Girls basketball: Davis controls, then holds off Weber charge to cap regular season
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- Davis High’s Kate Willard (4) handles the basketball as Weber’s Katelyn Poulsen (3) and Rylee Jugler (32) trail the play on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Abigail Hall (25) shoots over the outstretched arm of Davis High’s Kiara Zwonitzer (22) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Davis High’s Chloe Peery drives into the paint against Weber on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Logyn Howell (23) takes contact from Davis players Kiara Zwonitzer (22) and Mari Nichols (43) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Davis High guard T’Maea Eteuati (1) starts the offense against Weber’s Katelyn Poulsen (3) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Avery Shupe, left, throws a pass past Davis player T’Maea Eteuati (1) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s defenders Abby Sayer, left, and Rylee Jugler (32) close in on Davis High’s Kate Willard (4) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Abby Sayer looks to the basket in a game against Davis on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Rylee Jugler (32) tries to get up a shot against Davis defenders on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Davis High’s Chloe Peery, left, surveys the floor as Weber’s Avery Shupe defends on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Avery Shupe (2) shoots a 3-pointer as Davis High’s Emma Loveland (3) closes out on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Davis High’s Mari Nichols, center, drives to the basket against Weber defenders on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Pleasant View.
PLEASANT VIEW — Playing against a .500 Weber basketball team, Davis girls coach Nicole Waddoups didn’t change her approach and substituted freely with the big picture in mind.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all season. I’ve rotated at least nine or 10 players every game,” Waddoups said. “In order to make a good run in state, we have to have healthy and energized girls so I think that’s the way to play.”
Davis wrapped up the regular season by sweeping its series against the Warriors with a 57-47 victory on Friday night, finishing third in the triumvirate of teams controlling Region 1.
The Darts put up a pair of 16-10 quarters in the first half and led 32-20 at the break.
“We knew we had to come out hard and get ready for state by playing with intensity each quarter,” Davis junior guard T’Maea Eteuati said. “At halftime, the message was we needed to pick it up a little bit more on the defensive end and let our defense feed our offense.”
It wasn’t quite the same spread when the Darts (15-6, 7-3 Region 1) won the third quarter 15-11, making a 47-31 lead heading into the final frame.
Eteuati scored eight points in the period, with three baskets in the paint and two free throws.
“I focused on passing; I have good teammates and knew the ball was going to get back to me eventually, so I made good shots based on their amazing passes,” Eteuati said.
She finished with a game-high 22 points for the Darts.
Senior forward Mari Nichols, one of the Davis “bench bunch,” made a free throw to open the fourth quarter and the lead grew to 48-31 at the 7:26 mark.
But Weber (11-12, 3-7) rallied with an 8-0 run, closing the gap to 48-39 with 5:23 remaining.
“Something we have to do better going forward is when we start to feel pressure, actually slow down and play basketball the right way. We struggle with that,” Waddoups said. “Usually, their pressure results in my girls playing one-on-one basketball. We need to play together, not separate.”
Waddoups put all five starters back on the court but things got even more dicey for the visitors when Weber senior guard Abby Sayer buried a 3-pointer with 1:05 left and it was suddenly 52-47.
Freshman forward Bradey Schiffman knocked down two treys during the Weber run and scored nine points on the night.
“They didn’t give up; we played better defensively,” Weber coach Trevor Howell said. “You just can’t dig yourself a hole like that. We actually got down by 19 (in the third quarter).
“We emphasized finding open shooters and got a couple of good looks on some sets we did.”
The Warriors then fouled to stop the clock and three different Davis players — Eteuati, Kate Willard and Chloe Peery — made 5 of 6 free throws for the winning margin.
“We practice a lot of free throws; all the girls that shot them were able to rise to the occasion and hit some great foul shots,” Eteuati added.
Willard also had double figures for the Darts with 11 points while Peery scored eight and Nichols checked in with six.
For Weber, Sayer torched the nets for 20 points on senior night and junior center Rylee Jugler worked the boards for seven.
