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Ogden • Another round of playoff basketball is just another chance for Copper Hills's Stockton Shorts to prove that he is one of the best playmakers in the state as the senior guard turned in a 32-point afternoon in the Grizzlies' 81-63 victory over Layton at the Dee Events Center.

"The goal is to get better and better throughout the year," Shorts said. "I feel like I'm playing my best basketball, as well as all my teammates. We're playing really well at the right time."

After an initial struggle to create some good looks in the opening quarter, Shorts found plenty of room to drive and shoot thanks to some early makes by teammate Rowland Bolman that forced attention from the Layton defense.

"My philosophy is to attack," Shorts said. "The thing that makes it easy is that I can kick it to people like Rowland and Ben [Baysinger], and they can knock down the corners. Then that [defender] can't trap down on me, and then I have a layup. Props to my teammates that really help me get the shots I get."

Bolman, who finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers, said that making shots is simple when the opposing defense is trying desperately to key on a single player.

"It was like practice," Bolman said. "We practice a lot of those shots. We knew coming in that our game plan was to make corner 3s and just be ready for Stockton to make plays, and we were able to execute. I feel comfortable shooting from anywhere, but today the corner was the spot."

Despite a combined 24 points from Shorts and Bolman in the first half, Copper Hills struggled to pull away from the pesky Lancers. The teams matched shot for shot for most of the second quarter. The Grizzlies only were able to amass a four-point halftime lead thanks to seven first-half turnovers that led to easy baskets for Layton's Blake Hansen and Keejon Sloan.

"Lots of times we were letting guys get by us and get easy layups or get fouled and get to the line," Shorts said. "We talked about it at halftime and made the adjustment to keep them in front — make them make tough shots — and that's what we did well in the second half."

The amped-up Copper Hills defense was on full display in the third quarter with Shorts in the middle of the biggest play. After forcing a heavily contested layup up and in, Shorts earned his team's first double-digit lead of the day by stealing Layton's inbound pass and sinking two free throws after a foul in the paint.

Shorts' free-throw trend continued throughout the second half. He sank 11 of his 12 attempts to stifle the Lancers' comeback tries.

"This season has been his breakthrough season," Copper Hills coach Andrew Blanchard said about Shorts. "He's done it all. He's been able to handle the ball, get to the rim, shoot, make free throws. Having him do that as a leader of our team is really important."

Shorts took more of a back seat in the closing minutes as teammates Sam Lyon and Trevon Allfrey took over the scoring duties. Lyon hit his final five shots after missing his first two, and Allfrey remained perfect from the floor as the two big men combined for 26 points to clinch the quarterfinal win.

"A lot of people around the state are saying we're a one-man show, which is such a lie," Blanchard said. "We have a great player, but we have other guys who are ready to hit shots and make plays. To be able to come in here and feel comfortable is an important thing to shooting the ball in this arena. Confidence is at an all-time high, and that's what it takes to win games that are tough like this one." —

Copper Hills 81, Layton 63

• Four of Copper Hills' five starters finish with double-figure scoring — Stockton Shorts (32), Trevon Allfrey (14), Sam Lyon (12) and Rowland Bolman (12)

• Copper Hills shoots 57 percent from the floor (27 of 47) and connected on 21 of 29 free throws in the win.

• Blake Hansen leads Layton in scoring with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Class 5A tournament

at Weber State's Dee Events Center

Wednesday

Quarterfinals

Copper Hills 81, Layton 63

Lone Peak 65, Jordan 53

Bingham 74, Viewmont 51

Pleasant Grove 54, West Jordan 39

Friday

Semifinals

2:30 p.m. • Pleasant Grove vs. Bingham

4:10 p.m. • Copper Hills vs. Lone Peak

Saturday

Noon • Championship game

Class 4A boys' tournament

at Weber State's Dee Events Center

Thursday

Quarterfinals

10 a.m. • Olympus vs. Timpanogos

11:40 a.m. • Corner Canyon vs. Maple Mountain

1:20 p.m. • Woods Cross vs. Springville

3 p.m. • Hillcrest vs. Highland

Friday

Semifinals • 5:50 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

2:30 p.m. • Championship game

Class 1A boys' tournament

at Sevier Valley Center

Wednesday opening-round scores

Merit Prep 52, Whitehorse 31

Panguitch 52, Piute 33

Bryce Valley 63, Duchesne 58

St. Joseph 81, Diamond Ranch 45

Rich 60, Parowan 40

Tintic 61, Green River 24

Wayne 55, Monticello 33

Valley vs. Intermountain Christian

Thursday

Quarterfinals

4 p.m. • (Valley vs. Intermountain Christian winner) vs. Wayne

5:30 p.m. • Tintic vs. Rich

7 p.m. • Bryce Valley vs. St. Joseph

8:30 p.m. • Panguitch vs. Merit Prep

Friday

Semifinals • 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

5 p.m. • Championship game