A team-high 23 points by Layton High’s Karter Miller tipped off the Great Western Summer Classic, held through Saturday at Juan Diego Catholic High School, and led the Lancers over Orem 58-52 in the first pair of games played Wednesday afternoon.

Half of the latest 6A state semifinals — Layton and Davis — join an amalgamation of prep programs from 13 U.S. states and Canada for the fifth edition of the GWSC showcase and adjacent tournament. As part of the showcase lineup, Layton and Davis contest 10 total games, each made of two 18-minute halves, through Saturday in Draper.

Layton succumbed to reigning state champion Davis 75-55 in the 6A semifinals in February, but it would appear Miller and the Lancers are out for a rebound following a rigorous ride on the EYBL Circuit and returning with a win Wednesday over Orem (a team that went 21-4 overall in the most recent high school season).

Fifteen points from Miller, and three made 3s by Chase Randall (12 points), fueled the Lancers for a 30-18 halftime lead. Layton nearly matched that production in the second half, as returning senior Jack Godderidge added nine second-half points to his 11-point tally.

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The fatigue of the road may weigh heavy on some but for Godderidge, the nephew of Syracuse head boys basketball coach Greg Godderidge, the game always feels better in the Beehive State. Godderidge, Miller, Randall and the bulk of Layton’s returning roster have hooped together since their earliest years.

“I’ve been playing in tournaments around Utah since I was little,” Godderidge said. “I’m kind of used to this. Looking back, it means a lot to me because I’ve been playing basketball my whole life and I’ve been playing the same kids and this year is something different because it’ll be my last one playing with them all together. It’s a special one for sure.”

Ready for his chance, Godderidge said he wants to become the man consistently tabbed to take on the top name on the opposing team’s scouting report.

“We all have our certain roles,” Godderidge said. “Karter brings the ball down the court, finds open guys, he can shoot, and he can get inside the basket. I can do a little bit of everything, I can rebound, I can play good defense.”

Miller tacked on another eight points, including two free throws, in the second half. Those digits, plus six uninterrupted free throws by Nic Anderson (eight points) and four extra points by Tage Allen, were enough to stave off the Tigers, who outscored Layton in the second half 34-28.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

Asked about last year’s squad, Miller acknowledged the adjustment that’s come without having the usual scoring pieces at their disposal. Outgoing seniors Sam Romer (16.2 ppg), Jonah Fullmer (12 ppg), and Joshua Checketts (6.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.3 bpg) are three not-easily-filled gaps in the returning Lancers lineup.

A competitive offseason schedule is testing Miller and the Lancers in two specific areas: moving the basketball and making up for each missed field goal on the other end.

“Our teamwork and execution’s always good because we’ve played together for 10-plus years,” Miller said. “They hold me accountable, I hold them accountable.

“Playing with prospects on the EYBL circuit, it’s been good for us,” he said. “We play some of the top competition so I feel once we come back to Utah, it’s much easier to play against these teams. The intensity over at EYBL is way harder than here.”

Below are the remaining schedules for Layton and Davis. The full schedule and tournament bracket can be found at the GWSC official website.

Thursday, June 5

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

• Davis vs. Alta, noon

• Davis vs. Timberline (Idaho), 5 p.m.

• Davis vs. Centennial (Idaho), 8 p.m.

Friday, June 6

• Layton vs. Bingham, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 7

• Layton vs. Skyview (Idaho), 10 a.m.

• Layton vs. Eagle (Idaho), 1 p.m.

Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misnamed Chase Randall. The Standard-Examiner regrets the error.