The type and tempo couldn’t have been any different in the two games the Davis boys basketball team played last week. But the results were the same. 

The Darts came up short in a pair of contests last week, falling to 2-2 on the season. Both games were close, but while one was a high-scoring offensive showcase, the other was a defensive battle. 

On Nov. 28, Davis played at perennial state power Pleasant Grove in a tough matchup. Up for the challenge, the Darts jumped out to a 21-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. That advantage was still 40-34 at the break. In the third quarter, Davis unleashed a potent offensive attack that yielded an impressive 28 points. Still, Pleasant Grove scored 25 in the quarter and was hanging around in a 68-59 game. 

Things went sideways for Davis in the fourth quarter. 

Pleasant Grove doubled up the Darts 24-12 in the final six minutes to pull out a come-from-behind 83-80 win, handing Davis its first loss of the season. The Darts shot a blistering 67% from the field, missing just 15 of 46 shots all game. Davis was also 15 of 19 from the foul line. A big difference was the 11 three-pointers Pleasant Grove made to Davis’ four. Leading the way for the Darts were Zach Fisher and Coleman Atwater, who each had 22 points. Fisher also had five rebounds, while Atwater had six, along with four assists and a pair of steals. Caleb Taylor added 17 points and five rebounds. Bode Sparrow chipped in 10 points, while Ike Morgan had six points and a team-high 10 assists. 

On Dec. 1, it was the defense’s turn to shine.

Playing at home against Highland, Davis limited Highland to 32% shooting and only three made free throws. However, the Darts made just two free throws and, a few days after making two-thirds of its shots, converted on just 17 of 67 field goals, 25%. 

No Davis players reached double figures in points in this contest. Sparrow paced the team with seven points. Taylor had six points and five rebounds, while Atwater had five points and five rebounds. Tradon Bessinger had five points and four rebounds in the loss. 

This week, Davis hosts Box Elder and Viewmont on Dec. 7 and 8, respectively. A third consecutive home game follows on Saturday when the Darts entertain state power Olympus.