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Richfield • Layton Christian's one-point loss to Summit Academy in last year's memorable Class 2A boys' basketball state title game is the kind of defeat that sticks with a team.

So the Eagles exorcised a few demons with an impressive 58-40 victory over the Bears on Friday night to earn their second consecutive trip to the title game at the Sevier Valley Center.

In an often brutally physical game between two quick and athletic teams, the one thing that was lacking was good shooting. Both teams struggled to get going in a tense, defensive struggle.

In the end, Layton Christian shot and rebounded well enough to guarantee a new state champion this season. The Eagles simply had too many weapons.

"We don't like losing," said veteran LCA coach Bobby Porter, who had two Class 1A Eagle teams win state titles, the last in 2012. "Some of the kids cried last year. But last year was last year. I think this year's team is better than last year's. I'm not knocking anybody, but this team is more balanced."

That balance showed up in the scorebook.

Guard Nicholas Aguirre had 15 points, three rebounds and five assists. Forward Christians Gutierrez scored 13 points and hauled in 10 rebounds against a tall Summit Academy squad. And high jumping Sand Gasana had 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Porter credited the return of Aguirre, who had been injured much of the season, for helping greatly.

"When you have a good point guard, good things happen," Porter said. "He made all-state last year. He controlled the tempo."

The veteran coach said the fact that his team started hitting the weights almost immediately after losing the title game 64-63 a year ago helped prepare them for the physicality of this game.

After a closely fought first quarter, Layton Christian went on a 10-0 run late in the first and early in the second quarters. Summit Academy, which was led by Gavin Rindlishbacher with 10 points, cut that lead to six, but that was as close as the Bears would come.

Layton Christian made its shots in the end and earned a bit of revenge in the process.

wharton@sltrib.com

Twitter @tribtomwharton

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Layton Christian 58, Summit Academy 40

• Layton Christian gets double figures from Nicholas Aguirre, Christians Gutierrez, and Sano Gasana to gain revenge from last year's one-point loss to Summit Academy in 2A title game.

• A 10-0 run late in first and early in second puts LCA on top for good.

• Gavin Rundlishbacher scores 10 to lead Summit Academy.