High school basketball: 5A semifinal preview: Copper Hills vs. Davis

OGDEN – It has not been a decade to remember for Copper Hills on the basketball court.

Since winning a 5A championship in 2000, the Grizzlies had won a grand total of one playoff game coming until this season and failed to even qualify for the 5A tournament multiple times during that span.

Things have changed dramatically for Copper Hills in 2010 as evidenced by the 69-46 thrashing it laid on West in the 5A quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Grizzlies are now winners of three straight playoff games and are in the semifinals for the first time since 2000.

Copper Hills coach Kent Smith said learning to compete better in Region 3 has prepared his team for the rigors of the postseason.

"In our region you got to learn to compete with the Binghams, the West Jordans and the Rivertons or be a bottom feeder," Smith said.

West found out it was facing anything but a bottom feeder the hard way.

The Grizzlies flat out mauled the Panther defense from the opening tip. They got out in transition and scored multiple baskets off fast breaks. Senior center Steven Larson proved to be a beast in the paint. For the second straight game, Larson finished with 28 points and it was his fifth in a row where he scored at least 20 or more.

Larson did major damage in the first half to help dig a huge hole for last year's 4A champions. He scored 17 of his team's first 25 points and fueled much of a game-opening 16-4 run that put Copper Hills up by double digits for nearly four quarters.

In many ways, the quick start for his team mirrored what they did to Brighton when they ran out to a 20 point lead before halftime over the Bengals. Only this time they held onto that advantage.

"We wanted to come out as hard as we could," Larson said. "It is our last chance and we're giving it all we got."

The way Copper Hills (16-8) has been starting fast and dominating good teams has certainly made Davis take notice.

The Darts (21-2) also enjoyed a fast start in a 59-52 victory over last year's 5A champion West Jordan. But Davis also had to withstand several rally attempts by the Jaguars. After seeing what the Grizzlies have done through three playoff games so far, the Darts understand that getting past them will not be an easy task.

Then again, Davis doesn't expect to be overwhelmed early by Copper Hills like Brighton and West were when they faced the Grizzlies.