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Morgan junior Jake Hansen (11) drives between Ben Lomond senior Cade Becraft (40) and junior Deshawn Holland (23) during a game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond senior Jaerdan Van Beekum, center, puts up a deep ball during a game against Morgan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Morgan senior Ben Russell (34) steers the ball away from Ben Lomond sophomore Korver Van Beekum, right, during a road game on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond senior Cade Becraft (40) closes in on Morgan senior Ben Russell (34) during a game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Morgan senior Nathan Pace (22) smiles at his teammate after taking a layup to the floor during a road game at Ben Lomond on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Morgan junior Mason Williams, left, goes up against Ben Lomond senior Jaerdan Van Beekum during a game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond senior Cade Becraft (40) is greeted by his bench during a home game against Morgan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond's boys basketball team gathers for a timeout during a home game against Morgan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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OGDEN — The top dog usually stays on top.

That’s certainly the case for Morgan, running away from Ben Lomond 83-49 in Wednesday’s Region 13 boys basketball contest as the region race narrows.

Point guard Jake Hansen headlined the Trojans (17-1, 5-0 Region 13) with 17 floor-high points, including what Morgan head coach Scott Hunt considered arguably his best game all season running things up top. The junior star was instrumental to Morgan’s first-half success.

The pacing didn’t match Morgan’s 15-point lead after the first quarter but the Scots (5-13, 0-5) found themselves working against a double-digit deficit all the same mere minutes into the contest. Three team fouls against the Trojans led Korver Van Beekum (15 points) to the free-throw line twice, though, and BL closed the first quarter with a much-needed stop.

“In that first quarter, we kind of separated,” Hunt said. “We went into that half-court trap and got a lot of offense out of our trap. … That kind of got us going. I thought (Hansen) was huge tonight, he was a huge distributor tonight. He took the shots that came his way but he was finding guys open and pushing the ball tonight — maybe one of the best games I’ve seen him play.”

Jaerdan Van Beekum (nine points) scored five points of his own to begin the second quarter, shortening Morgan’s window to 10 in hopes of a momentum shift. BL struggled to muzzle the whistle as Hansen built on his first-half scoring at the stripe.

BL senior Isaac Stephens added his first points of the night late in the second quarter, but the Scots continued missing other such answers heading into halftime.

Putting their foot down, Hansen and senior Kolton Asay (13 points) each cleared double-figure scoring totals, leading Morgan to a 46-16 lead by the break.

Hunt expected BL to throw as much as it could at his group during the first half.

“I was really pleased with how our guys got themselves mentally ready to play in a game like this,” Hunt said. “They have some shooters. The Van Beekum boys are some great shooters and they have others. Our goal was primarily to come in here and play the defense we know we’re capable of playing. I thought our guys executed their stuff tonight.”

Two technical fouls (one assigned to each team) highlighted the third quarter on a collision beneath the rim, with six team fouls belonging to the Scots over eight minutes. Morgan junior Bracken Saunders dropped nine of his 14 total points in the third, not letting the Trojans’ rhythm falter heading into the fourth.

The Scots put together a strong finish with contributions up and down the roster. Junior Zeb Whetton finished with 11 points and sophomore Michael Stephens hopped off the bench for a 3-pointer before the final bell.

Having won 14 straight, Morgan begins its final five-game stretch of the regular season Friday at Ogden (7 p.m.). The Trojans currently remain the only unbeaten in region play with Union and South Summit still in the hunt for a region title.

Hunt said his group’s committed to securing the banner outright before the state tournament.

“We’re coming into the second half of region play and we’re trying to peak now before the tournament and the end of the season,” Hunt said. “It’s been a grind so right now we’re trying to help them keep fresh and stay mentally crisp.”

BL hosts South Summit (7 p.m.) on Friday.

BOX SCORE

Morgan High 22 24 20 17 — 83

Ben Lomond 7 9 13 20 — 49

MHS (83): Hansen 17, Saunders 14, Asay 13, Peterson 12, Pace 11, Russell 7, Williams 4, Thurston 3, Demond 2,

BL (49): K. Van Beekum 15, Whetton 11, J. Van Beekum 9, Campos 4, I. Stephens 4, M. Stephens 3, Becraft 2, Herrera 1.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.