Boys basketball midseason update: Where things stood in Northern Utah regions; players to watch | News, Sports, Jobs

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Syracuse High’s Brevin Hamblin (4 top) and Weber’s Griffyn Doughty (4 bottom) collide during a game Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Pleasant View.

The high school boys basketball season is just past the midway point with region games underground or about to start for Northern Utah teams.

Below is a quick look at where things stand in area regions, plus some key players to watch.

REGIONS 1 & 2

Fremont (7-5, 2-0 Region 1) and Syracuse (9-2, 2-0) lead the pack with unbeaten starts to region play, followed by Layton (9-5, 2-1) and Davis (8- 6, 2-1), then Weber (4-8, 1-2), Farmington (8-4, 0-2) and Clearfield (6-6, 0-3).

The region looks mostly even across the board, as expected. Farmington shoots 48.1% from the field as a team, Davis shoots 47.2%, Syracuse shoots 45.7% and Fremont shoots 44%.

All three of Layton’s region games have been decided by two points and Weber games average a region-high 136 combined points. Despite an 0-3 region record, Clearfield has been in each of its region games until the end.

In Region 2, Roy (6-8, 1-2 Region 2) played region favorite Cyprus to a close game on Tuesday, but the Pirates (12-3, 3-0) flexed and won by nine. The Royals should be in the thick of plenty more region games in the next few weeks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hunter Hansen, Fremont, Jr.: Hansen is a Utah State verbal commit who’s playing like a college basketball commit so far, with averages of 20.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He shoots 51.4% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range. He’s hit 29 points twice this year.

David Calvert, Fremont, Sr.: Calvert shoots exactly 50% (56 of 112) from the field, averages 11 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He shoots 35% from 3-point range, so teams do have to step out and guard him.

Hunter Schenck, Weber, Jr.: Schenck averages 24.1 points per game, which includes nine straight 20-point games to start the season, a 40-point outburst at Bear River (two overtimes) and 28 points three separate times.

Kaden Ericksen, Syracuse, Sr.: Ericksen shoots 51.7% from the field, 41.9% from 3-point range and averages 18.5 points per game. He was recently nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Brevin Hamblin, Syracuse, Sr.: Hamblin averages a double-double of 13.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on 55.6% shooting.

Mekhi Martin, Layton, Jr.: The third-year starting point guard can shoot, create his own shot and find open teammates. Everything runs through him.

KJ Miller, Layton, Jr.: Miller is the Lancers’ best 3-point shooter and their second scoring option overall. He made seven 3s against Taylorsville earlier this year.

Kaden Eggett, Davis, Sr.: Eggett is one of four Davis players averaging double-figure scoring, and he posts a team-high 13.1 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and a 54.7% field-goal shooting percentage.

Paul Beattie, Farmington, Jr.: In 10 games with available stats, Beattie is averaging 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, both team highs, per game and shooting 58.3% from the floor (he’s 8 for 17 on 3-pointers).

Austin Mitchell, Clearfield, Sr.: Mitchell can do a bit of everything as evidenced last week’s Layton game, where he scored 14 points in the first quarter and 21 for the game on a variety of layups, dunks and 3-pointers.

Elijah Sowards, Roy, Sr.: Sowards is averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game (single-game highs of 31 and 20, respectively) and 54.7% shooting.

REGION 5

At the top of the region, things appear set to mirror coaches’ preseason thoughts.

Box Elder (7-4) had a lineup change after one game, started the year 2-3 and is 5-1 since. The Bees have played the fourth-hardest schedule in 5A and are sixth in the RPI.

Their Region 5 opener on Friday is against another region favorite, Woods Cross (9-3). The Wildcats have played the third-hardest schedule in 5A and are fourth in RPI.

Defending region champion Bonneville (4-7) played seven 6A teams in its non-region schedule — six from Region 1 — and started 1-5. The Lakers (No. 25 in RPI) are 3-2 since then with tough wins at Ogden and Green Canyon.

Northridge (5-6) started the year 3-1, but the Knights (No. 24 in RPI) have lost their last three. They’ve taken eight charges as a team; Logan Birt and De’Quone Kennedy have two each.

Viewmont (5-8) has alternated wins and losses the last seven games, including a bonkers win at Murray where the Vikes were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter and won in overtime.

Despite a 4-7 record, Bountiful has outscored opponents 716-714. The Redhawks have lost four in a row.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bo Dixon, Bonneville, Sr.: At point guard, Dixon is the Lakers’ leading scorer and can score from anywhere, highlighted by two games of 24 points this year.

Nate Burdett, Bonneville, Sr.: Burdett’s anyone Laker teams have to guard because of scoring potential. He had 27 points and six 3s against Weber.

Jackson McKee, Box Elder, Sr.: Averages 13 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks per game, all of which are team highs.

Elijah Kersey, Box Elder, Jr.: Kersey averages 12.8 points per game and has a career-best of 34 points. He’s difficult to keep out of the paint.

De’Quone Kennedy, Northridge, Jr.: Kennedy’s the team leader in rebounds (6.9) per game and shooting percentage (60.4%), and co-leader in points (13.1). Kennedy also shoots 72% at the foul line.

Bentley Whitear, Northridge, Jr.: Whitear averages team-highs in assists (2.8) and steals (2.7) per game along with 13.1 points per game.

Scott Noel, Viewmont, Sr.: Noel is the team’s scoring and rebounding leader with five double-doubles.

Carson Smith, Bountiful, Jr.: Averages 15.1 points per game and shoots 52.4% from the field.

Mason Bendinger, Woods Cross, Sr.: 17.1 points per game, 50.8% shooting and an ability to score anywhere, anytime.

REGION 13

Things are also going about as planned in Region 13 regarding the preseason favorites, who face each other Friday.

Morgan (10-3, 1-0 Region 13) has won a searing nine games in a row, six by single digits, heading into Friday’s region-favorite showdown at Grantsville (11-4, 1-0).

At Ogden (4-7), it’s been a mixed bag for first-year coach Trent Porter. The Tigers didn’t play a road game until Dec. 20 against Bonneville and happened to suspend four starters for that game. But despite the losing record, they’ve been competitive in every game (largest loss is 14 points).

At Ben Lomond, the young and inexperienced Scots are 0-11 after dropping Wednesday’s region opener to Grantsville, and their closest loss this year is nine points.

They’ve mixed in three non-region games in the region schedule, including two in the next few days against St. Joseph (Friday) and American Heritage (Monday).

AREA PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin Johnson, Ogden, Sr.: Johnson averages 12.5 points per game, shoots 46.2% from 3-point range and 44.4% overall.

Jake East, Ben Lomond, Jr.: Averages 16.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, shoots 59.8% from the field and has season highs of 32 and 27 points.

Eli Bailey, Morgan, Sr.: Morgan has balanced scoring up and down his lineup and Bailey is the team’s leading scorer.

REGIONS 11 & 17

Bear River is 9-3 and 6-1 in single-digit games. Region 11 play starts Friday at Sky View (10-2). Junior guard Kyver Jensen averages 16.4 points per game, with 59 combined points on 53.7% shooting the last two games.

Unattached 4A team Layton Christian is 12-7. The Eagles have been playing mostly 6A and 5A schools, plus tournaments out of state. They’re 1-2 against Utah 4A schools.

St. Joseph (4-6) and Utah Military Academy (4-3) both lost their Region 17 openers on Wednesday. They play each other Jan 24 and Feb 10.

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at [email protected], Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.

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