High School Boys Basketball: Lancers clinch berth to 5A tournament

SYRACUSE — The Layton Lancers were more than tired of sitting home during the state tournament.

So they went out and did something about it.

With a 61-54 win over Syracuse on the Titans' home court, Layton clinched its first state tournament berth since the 2003-04 season. It was another step in a turnaround season for the Lancers (8-6 in Region 1, 9-10 overall), who hadn't won more than five games in a season since 2004.

"We wanted to get to the playoffs," said Layton guard Taylor Butler. "Layton hasn't been to the playoffs (in six years) and that drives us."

The victory was also valuable for seeding, as the Lancers have the inside track to claiming Region 1's No. 4 seed. The fifth and sixth-place teams from Region 1 will have to win play-in games in order to reach the final 16.

Layton can still earn a better draw, as it trails third-place Viewmont by one game and plays the Vikings on Friday.

"The more wins we can get the better off we'll be," said first-year Layton coach Kelby Miller.

The Lancers claimed a season-sweep over the Titans with Tuesday's win. Butler led all scorers with 20 points and drained four 3-pointers. Layton was able to hold off a Syracuse rally in the third quarter, thanks to Butler's hot hand from the outside.

Layton, which led by seven at the half, had its lead trimmed to 34-31 early in the third quarter before Butler hit a 3-pointer. After Syracuse's Wade Rasmussen hit back-to-back shots to make it a two-point game, Butler sank another 3 to give the Lancers some breathing room.

Butler then made a steal, drew a foul and made two free throws to stretch Layton's lead back to seven.

"I did want the ball," Butler said of when Syracuse was attempting to steal the game's momentum. "I still wanted a team effort, but if I get a shot I'm going to take it."

Butler also did his job on the defensive end, along with the rest of the Lancers.

"Taylor's a great shooter and if you give him open looks he's going to make you pay," Miller said. "But what I thought was even better was his defensive effort. We got a couple of steals, and got a couple stops when we needed to kind of hold them off."