The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Roy Royals boys’ basketball team continued its early‑season surge with a convincing 68–49 home win over the Bonneville Lakers on Wednesday night, powered by the dynamic backcourt duo of senior Boston Greenhalgh and sophomore Anthony Parker. The pair was electric from start to finish, combining for 48 points and repeatedly carving up the defense with sharp passing and fearless drives to the rim.

Greenhalgh led all scorers with 28 points, showcasing the scoring touch that has him averaging 19.6 points per game, seventh‑best in 5A. Parker added 20 points of his own, steady and efficient throughout, and the two guards routinely found each other in transition and in the half-court for highlight‑worthy finishes.

Bonneville, now 2–11 overall and 0–2 in region play, was led by senior Jackson Call’s 17 points. The Lakers battled early and briefly held an 11–9 lead late in the first quarter after a layup from junior Gavin Bachman and four straight points from Call. But senior Jesse Jones answered with a bucket to tie the game at 11–11 heading into the second.

Roy seized control in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 21–9 to blow the game open. Parker was relentless during the stretch, attacking the rim and pouring in eight points in the period. The Royals held a narrow 15–13 edge at the 6:05 mark before unleashing a 13–2 run that pushed the lead to 28–15 with 2:44 remaining. By halftime, Roy had complete command of the game with a 32–20 advantage.

Jackson Call

Roy’s energy, rebounding, and guard play put the game out of reach

The Royals stayed in control throughout the third quarter, stretching their lead to 45–24 with 2:41 left in the period. Their dominance on the glass fueled the surge, highlighted by junior Rock Speredon battling for an offensive rebound and putback, an effort play that sparked emotion and drew a technical foul. Jones continued to anchor the boards on both ends, finishing with a team‑high nine rebounds. By the end of the quarter, Roy maintained a 49–33 lead.

Roy opened the fourth quarter with a layup from senior Jake Hamblin, and from there, Greenhalgh and Parker closed the door. The two guards scored the remainder of the Royals’ 17 fourth‑quarter points, many of them coming on crisp assists to each other as they continued to pick apart the Bonneville defense. The Lakers fought to the end, putting up 16 points in the final period, with sophomore Bryson Landis finishing the night with 12 points.

Jones added 12 points to go with his nine rebounds, Hamblin contributed six points, and Speredon closed with six rebounds as the Royals’ supporting cast helped secure the wire‑to‑wire team effort.

Roy’s balanced energy, efficient guard play, and ability to finish at the rim proved too much for Bonneville to counter. With momentum building and their identity sharpening, the Royals remain firmly atop the Region 5 standings as league play continues.

Boston Greenhalgh

photos courtesy of James Tate