Boys basketball: Behind Katoa and Martin, Layton outlasts Weber with blistering 2nd half
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- Layton High’s Dave Katoa (10) gathers to shoot against Weber on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s KJ Miller (42) gathers the ball against Weber’s Tyler Payne on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Weber High’s Malachi Spencer (12) drives against Layton on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Dave Katoa dunks against Weber on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Weber High’s Ryder Howe (20) dribbles as Layton’s Mekhi Martin approaches on defense on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Sam Romer, left, battles against Weber’s Hunter Schenck on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Cade Tidwell (11) shoots over Weber’s Ryder Howe (20) on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Weber High’s Hunter Schenck handles the basketball against Layton on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s KJ Miller (42) shoots against Weber’s Tyler Payne (2) on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Dave Katoa, right, drives against Weber’s Malachi Spencer on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Layton.
LAYTON — On Tuesday, it would have been easy to look at Layton High’s overall 15-1 record and espouse that the Lancers are a pretty good boys basketball team.
Weber wasn’t bad either, sporting a combined 12-4 log heading into its Region 1 clash of the titans with the Lancers.
Both teams have had blow-out conquests and single-digit nailbiters and come out on top, so they know how to win.
After trading punches with Weber in the first half, Layton quickly erased an early deficit in the third quarter and gradually pulled away in the final frame for an impressive, 82-70, track meet-type victory to maintain sole possession of first place.
Layton (16-1, 4-0 Region 1) outscored the Warriors 46-32 in the second half, including a 29-point third period.
“We’ve got shooters everywhere. Anyone on the team can go off at any time,” Layton senior guard Mekhi Martin said. “Luckily everyone was firing on all cylinders at the same time.”
Weber (12-5, 2-2) scored the first basket in the third quarter to lead 40-36, then Layton went on a blistering 11-0 run that ended in a fastbreak layup and free throw by KJ Miller with 5:57 still left in the period.
Miller had a regulation 3-pointer, and Martin and Dave Katoa also scored points during the two-minute blitz.
“It wasn’t one person; we did it as a team. When you go in at halftime you talk about staying focused, keeping one goal in mind and that’s winning the game,” Martin said. “We’ve been down at halftime a few times so we’ve been through that. We know how to recover and stay together.”
Martin scored 11 points in the third quarter and finished the game with 24, displaying an aggressive mindset with four driving layups and three resulting free throws.
“Coaches told me to keep attacking. The paint was pretty open because they were staying out on our shooters,” Martin said. “I kept attacking, getting to the rim and hit shots. I didn’t feel like anyone could stay in front of me; they were struggling and not helping out much. When it’s one on one, it’s a lot easier.”
The Lancers then outscored Weber 17-9 in the fourth quarter for the surprisingly comfortable margin of victory.
Katoa netted 10 points in the fourth quarter and totaled a game-high 32 points, while Miller also added double digits with 11 for the Lancers.
Hunter Schenck led the Warriors with 28 points and Malachi Spencer checked in with 25 — 16 in the first half.
“We want to keep a team to 50 or 60, but Weber is a good offensive team. We expected a high-scoring game but kept them at 70 with that fourth quarter,” Martin said.