Girls basketball: Bennie steal and drive give Layton thrilling win at Bonneville
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- Layton High’s Kenley Bennie surveys the court in a game at Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville’s Baya Jimenez, right, and Layton’s Jamie Vowles, center, battle for a loose ball while Adisyn Stone, left, awaits a possible pass on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Layton High’s Jamie Vowles (14) rises for a jump shot against Bonneville’s Mylie Miera (25) on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville High’s Baya Jimenez (10) drives the basketball against Layton’s Hana Lee (34) on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Layton High’s Bryndee Kozisek (1) navigates the court with her dribble in a game at Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville High’s Adisyn Stone throws a pass in a home game against Layton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Layton High’s Kaymbree Henry looks to the basket for a shot in a game at Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville High’s Ema Eskelsen holds the ball high against the Layton defense on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Layton High’s Avery Cooper readies for a jump shot against Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville’s Baya Jimenez (10) splits the defense of Laytons Bryndee Kozisek (1) and Hadley Collier (5) on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Layton High girls basketball head coach Jerrell Stewart leads his team during a timeout in a game at Bonneville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
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- Bonneville High’s Ema Eskelsen puts up a 3-point attempt against Layton on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington Terrace.
WASHINGTON TERRACE — Coming out of a timeout, Bonneville had a one-point lead and possession with 25.7 seconds left in a girls basketball game Friday against Layton.
All the Lakers had to do was inbound the ball and, in a worst-case scenario, shoot free throws if Layton decided to foul.
Layton sophomore guard Kenley Bennie had other ideas.
Bennie stepped in front of the inbounds pass, stole the ball, drove the length of the court and put a layup in under extreme pressure, giving the Lancers a 46-45 lead.
“I knew we were down and we had to get the ball fast and get it up quick, so I went for it,” Bennie said. “I tried to concentrate as I’m going up, trying to not worry about the defense.”
After a Bonneville turnover, Lancer senior guard Bryndee Kozisek splashed home a pair of free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining and, in a game featuring constant ebbs and flows, Layton escaped with a 48-45 nonregion win over the Lakers.
“I was telling myself, ‘I got this, two easy free throws;’ trying to calm myself down and knock them in,” Kozisek said.
Layton dodged a colossal disaster, blowing a 37-29 lead following a 3-pointer by Kozisek to open the fourth quarter.
Bonneville (4-5) went on a 14-5 run, in which junior guard Baya Jimenez scored 11 points, taking a 43-42 lead on her baseline jumper at the 1:56 mark.
“That’s a shot I’ve taken hundreds of times. … Practice, consistency. I’m just confident in myself,” Jimenez said.
She finished with a game-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, and when senior center Adisyn Stone made a basket moments later, the Bonneville streak soared to 16-5 with 1:23 left.
“As a team, we woke up; we were able to be connected and we started to hit our shots,” Jimenez said. “When you’re on, you better take advantage of it because you can be off just as quick.”
Jimenez turned out to be a fortune teller, as the tide swung back in Layton’s favor when junior center Kaymbree Henry scored inside moments later, putting the Lancers within one at 45-44.
A Layton timeout and a Bonneville timeout set the stage for Bennie’s winning steal.
“We knew we had to get pressure and get the ball. We had to get our mindset right … had to get going,” Bennie said.
Bennie led the Lancers with 13 points, on six baskets down low and 1 of 3 from the free-throw line.
“Most of the time I’m looking to drive, so I have a better chance of getting contact and getting fouled,” Bennie said. “I try to be a leader to all my teammates; I try to lift them up.”
Kozisek checked in with 12 points for the Lancers, including a pair of treys and 4 of 4 from the charity stripe.
“Coach trusts me to shoot the ball and I trust my teammates; take what the defense gives you,” Kozisek said. “I focus on the current play; shoot when I’m open. Trying to make the right play.”
There were many opportunities to make the right play through the first three quarters in a back-and-forth bout.
A slow first quarter saw Layton lead 9-4, before Jimenez hit one of her patented baseline jumpers giving the Lakers their first lead, 12-11, midway through the second stanza.
Layton (5-5) countered with a 10-2 spurt to lead 21-14 at the break.
Bonneville got within two or one at various times during the third quarter but couldn’t get over the hump before taking a lead in the final frame, one that washed away in the end.
“We came out stronger; our defense put more pressure on them. We changed our mindset and dug deep,” Kozisek said. “Overall, I’m just glad we won.”
Bennie concurred, adding, “We knew we wanted to get this win; we wanted it bad.”
