11) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s KJ Miller, right, tries to drive against Davis High’s Coleman Atwater on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Davis guard Coleman Atwater, left, shoots over Layton’s Sam Romer (3) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Zach Fisher, right, shoots against the defense of Layton’s Sam Romer (3) on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Layton.
LAYTON — Fifteen.
That was the number of times the high school boys basketball battle between Layton and Davis was tied or had the lead change hands Tuesday — in the fourth quarter alone.
“When it’s a game like that, you’ve got to stay composed, the whole team,” Layton senior forward Dave Katoa said. “We’re trading buckets; the lead was switching a lot. We had to just stay calm and keep playing our game. It was never over until the last second.”
Katoa drilled a 3-pointer with 22 ticks left on the clock and the Lancers survived a late Davis attempt that rattled off the rim, capturing a thrilling, 73-71 victory over the Darts and sweeping the Region 1 season series by two points in each effort.
In the first meeting, Katoa offered up an off-balanced prayer from beyond the arc that was answered as the shot clock ran out in the closing seconds. On this occasion, he had all the time in the world and the result was the same for Layton.
“Totally transition. One of my teammates drove to the hoop and I spaced to the other side. He looked up and found me and I just set my feet and confidently let it go. I knew it was going to go in,” Katoa said. “I’m always up for it. I want the ball; I want to shoot the last shot if that’s the case. But on this team, we have so many great players. Anyone could take that last shot.”
And anyone did, depending on the moment. With another eight lead changes or ties in the last four minutes of the third quarter, a star was born every trip down the court.
Mekhi Martin and KJ Miller both had their moments over the last quarter and a half for the Lancers (19-1, 7-0 Region 1), with Miller scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 19. Miller added five rebounds and Martin dished six assists.
Ike Morgan thrice tried to will the Darts (14-6, 5-2) to a win, hitting a trey and converting a pair of driving layups in the final frame. His basket with 1:10 remaining gave the Darts their final lead at 71-70, setting the stage for Katoa’s heroics.
Katoa played the entire game without a break but still had enough in the tank for the game-winner.
“That’s just the flow of the game; how it happened. Coach knows what he’s doing,” Katoa said. “I’ll do whatever the team needs and that’s what they needed tonight.”
Katoa scored 16 points in the game, adding five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Sam Romer also scored in double digits with 13 for the Lancers.
Davis placed four players in double figures, led by Zach Fisher (19 points, seven rebounds), Tradon Bessinger (18 points, five rebounds), Coleman Atwater (13 points) and Morgan’s 12 points, to go with nine assists and six rebounds.
Layton has not quite put a bow on the region title, holding a two-game lead with three to play.
“Our next game is our biggest game; take it one day at a time,” Katoa said. “Of course we want to win region, but the state championship is the big goal we’re working toward every day.”