Boys basketball: Asay’s record eight 3-pointers lead Morgan past Ogden
First half too steep for Tigers boys; Trojans take region opener 67-49
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- Morgan junior Bracken Saunders (5) lets a jump shot go over Ogden junior Tayson Porter (23) during a game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden senior Conrad Moore (1) looks to pass between Morgan juniors Jake Hansen (11) and Bracken Saunders (5) during a game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden junior Jackson Maw (25) rises to shoot against Morgan junior Mason Williams during a game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Morgan senior Nathan Pace reads his assignment during a game at Ogden on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden head boys basketball coach Trent Porter, center bottom, watches his team during a home game against Morgan on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Ogden junior Tayson Porter (23), defended by Morgan junior Jake Hansen (11), puts up a shot during a game Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
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- Morgan junior Brody Peterson walks down the court during a game at Ogden on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Ogden.
OGDEN — Morgan guard Kolton Asay, tying the school record with eight 3-pointers, and teammate Bracken Saunders proved too steep a climb for Ogden boys basketball, giving up their third loss of the new year 67-49 in Tuesday’s region opener.
Asay’s 26 points led the floor as Morgan (12-1, 1-0 Region 13) looked to Saunders’ 17 points and another 11 points by senior Nate Pace to fill the gaps.
Ogden (8-6, 0-1) simply struggled to match the Trojans’ production after falling behind by 14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers leaned on junior Jackson Maw’s 17 points throughout the night as the 6-foot-3 center fought continuous double teams throughout the evening and brought Ogden back within as close as eight shortly before halftime.
Briggs Gailbraith tallied eight total points for Morgan, all scored during the first half. Senior Conrad Moore and junior Tayson Porter, each stepping up their contributions during the second half, added seven points apiece to the book.
Ogden also temporarily lost the help of senior Robert Strickland; he exited the game to visit with the team trainer midway through the second quarter and returned in the second half.
“I feel like the first half was pretty slowed and we needed to pick it up in the second,” Maw said. “We’ve got to knock down (more) shots. I feel like we’re getting good looks but we’ve got to be more confident to score.”
Ogden managed to outscore Morgan in the second half but a big second-quarter showing by Saunders, adding nearly half his scoring during the frame, made for a heavy burden as the Tigers looked to claw their way back into the conversation.
Discussing his teammate Saunders, who stands at 6-foot-4 as a shooting guard, Asay said the versatile player has become a name for teams to remember week to week.
“(Saunders) is a really good player. He dishes the ball, he can jump super high, he does everything super good,” Asay said. “We’ve got lots of energy every game and the bench’s always going crazy. That helps out a ton.”
Slowing down Morgan’s offense, the Tigers received nine bench points from seniors Brayden Wilson and Rafe Crowton in the third quarter. Even with late-game scoring by Moore and Porter, Ogden never threatened the Trojans down the stretch despite a clear uptick in pressure.
Asay commended Ogden’s defense for what he considered a quality second half of basketball.
“Ogden’s a good team so we had to come out and play hard,” Asay said. “The third and fourth quarters were pretty slow, so that second quarter helped a lot.”
On Friday, Morgan hosts Grantsville (7 p.m.); Ogden welcomes in South Summit (7 p.m.).
BOX SCORE
Ogden 11 13 11 14 – 49
Morgan 25 20 9 13 – 67
OHS (49): Maw 16, Galbraith 8, Moore 7, Porter 7, Wilson 5, Crowton 4, Strickland 2.
MHS (67): Asay 26, Saunders 17, Pace 11, Williams 7, Hansen 6.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
