This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ogden • Things looked bleak for the Layton basketball team early in the second half of the Lancers' Class 5A title game with Brighton on Saturday.
Shots weren't falling. The Bengals were dominating inside and controlling the pace. Brighton led by 13.
Layton was in need of a hero.
And, for the second straight day, that unlikely hero was Matt Cragun, a 6-foot-4 substitute guard.
Cragun came off the bench to score 13 second-half points including a game-winning putback with 2.3 seconds left that gave the Lancers a 48-46 victory and their first title since 1988.
"I felt like no one was taking over, so I stepped up and tried to be a leader," said Cragun, whose 11 points led the Lancers in their semifinal win over Viewmont on Friday. "I wanted to win. This is my last year."
Coincidentally, Layton's first win this season came on Dec. 11 when Cragun's 3-point shot with 2.9 seconds to play gave the Lancers a 52-49 win over this same Brighton team.
Layton star Jarriesse Blackmon, who finished with 14 points and kept the Lancers close in the first half, praised his teammate.
"He was phenomenal," Blackmon said as he basked in the adulation of the large and loud cheering Layton cheering section. "We needed someone to take over, and that is exactly what he did. He made a lot of crucial plays. He helped the team get the win."
Brighton seemed in control with star Brock Miller proving as effective a passer as a scorer, center John Gremillion getting shots and rebounds inside, and Derek Devashrayee enjoying a big game.
Layton coach Kelby Miller said he started in a zone, but his players convinced him to go to a pressure man-to-man. As Brighton tried to slow things up to preserve its lead, that pressure defense started forcing turnovers.
Trailing 33-20 with 6:02 left in the third quarter, Layton went on a 16-2 tear as Jakoby Kemp, who finished with 11, gave the Lancers their first lead since the early seconds of the game on four straight points.
At that point, it was anybody's game. Brighton surged ahead by six on Miller's four points and an assist, but Layton then rattled off eight straight, with six from Cragun. The last was the putback in the final seconds.
"These are the types of games we have been in all season long," said Miller. "I trust these guys to pull these games out, and that's what we did. It just speaks volumes for the type of kids we have. They never give up."
After losing their first four games of the season and dropping the Region 1 championship to arch-rival Davis in the final regular season game, the 18-7 Lancers never did give up.
And, as a result, they are the 2015 boys' 5A basketball champions.
Twitter: @TribTomwharton —
Layton 48, Brighton 46
R Layton's Matt Cragun comes off the bench to score 13 second-half points and hit the winning shot with 2.3 seconds to go on his seventh rebound.
• The Lancers win their first boys' basketball title since 1988, as Jarriesse Blackmon scores 14 and hauls down seven rebounds, and Jakoby Kemp adds 11.
• Brighton star Brock Miller ends a fine career with 14 points and four assists, and Bengals center John Gremillion scores 15 points and hauls in 15 rebounds. —
5A All-Tournament Team
MVP
• Matt Cragun, Layton
Team
• Jarriese Blackmon, Layton
• Brock Miller, Brighton
• John Gremillion, Brighton
• Jesse Wade, Davis
• Austin Johnson, Viewmont
As voted upon by members of The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News