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Copper Hills never takes foot off gas in big win over Layton

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Copper Hills's Taela Laufiso (12) defended by Layton's Gracey Criswell (21) as Layton faces Copper Hills in the 6A High School Girls' Basketball Tournament at SLCC in Taylorsville, Thursday Feb. 22, 2018.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Copper Hills's Taela Laufiso (12) defended by Layton's Gracey Criswell (21) as Layton faces Copper Hills in the 6A High School Girls' Basketball Tournament at SLCC in Taylorsville, Thursday Feb. 22, 2018.

Taylorsville • The Copper Hills girls’ basketball team knows only one way to play.

Aggressive.

And that all-out athleticism, desire and fight overwhelmed Layton from the start as the second-ranked Grizzlies earned a surprisingly easy 57-31 win in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A state tournament.

“To be honest, that’s always part of the plan,” Copper Hills coach Ben Morley said about his team’s aggressive play. “That is the nature of our team. We are trying to play to our strengths, which is to play aggressively. To do that, you have to take some chances. Our athleticism on defense allows us to cover up our mistakes.”

Mistakes might seem like part of the process for a young team that starts two sophomores and a junior. And the 22-2 Grizzlies did commit 12 turnovers.

But they forced 17, had 12 steals and 10 blocked shots while holding Layton to just 20 percent shooting from the field. Not one Lancer hit double figures in points.

“Our defense was good,” said Copper Hills sophomore Lenisi Fineangonofo, whose scoring and hustle in the first half set the tone. “I felt like we played together on defense. … We work together. We talk to each other. When we get a stop, we keep pushing. There are no letdowns.”

Eight Grizzlies scored in a game Layton never led. The only player in double figures was junior Breaunna Gillen, who finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocked shots and two assists.

Copper Hills got off 53 shots in the game and hauled down 14 offensive rebounds. The Grizzlies outscored Layton 30-6 in the paint, reflective of their height advantage.

“We always stay aggressive no matter what the situation,” Morley said.

That was evident as Copper Hills built second-half leads as big as 29 points. And that aggressive style has Copper Hills in the hunt for its first-ever girls’ basketball state championship.

COPPER HILLS 57, LAYTON 31 <br>• Breaunna Gillen scores 14 points, hauls down seven rebounds, nabs four steals, blocks two shots and dishes out two assists to lead Copper Hills. <br>• Copper Hills sophomore Lenisi Fineanganofo gets the Grizzlies off to a quick start by playing a solid first half. <br>• The aggressive Grizzlies defense prevents Layton from having a scorer in double figures.