Boys basketball: Turley, Davis rise to rowdy Layton environment for crucial win
Karter Miller's 32 points not enough for Lancers in 65-51 road win by defending 6A state champs
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- Davis High’s JT Turley (11) rises to the rim against Layton during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Layton High’s Karter Miller (1) tries to scoop a shot past Davis High’s Tradon Bessinger (4) during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Bode Sparrow (2) challenges Layton’s Jack Godderidge (21) during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Tradon Bessinger, left, and Bode Sparrow celebrate after a play against Layton during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Cameron Brower (14) lets a 3-pointer fly against Layton during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s JT Turley (11) drives against a Layton defender during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Layton High’s Jack Godderidge, left, shoots over a Davis defender during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Tradon Bessinger rises to shoot a 3-pointer against Layton during a Region 1 boys basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s JT Turley yells in celebration during a Region 1 boys basketball game against Layton on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
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- Davis High’s Bode Sparrow readies a jump shot during a Region 1 boys basketball game against Layton on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Layton.
LAYTON — Davis High looked one step ahead of Layton High through every phase of a must-win Region 1 boys basketball contest on Tuesday night.
The defending 6A state champions entered the game shooting above 50% just twice through their last five games. They came out of the locker room winning pretty much everything in the first half of a coveted 65-51 road win, keeping their region flame alive entering a home finale with Syracuse on Friday.
Cameron Brower, netting 19 total points and dropping two of his four total triples for Davis (15-7, 6-1 Region 1) in an 18-9 first quarter, struck gold first and his fellas soon followed. Fellow senior JT Turley (20 points, nine rebounds) was on track for a double-double before halftime.
“We made it all about winning,” Turley said. “Every 50-50 ball, no offensive rebounds for them, we just wanted to do all the things we could control, and the rest would take care of itself.”
Davis, finishing 25 of 47 (53%) from the field, narrowly won the rebound margin with 30 total boards against a Layton offense that begins and ends with junior star Karter Miller, who finished with a game-high 32 points on 11-of-24 shooting and a 9-of-10 finish at the foul line.
Karter, the son of Layton coach Kelby Miller, found himself matched up with Davis senior forward and Iowa football commit Tradon Bessinger (12 points, six rebounds) throughout most of the night in a designed effort by Davis to force his looks from far and wide.
Miller hit one of his five looks beyond the arc and finished the first half with 18 of Layton’s 24 points.
Turley turned on the jets for 15 second-quarter Davis points, including a free-throw line visit as the first-half clock expired, to put the Darts up 12 at the break.
“Bessinger’s probably the best on-ball defender in the state,” Turley said of his teammate.
“We just kind of let him go on (Karter), switching, and we just stayed in front and tried to make him make shots over us. Karter is a great player; he’s going to make shots, and we knew that coming into the game, so we were just making him beat us.”
Layton’s best defensive effort came in the third quarter, which saw Davis draw just nine points on four looks from the field. Nine more points by Karter Miller, and the first field goal(s) by another Lancer since the first quarter, reduced Davis’ lead to eight headed to the fourth quarter.
Between Brower, pouring on his final two triples, and Bessinger adding another to the Davis fire, Layton’s offensive output just couldn’t keep up for a proper run.
Jack Godderidge (10 points, 10 rebounds), Chase Randall (seven points, two rebounds), and Tage Allen (two points, seven rebounds) combined for just four made field goals in the second half.
“I think our guys need to look for their opportunities,” Kelby Miller said. “Big moment, big game, right? A lot on the line, and we knew we were going to get their best.”
The way Davis started the night, and just how many of their guys were striking from a distance in the first half, overwhelmed Kelby Miller’s group, the 17-year coaching veteran said.
“That kind of took us by surprise a little bit,” Kelby Miller said. “We tried to make some adjustments, throw out a few different defenses, and, in the end, we just didn’t do our part. We missed seven or eight foul shots, missed plenty of opportunities at the rim, especially early on in the second half, that could’ve got us a bit closer. But, again, kudos to (Davis).”
Dilan Petersen (eight points, two rebounds), Bode Sparrow (four points, five rebounds), and Connor Brown (chipping in a free throw off the bench) rounded things out for a Davis road win that puts the Darts one win from an outright region title.
Syracuse and coach Greg Godderidge, uncle to Layton senior Jack Godderidge, are now the only team standing in the way of a second consecutive region banner for Chad Sims and Davis.
Make no mistake, Turley and the Darts have winning on the brain after pulling off arguably its biggest win of the regular season on Tuesday night — redeeming a 77-58 home loss to Layton on Jan. 20.
“It’s one of those fun ones,” Turley said of the matchup. “You can use it for energy, but you can’t let your emotions get too high or too low over the (noise). Both sides were rowdy, so it’s one of those games where you have to stay within the court and play with the four other guys around you and just make it all about winning.”
Layton, traveling to Layton Christian for a quality nonregion matchup Friday, needs a Davis loss for a share and its first region title in two years.
“I have more second-place finishes in region than I care to admit,” Kelby Miller said. “Most of those teams have bounced back really well and finished great at state.
“Even 11 years ago, when we won the state championship, we didn’t win the region that year. We lost on the last night of region play, and hopefully it gets us refocused like it did that group and we roll into state ready to win a few games.”
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
