This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Layton • For the Layton girls' basketball program, having three high school All-American candidates on the roster is both an advantage and a problem.
Take Friday evening for example: Layton understood Viewmont arguably presented the toughest challenge in Region 2 this season. The Vikings were 3-1 in league play and 8-5 overall entering the showdown — albeit in an inferior league, but in second place in the region nonetheless. Yet it would have been near-impossible to fathom anyone aside from the maroon-clad fans in Bountiful believing Viewmont had a chance of upending the second-ranked Lancers, who feature Hailey Bassett, Sunnie Martinez and Clara Wood — three of the 11 players statewide nominated for McDonald's All-American consideration.
So when the Vikings surged ahead after the first two frames, the funny feeling of "upset" started circulating around the gymnasium. Students became more animated. Parents, especially on the visiting Layton side, stiffened and anxiously watched the clock as Viewmont mounted an 11-point lead late into the third quarter.
This was a mid-January game. It likely wouldn't determine the region championship. It wouldn't oust Layton from playoff contention. It was an insignificant region game, on the road, from which the Lancers could recover, but when a program advertises immense talent, has 11 wins by double figures, and is undefeated — each game builds more expectations. Very few teams are expected to remain undefeated.
Layton is.
"I'd say it's probably the best team I've ever played on," Martinez said after the Lancers pulled off the 47-39 win. "There's probably a target on our backs, for sure. Being seniors — you've got to be mentally tough. You can't overthink things. You've got to think about the big picture and not let things get to your head."
Bassett leads the team in scoring at 19.7 points per game in only 18.5 minutes per night — the highest workload on the team. Starters rarely see significant action deep into lopsided games, which allows legs to remain fresh throughout the season, but also prevents valuable late-game experience.
"I don't think it's a very big concern," said Martinez, who is the commander contributing a steady dose of scoring, facilitating and defense. "We play every game like it's a state championship game. In practice, we set up situations where we are down in the fourth quarter and we have to figure out a way to come back and win. Even though we're not getting actual game experiences — we are doing it in practice."
Wood is the only other player to average double-digit scoring totals (10.0 ppg), and leads the team in 3-pointers, with 19.
"We all pass. That's what makes us good," she explained. "If we have an open shot, obviously we'll take it, but we're pretty good at creating the best shot."
Layton coach Van Price echoed the same sentiments. "There's no egos out there," he said. "That's what makes it easy. There's not somebody who says, 'I've got to get my number or else.' It's easy to coach them. They're unselfish."
An element of the team-first mentality is the mindset of the leaders deflecting attention to other teammates cast in the shadows by default of the All-American statuses.
"That, I think, is the hardest thing to balance. It's not just about us three. You're only as good as your worst player," Martinez said. "Seriously, every girl on our team is a contributor to our success. To the last JV player to the best scorer on our team makes a difference."
Unusual problems accompany Layton's situation, but advantages outweigh the difficulties.
For one: the pressure of expectation is prevalent on both sides of the equation. Take Friday for example: Trailing by 11 points, Martinez pushed the tempo and pulled up from midrange. The following possession, Wood buried a deep 3.
Viewmont called timeout, but the seed was planted. The momentum ignited a 20-3 run deep into the fourth quarter in the Lancers' 13th straight win to open the season.
In the end: It was Layton that scored another win.
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
About the Lancers
• The second-ranked and 13-0 Lancers feature Hailey Bassett, Sunnie Martinez and Clara Wood — three of the 11 players nominated statewide for McDonald's All-American consideration.
• Bassett averages 19.7 ppg while playing a mere 18.5 mpg — which is the highest on the team.
• Eleven of the Lancers' 13 wins have been by double digits. They frequently build such insurmountable leads early that players get little experience playing in high-pressure situations.