by James Tate
photo of Fremont Silverwolves Braden Flinders against the Woods Cross Wildcats
Davis Darts
The Davis Darts boys’ basketball team is the defending region champions and is looking to replace a talented group of players from last season. The Darts must replace all-state players Rex Sunderland and Colby Sims. Davis must bounce back from a playoff loss at the hands of the Syracuse Titans 48-42.
The Darts rank as the number 14 6A team by MaxPreps and have a 3-4 non-region record. Leading the way for the Darts is senior Kaden Eggett averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game.
The Darts also have junior Zach Fisher averaging 13 points and seven rebounds and senior guard Colby Whicker with 12 points and three assists per game.
The Darts close out non-region play with a tournament in California, then play the Layton Lancers at home on January 3. 2023.
Clearfield Falcons
The Clearfield Falcons boys’ basketball team has started the season on fire with a 5-1 record. The Falcons have won five straight games and are looking to be a serious contender for the region title this year.
The Falcons have used balanced scoring from its players as five different players have led the team in scoring in a game thus far. Austin Mitchell, a 6’10” senior leads the way in scoring with 9 points per game. Senior guard Lincoln Church and junior guard Payton Kotter are next in scoring with 8.8 points per game.
“Our starters and our bench will be able to fill in for each other all year long,” said Church. “We have a great new coach that has worked us very hard during the summer and has prepared us to do all the things necessary for us to win.”
Head coach Scott McLaughlin has the Falcons at five wins already exceeding last year’s total of four.
Clearfield ranks as number 13 by MaxPreps. They have three more non-region games before they tip off at home against the Weber Warriors on January 3, 2023.
Syracuse Titans
The Syracuse Titans boys basketball team currently has a 6-1 overall record before region play starts. Syracuse ranks as the number 4 team in 6A according to MaxPreps rankings.
Syracuse has three straight games and will play in Preston, Idaho on December 30. The Titan’s first region game is at the Weber Warriors on January 6, 2023.
Leading the way for the Titans is an all-state standout, Kaden Erickson. The senior forward is averaging a team-leading 16 points and two steals per game. Senior Brevin Hamblin is averaging a double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Syracuse is loaded with an experienced team and is ready for a region title run. “Syracuse High has never won a region championship in boys’ basketball,” said head coach Mike Russell. “So that is the goal of our program, and also to make a deep run into the state tournament.”
Farmington Phoenix
The Farmington Phoenix boys basketball team is off to a great start this season with a 7-2 record and ranked number eight in 6A by MaxPreps.
Junior Paul Beattie leads the Phoenix in scoring an average of 16 points per game, followed by senior Cole Johnson with 12 points. In running point guard Johnson leads the team with four assists per game. Junior Jayden Haskell scored a team season-high 24 points against the Dixie Flyers and has surprised them this season.
Head coach Kasey Walkenhurst has his team off to a great start and is ready to compete for a region title and more. “My coaching philosophy for this year’s team is to play with confidence in themselves and each other and learn to create and play freely, said
Walkenhurst. “Our goals for the season are to improve every day and build our chemistry so we are playing our best basketball when we get to region play and the state tournament.”
Farmington begins region action with a road contest at the Fremont Silverwolves on January 3. 2023.
Fremont Silverwolves
The Fremont Silverwolves boy’s basketball team is ranked number 12 by MaxPreps. Fremont has a 4-5 non-region record and one more game against the Bonneville Lakers before the region starts.
The leading scorer for the Silverwolves is junior Hunter Hansen scoring 21 points per game and good for second in region 1. Hansen has played on varsity since his freshman season and teams with senior David Calvert to form a dynamic duo. Calvert is averaging 11 points and five rebounds per game.
Head coach Corey Melaney has an exciting, experienced team ready to compete with the best. “Boston Hadley is healthy and will be a problem for teams,” said Melaney. “Treyden Hoggan is a sharpshooter, and Braden Flinders is a great point guard, defender, and creates for his teammates.”
Fremont will open region play with a home game against Farmington on January 3. 2023.
Weber Warriors
The Weber Warriors boy’s basketball team is ranked number 22 by MaxPreps. Non-region record for the Warriors is 3-4, and one more game to play before region games start.
The scoring leader for the Warriors is junior Hunter Schenck at a region-leading 24.6 points per game. Schenck’s scoring average is third in 6A. Second, on the team in scoring is senior Griffyn Doughty at 14 points per game.
Schenck is the catalyst for the Warriors, scoring over 500 career points and over 20 points in every game this season.
Weber has two non-region games before opening at Clearfield on January 3, 2023, to start region play.
Layton Lancers
The Layton Lancers boy’s basketball team is ranked number 11 in 6A by MaxPreps. The Lancers have a non-region record of 7-4. They have been one of the busiest teams with 11 games played including Las Vegas, Nevada, in the Tarkanian Classic.
Head coach Kelby Miller is ready for a very competitive region battle. “One of the reasons why we are excited about this year is because of our returning starters and experience,” said Miller. “We have 3 returning starters, Mekhi Martin (Point Guard), KJ Miller (Combo Guard), and Brock Mendoza (Center).”
“In addition to those three we have Elias Parkinson, who can play just about any position on the court, said Miller. “Along with Andrew Watts (Shooting Guard) and Crew Harrop (Forward) who all have varsity experience from last year.”
The Lancers are led in scoring by Martin’s 17 points and KJ Miller’s 14 points per game average this season.
Roy Royals
The Roy Royals boys basketball team is the number 16 ranked team in 6A by MaxPreps. The Royal’s non-region record stands at 4-3. Roy plays in a final tournament before starting region 2 play at Kearns on January 4. 2023.
Roy has been led by 20 points and 10 rebounds per game by senior Elijah Sowards. Senior guard Beau Belnap is providing shooting and averaging eight points per game.
Head coach Scott Hunt believes his team has the experience and talent to compete for the region 2 titles. “We are a mature team with good varsity experience,” said Hunt. “And we understand the schemes and execute them well.”
“Also, we have some outstanding bench players,” said Hunt. “That can step in and contribute.” “We have three returning starters in Sowards, Beau Belnap, and Bronson Belnap.” “Other players such as Corben Schuffenhauer, Jayden Spencer, and Brody Nebeker have started games at times in their careers,” said Hunt.