High school boys basketball: 2A state tournament quarterfinals capsules (+ predictions)

Layton Christian defeated Parowan 43-36 winning the 2A Boys State Championship basketball game at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. | Matt Herp

Here’s a look at the eight teams who advanced to the 2A quarterfinals at the Sevier Valley Center this Thursday.

The 2A state tournament resumes this Thursday at the Sevier Valley Center, with six of the top eight seeds still remaining in the tournament. The only seeds outside of the top eight remaining are No. 12 North Sevier and No. 14 Layton Christian.

The first quarterfinal is North Sevier against Draper APA at 9:30 a.m.

Defending state champion Layton Christian upset Rowland Hall in the second round on Saturday at Snow College to remain in the hunt for a repeat state championship.

Top seed Kanab won easily in the second round and is the favorite this weekend at the Sevier Valley Center.

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No. 1 Kanab Cowboys (20-1)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Mickey Houston (third year)

Region: Finished first in Region 18 with a 7-1 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Enterprise, 11:10 a.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: Kanab 85, Monticello 47

Best victory: 52-49 win vs. Crimson Cliffs on Dec. 12

Top contributors:

• #22 Sam Orton, Sr., F (16.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)
• #30 Nathaniel Houston, Sr., G (12.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
• #35 Cade Szymanski, Sr., C (9.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
• #2 Derek Houston, Jr., G (8.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
• #20 Clay Shakespear, Sr., F (6.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

Scoring offense: 57.6 ppg (10th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 48.0 ppg (4th in 2A)

Last state championship: 1975 (1A)

2019 postseason: Lost to Parowan 51-27 in semifinals

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Win over Parowan in championship

Edward’s Evaluation: Kanab lost just one game this season despite playing in the toughest region in 2A, but you can bet that one loss is very much on the team’s minds heading into this week’s quarterfinals. That one loss came to Enterprise, the same team in plays in the quarters this Thursday. And, even though the Cowboys have already avenged that 18-point loss with a 12-point win over Enterprise in the region rematch, the players know full well what might happen if they get caught looking ahead. Defense is Kanab’s strength this season, and it hopes that paves the way for its first title since 1975.

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No. 2 Parowan Rams (14-7)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Lance Stubbs (eighth year)

Region: Finished tied for second in Region 18 with 4-4 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Beaver, 12:50 p.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: Parowan 87, St. Joseph 55

Best victory: 43-40 win vs. Snow Canyon on Dec. 4

Top contributors:

• #15 Krue Stubbs, Jr., F (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.2 spg)
• #3 Max Topham, Jr., F (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.8 spg)
• #22 Shaydon Benson, So., C (11.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 apg)
• #1 Nick Goodman, Jr., G (4.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.9 spg)
• #11 Levi Saylor, Sr., G (3.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.3 spg)

Scoring offense: 52.5 ppg (17th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 45.4 ppg (2nd in 2A)

Last state championship: 2004 (2A)

2019 postseason: Lost to Layton Christian 43-36 in championship

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Kanab in championship

Edward’s Evaluation: The Rams have played in six games decided by five points or less this season, and their record is 3-3 in those close games. Based on how the entire season has gone, expect more tightly competitive games in the playoffs. Parowan ranks near the bottom of 2A in scoring offense but near the top of the classification in scoring defense. The advantage it has over just about every team in 2A though is big-game experience, as four of its leading scorers were all key contributors on last year’s 2A runner-up team.

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No. 4 Draper APA Eagles (17-4)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Darius Beard (third year)

Region: Finished first in Region 15 with 10-0 record

Quarterfinals: vs. North Sevier, 9:30 a.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: Draper APA 72, Waterford 60

Best victory: 68-55 win vs. ALA on Dec. 16

Top contributors:

• #14 Derek Atkinson, Jr. (19.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.9 spg)
• #15 Tyson Chow, Jr. (13.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.8 spg)
• #20 Nicholas Palmer, Sr. (12.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.9 spg)
• #11 Lucas Bacikalo, So. (8.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
• #13 Cody Bergquist, Sr. (6.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.0 spg)

Scoring offense: 80.2 ppg (1st in 2A)

Scoring defense: 46.0 ppg (3rd in 2A)

Last state championship: None

2019 postseason: Lost to Parowan 56-47 in quarterfinals

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Kanab in semifinals

Edward’s Evaluation: Besides region foe American Heritage, the Eagles haven’t played any of the other six 2A quarterfinals this season, making it tough to gauge how good this team really is. Statistically speaking it has been dominant leading 2A in scoring offense and ranking third in scoring defense — but with eight games against very poor region competition the numbers are deceiving. What isn’t deceiving is that back on Dec. 4 the Eagles narrowly lost 56-51 at Morgan, the defending 3A champs. That game is proof it can compete, but it will need a strong grind-it-out mentality to compete with the the tough teams from Region 18.

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No. 6 American Heritage Patriots (16-5)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Jake Dastrup (first year)

Region: Finished second in Region 15 with 8-2 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Layton Christian, 2:30 p.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: American Heritage 71, Millard 56

Best victory: 72-70 win at ICS on Dec. 9

Top contributors:

• #15 Connor McKee, So., G. (22.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 3.8 spg)
• #24 Paora Winitana, Jr., W. (14.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.3 spg)
• #19 Keba Keita, So. (6.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
• #21 Ian Black, Sr., W. (5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
• #15 Max McKee, So., G. (5.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg)

Scoring offense: 70.4 ppg (2nd in 2A)

Scoring defense: 54.6 ppg (13th in 2A)

Last state championship: None

2019 postseason: Did not qualify

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Layton Christian in quarterfinals

Edward’s Evaluation: ]Regardless of the opponent throughout the season, the Patriots have tried to play an up-tempo style and it’s worked on many nights. In the quarterfinals against Layton Christian it’s going to be hard to dictate the tempo against a team that completely shutdown Rowland Hall in the second round. The Patriots will likely need to prove they can win on the defensive side of the ball as well, which isn’t their strength.

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No. 7 Beaver Beavers (13-8)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Joe Hillock (ninth year)

Region: Finished tied for second in Region 18 with 4-4 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Parowan, 12:50 p.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: Beaver 50, Duchesne 47

Best victory: 62-47 win at South Summit on Dec. 13

Top contributors:

• #0 Ky Brown, Jr. (14.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg)
• #5 Crayton Hollingshead, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 spg)
• #44 Jake Eichorn, Jr. (7.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
• #23 Conner Crum, So. (5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
• #15 McCoy Smith, Sr. (2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg)

Scoring offense: 51.1 ppg (18th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 43.5 ppg (1st in 2A)

Last state championship: 2018 (2A)

2019 postseason: Lost to Rowland Hall 40-37 in quarterfinals

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Parowan in quarterfinals

Edward’s Evaluation: In the midst of a four-game winning streak, few teams in 2A are trending upward quite like Beaver. During its final two games of the regular season Beaver beat both Enterprise and Parowan in very close games, and that Parowan win should give the players plenty of confidence in the quarterfinal rematch. Beaver’s bread and butter is defense as it ranks first in 2A scoring defense allowing only 43.5 ppg.

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No. 8 Enterprise Wolves (14-9)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Bud Randall (third year)

Region: Finished fourth in Region 18 with 3-5 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Kanab, 11:10 a.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Bye
• Second round: Enterprise 58, North Summit 52

Best victory: 58-40 win vs. Kanab on Jan. 10

Top contributors:

• #15 Tyler Hiatt, F/C (14.0 ppg)
• #4 CJ Drake, G (8.9 ppg)
• #11 Levi Randall, G (8.8 ppg)
• #13 Mathew Bowler, G/F (7.7 ppg)
• #32 Adam Holt, F (5.3 ppg)

Scoring offense: 54.8 ppg (13th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 50.0 ppg (5th in 2A)

Last state championship: 1994 (1A)

2019 postseason: Lost to Layton Christian 78-38 in quarterfinals

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Kanab in quarterfinals

Edward’s Evaluation: Even though Enterprise is the only team to beat top-seed Kanab this season, it still faces a very difficult task when they met up in the quarterfinals Thursday. Since that win over Kanab back on Jan. 10 this team is only 3-5, including a 12-point loss to Kanab in the rematch. The Wolves have been pretty good defensively all season, but to try and pull off any upsets the rest of the playoffs they needs to be more efficient offensively than in recent performances.

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No. 12 North Sevier Wolves (13-10)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head coach: Mike Costa (first year)

Region: Finished tied for third in Region 16 with 5-5 record

Quarterfinals: vs. Draper APA, 9:30 a.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: North Sevier 84, Freedom Prep 39
• Second round: North Sevier 72, Gunnison Valley 66

Best victory: 57-44 win vs. Rowland Hall on Dec. 6

Top contributors:

• #2 Burke Mickelsen, Sr., C (17.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
• #21 Marshall Okerlund, Jr., G (12.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.2 apg)
• #43 Ethan Fielding, So., G (9.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 apg)
• #4 Darian Johnson, Jr., G (7.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)
• #5 Brody Butler, Jr., G (6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.2 spg)

Scoring offense: 56.0 ppg (12th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 54.0 ppg (12th in 2A)

Last state championship: 1997 (2A)

2019 postseason: Lost to North Summit 54-50 in first round

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Draper APA in quarterfinals

Edward’s Evaluation: The whole notion that it’s tough to beat a team three times proved to be true for North Sevier in the second round last weekend. After losing to Gunnison by seven points and then nine points in the two region meetings this year, the Wolves flipped the script in the second round of the 2A playoffs and won 72-66. This team has been middle of the pack in scoring offense and defense this year, and it will need shots to fall in the quarterfinals against a Draper APA team that can score in bunches.

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No. 14 Layton Christian Eagles (13-14)

2019-2020 Schedule

Head Coach: Bobby Porter (19^th year)

Region: Finished second in Region 17 with a 9-3 record

Quarterfinals: vs. American Heritage, 2:30 p.m. (At Sevier Valley Center)

How advanced to quarterfinals:

• First round: Layton Christian 84, APA West Valley 42
• Second round: Layton Christian 50, Rowland Hall 38

Best victory: 74-70 win at Waterford on Jan. 29

Top contributors:

• #22 Jaxon Thomas, Jr. (13.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
• #4 Dominique Ramikson, Sr. (11.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.7 spg)
• #21 Luca Fontana, Jr. (11.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.9 spg)
• #2 David Dong, Sr. (8.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
• #52 Souleymame Barro, Fr. (8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Scoring offense: 66.7 ppg (5th in 2A)

Scoring defense: 67.0 ppg (20th in 2A)

Last state championship: 2019

2019 postseason: Beat Parowan 43-36 in championship

Deseret News prep editor James Edward’s bracket: Loss to Parowan in semifinals

Edward’s Evaluation: The defending champs proved last week they aren’t about to bow out of the playoffs quietly. After losing to Rowland Hall twice during region play, Layton Christian played suffocating defense in the third meeting between the teams in last week’s 2A second and prevailed 50-38. If it continues to play with that same defensive intensity throughout the playoffs a repeat state title is certainly possible.

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