Boys basketball playoffs: Herriman too much for Davis in 6A quarters
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- Davis High’s Zach Fisher (4) scoops a shot against Herriman in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Coleman Atwater, left, drives against Herriman in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Ike Morgan drives against Herriman’s Carlo Mulford (2) in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Ike Morgan (11) shoots against Herriman’s Cale Barclay (24) in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Ike Morgan, right, drives against Herriman in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Coleman Atwater (1) shoots over Herriman’s Jayden Newman (20) in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s JT Turley (10) scoops a shot against Herriman in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Tradon Bessinger, left, goes around a screen against Herriman in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
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- Davis High’s Zach Fisher (4) collides with Herriman’s Ike Palmer (13) in the 6A quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
SALT LAKE CITY — Davis High boys basketball got the opening tip, then promptly threw a pass away 13 seconds into the team’s 6A quarterfinal game Monday afternoon against Herriman.
Herriman hit a 3-pointer on its initial possession and Davis junior guard Coleman Atwater countered with a trey of his own.
Things got worse from there.
The No. 3 Mustangs raced to a double-digit, first-quarter lead and No. 6 Davis never recovered, bowing out 63-48 at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center.
“It took us about a quarter to get used to the physicality they were going to present and by that time, we were down,” Davis coach Chad Sims said. “We didn’t take a couple of great shots and missed them.”
Herriman (20-5) had three rebound baskets, a trio of 3s and a steal, building a 20-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“The offensive boards they got in the first half really hurt us. Credit to Herriman, they’re big and aggressive and did a good job,” Sims said.
From there, Davis (17-8) played the Mustangs pretty even the rest of the way, tying the second quarter 14-14 then narrowly dropping the third (13-12) and fourth (16-13).
“The kids battled. The first quarter just got us a little bit; we got down early and couldn’t get over the hump and get back,” Sims said. “It wasn’t because of lack of effort. The kids fought … and just couldn’t make enough shots.”
Coming in as the lower seed, Davis needed to throw the first punch like they have most of the year and instead made uncharacteristic mistakes, including fouling out three players: starters Caleb Taylor and Ike Morgan, and sub JT Turley.
“At this point you’re going to play the best teams and you have to be on your A-game and locked in from the beginning,” Sims lamented. “When they got down, they were pressing the rest of the game as far as doing the right thing.”
Davis senior forward Zach Fisher struggled from the field (6 of 15 shooting), but still battled his way to a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Atwood also netted double digits with 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers.
“Maybe we were a little nervous, but they’ve been through hard times all year,” Sims said. “I thanked the kids for all they did and let them know how much we appreciate what they gave to the community and the school.”