Layton uses 27-0 run to plow past Kearns in first round

Taylorsville • Layton capped a day of blowouts with a 62-24 throttling of Kearns in the final first-round game of the Class 6A girls’ basketball state tournament Tuesday night.

Senior Kaitlyn Viator scored 13 points and Layton used a 27-0 run in the first half to end the suspense early, a theme throughout most of the day.

Only two of the eight games played Tuesday were decided by fewer than 15 points, and the average margin of victory was a whopping 22 points.

Layton (15-6) advanced to meet Copper Hills (21-2) in a matchup of heavyweights in Thursday’s state quarterfinals. The Grizzlies routed Pleasant Grove 66-25 in the opening round.

“We’re going to be ready for it,” Viator said. “We’re going to be confident and we’re going to leave it all out on the floor. We’re going to work hard in practice and come out confident, like we usually do.”

Kearns made just two field goals — both 3-pointers — on 15 attempts in the first half and went scoreless for almost 12 minutes during a 27-0 Layton run.

Layton was in attack mode at both ends of the floor. Its defense forced 15 turnovers in the first half, and repeated drives to the basket led to 14 free-throw attempts for 11 points.

“With the zone, I like to attack,” Viator said. “Because they sink in and then I can dump a bounce pass or find an outside shooter. Once everybody sinks in, their defense falls apart.”

Ruby Maiava had 10 points for Kearns (6-16), which lost in the first round for the fourth straight time. The Cougars’ last state tournament victory came in 2009.

Viator had three of the Lancers’ 12 steals and one of their two 3-pointers. About the only thing that the Lancers didn’t do well was shoot from long range, where they finished 2 of 16 on the night.

Kamryn Black had eight points and Corinne Case added seven for Layton, which finished with 21 points off turnovers.