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Ogden High's Taylor Duke, left, fights, with Layton Christian's Fabiana Lopez, and Denise Barrera for possession during a region girls basketball contest on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High's Salote Tonga (10) goes up for a layup against Layton Christian's Denise Barrera (4) during a region girls basketball contest on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Layton Christian's Sofia Olaya brings the ball down the floor against Ogden High during a region girls basketball contest on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High's Megan Beus walks down the floor during a region girls basketball contest at Layton Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Layton Christian's Fabiana Lopez (10) dribbles toward Ogden High's Hazel Nadolski during a region girls basketball contest on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

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Layton Christian's Ava Smith, left, speaks with assistant coach Brett Cox during a region girls basketball contest against Ogden High on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High gathers for a timeout during a region girls basketball contest at Layton Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Layton.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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LAYTON — Change can be good, but an abrupt, midseason change of your head coach inside of 24 hours almost always means chaos and confusion for everyone involved.

Layton Christian introduced Mark Burton as the school’s interim girls basketball coach on Monday after fourth-year coach Jarrod Hoagland’s sudden resignation ahead of Tuesday’s home game with Ogden, the team’s first contest since Dec. 23.

LCA senior guard Ava Smith’s game-high 22 points powered the Eagles through a 51-50, double-overtime win over the Tigers.

They’re off to a pretty darn good start, Burton said.

“The big thing is making sure they understand the mission they’re on,” Burton said. “They needed a coach. Not only a coach, they need a good coach because we’re still on that same mission they were on prior to 24 hours ago… I said, ‘There’s going to be a story written, and they don’t get to choose the words but they do get to choose the outcome.’

“… In this case, it’s a double-overtime victory.”

Burton, a former assistant coach for the boys team — and the father of LCA alum Mark Burton Jr., who is now playing basketball overseas — inherited a lot mightily similar to an Ogden program that played down to the wire three seperate times on Tuesday night.

A low-scoring fourth quarter saw Ogden and LCA (7-6, 1-0 Region 12) end regulation tied 40-all, and Ogden senior guard Jill Wood (seven points), fouled by LCA junior guard Grace Maloney-Holland (eight points) with 25 seconds left in the first overtime, forced a second overtime at the free-throw line.

LCA senior guard Sofia Olaya (11 points) lent her third 3-point bucket, in addition to two free throws, to go ahead on the Tigers by 3 with 1:44 to go in the second overtime.

Ogden (7-7, 0-1) ultimately missed at the free-throw line, as senior posts Taylor Duke (three points) and Lauretta Taukiuvea (eight points, seven rebounds) cashed in just two free throws on five chances inside the final minute.

Neither team finished particularly well at the stripe. Ogden was 12 of 21 (57%), and LCA was 9 of 14 (64%) — and the Eagles leaned on Smith’s 9-of-12 free-throw shooting heavily.

Smith, originally from Australia and back in Utah for a third year, spoke about the intensity of the situation her team walked into upon returning to school this week.

“It’s a lot of emotions, but I’m so proud of how we went out today,” Smith said.

“We just forgot about everything happening off the court and we played our game. I was looking for Jarrod a lot because I’m so used to that connection, but (Burton)’s so passionate and he wants to win. He’s lifting us up and he really kept us going and that’s what a good coach does. He’s definitely connected with us more and earned our respect, I would say.”

Ogden, led by senior post Salote Tonga (16 points) and senior guard Hazel Nadolski (nine rebounds, four steals and six points), led 13-10 through the end of the first quarter. Maloney-Holland, senior guard Fabina Lopez (five points) and junior forward Tuana Sultan (three points) filled in the gaps behind the 3-point line and tied things up 25-25 at halftime.

Tigers coach Andy Blodgett, who originally chose LCA to win 3A Region 12 outright before the season started, said the Eagles simply beat his side around the edges.

“They swung the ball really well around the perimeter and that’s what got them the win in the end. We had the middle locked down — they’re a drive and kick team — but throughout the season, they’ve just played at the rim because nobody’s been able to stop them. Hazel got (four) blocks and they’re not used to that.”

The second half saw Wood and Ogden freshman guard Juliet Knowles (six points) chip in off the bench just enough to match the Eagles at the other end. Ogden senior guard Megan Beus and freshman post Milly Nadolski combined for four points.

LCA snapped a four-game losing streak by handing Ogden its first loss since Dec. 19.

Both teams meet again, this time at Ogden, on Thursday, Jan. 22. Blodgett considered their first meeting a “playoff-level game” in his first game back from the holiday break.

“We hope that sets them up for the playoffs,” Blodgett said. “We’re using this to build and push ourselves a little bit more and get ready for the next team.”

After Tuesday, Logan (6-6), LCA and Ogden are the only teams in Region 12 with at least six overall wins — but Morgan (5-8) did hand Logan an 80-17 loss to open region play.

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