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Davis High's Bennett Wright (3) drives against Pleasant Grove's Andrew Anderson (1) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Coleman Atwater (1) scoops a shot past Pleasant Grove's Brennan Blackett (32) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Tradon Bessinger (24) operates in the post against Pleasant Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Croydon Cristensen (4) lays up the ball against Pleasant Grove's Hudson Guthrie on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Coleman Atwater shoots against Pleasant Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Bryker Couser (20) signals a play in a game against Pleasant Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Davis High's Coleman Atwater, top, shoots over Pleasant Grove's Andrew Anderson on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Kaysville.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

❮ ❯

KAYSVILLE — The Davis High boys basketball team had a specific focus heading into its game against Pleasant Grove on Tuesday night, and the Darts did what they planned.

Davis outscored Pleasant Grove 34-10 in the paint en route to a 63-46 victory.

“Before the game, we talked about making sure to try to get as many paint touches and get to the rim as much as we could,” said junior guard JT Turley. “I thought we executed very well. I thought everyone played their role perfectly and made sure to get to the line.”

Davis (2-0) took an early 8-6 lead and then went on an 11-0 run to put the visitors on their heels. Sophomore guard Bode Sparrow electrified the Darts’ student section when he caught a pass in the corner behind the 3-point line, drove the baseline and finished with a dunk to give Davis a 21-8 lead.

Pleasant Grove (1-3) survived the early surge and cut Davis’ lead to 25-19 in the second quarter, but the Darts responded with five straight to extend their advantage back to double digits.

Turley, who finished with a game-high 21 points, put Davis on his back in the third quarter with seven straight points. He punctuated the spurt with a layup and a free throw after being fouled to give the Darts a 41-26 lead.

“Here we just feed the hot hand and I think everyone knew that I was able to get to the rim easily, so then everyone just kind of knew to play through me and then if anyone helped, it was just wide-open 3s,” Turley said.

Turley is the younger brother of Breezy and Whitney Turley, who are immortalized on the Davis gymnasium walls for each being four-time state tennis champions — Breezy from 2011-14 and Whitney from 2013-16.

“It’s fun knowing that everyone expects me to do well, and then that just drives me to make sure to play to my expectations,” JT Turley said.

Pleasant Grove cut Davis’ lead to 43-36 late in the third quarter but that was as close as the Vikings would get. The Darts went on a 15-3 run to put the game well out of reach.

Coleman Atwater added 18 points and Sparrow tallied 11 for the Darts. No Pleasant Grove player scored in double figures.

“I love our team,” Davis High coach Chad Sims said. “They’re the best kids. They work hard. They support each other. They’re great teammates. I love it.”

The Darts won’t have much time to celebrate the victory as they prepare for a game at Bingham (3-0) on Wednesday night.

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.