Shattering expectations: Frokjer, Jones lead Roy boys over Northridge 65-56 in region rematch
Frokjer finishes with 28 points after pregame malfunction
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- Roy senior Colby Frokjer (1) spins around a defender during a home game against Northridge on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Roy.
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- A pregame warmup gone awry as one of two goals inside the main gymnasium at Roy High School sits on the floor after the glass backboard shattered during the pregame shoot-around on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy junior Jesse Jones (23) leans into Northridge junior Luke Bailey (20) en route to the basket during a game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Roy.
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- Northridge junior Daniel Sunkuli (3) looks for an open teammate during a road game against Roy on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Roy.
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- Roy senior Tyrece Holbrook, left, defended by Northridge senior Cael Lake (2), lines up his jumper during a game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Roy.
ROY — Colby Frokjer admitted he threw it down a little harder than usual, but the Roy senior certainly didn’t count on moving Wednesday’s home matchup with Northridge downstairs to the auxiliary gym with one simple pregame dunk.
But considering Frokjer went off for 28 points — finishing 5 of 11 from 3-point range with seven rebounds — to lead Roy boys basketball over the Knights 65-56 for a second consecutive win, it’s safe to assume Roy won’t be invoicing their senior point guard for its shattered backboard.
The Royals (5-13, 3-6 Region 5) leaned on more than just Frokjer’s high-scoring antics to get the job done. Junior forward Jesse Jones commanded the lane with 13 points and 11 total rebounds; senior Devin Nelson added 10 points and senior Tripp Randall finished with six.
Wednesday was the best Roy’s played throughout a season of challenges, Frokjer said. Northridge previously defeated Roy 69-55 at their house earlier this month.
“This is the best we’ve played as a unit,” Frokjer said. “Our defense was outstanding. They shot lights out against us the first time we played them at their place and we weren’t going to let that happen again.”
Nelson kicked Roy’s lead to seven at the free-throw line with two minutes remaining and Northridge (6-12, 4-5) won the Royals’ subsequent two possessions — even buying back a steal on offense — but came up empty with a little more than a minute to go.
Senior Cael Lake led Northridge with 20 points, junior Jay Oliver added 13 and junior Daniel Sunkuli chipped in another eight, but the Knights finished shooting 38% just the same.
Sliding back with another region loss, Northridge head coach Cameron Wood said a combination of the venue change and Jesse Jones’ presence in the lane were to blame.
“I think (Jones) took over the game just through the eye test,” Wood said. “He didn’t play the first game sitting out, but this game he won the battle just based off his size and the offensive rebounding — and I think that’s what stopped us from attacking downhill and getting to the rim.”
There was no shortage of buckets from the tipoff: Lake and Oliver each caught fire from 3-point land right away; Jones dropped seven points in the paint and five more by Frokjer, including a 3-pointer, made for a 16-15 Royals lead by the end of the first quarter.
Led by Oliver, rising to 13 points before halftime, Northridge built a double-digit lead on Roy in the second quarter but one not built to last. Roy rallied within a possession on Frokjer’s third made 3-pointer and captured a 35-34 lead by the break.
Frokjer put down a non-glass-shattering dunk to emphasize the Royals’ 7-0 return to the court, prompting a Northridge timeout less than three minutes back. Led by Lake, the Knights worked within four but another Roy put the latter up eight by the fourth quarter.
“I think we got a little shaky there,” Wood said. “It’s different for them, it’s different for us — It adds an element when the court’s smaller. I just don’t think we adapted well to change and stress. When the fourth quarter came, that was the tipping point and we unraveled.”
Roy and Northridge each opened the fourth quarter 0 for 2, with the Royals spending nearly three minutes without a basket. With his team still up four, Frokjer broke the silence with five minutes to go. Misses by Sunkuli and senior Canyon Dugger were Northridge’s final attempts to answer as Roy outlasted their visitors.
Roy travels to Bonneville on Friday (7 p.m.); Northridge makes the trip to Bountiful (7 p.m.).
BOX SCORE
Northridge 15 19 11 11 – 56
Roy High 16 19 18 12 – 65
NHS (56): Lake 20, Oliver 13, Sunkuli 8, Bailey 6, Roach 4, Christopher 3, Dugger 2.
RHS (65): Frokjer 28, Jones 13, Nelson 10, Randall 6, Stirland 4, Goodwin 2, Greenhalgh 2.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
