If game one is any indication of how good the Davis boys basketball team is – look out. 

The Darts did just about everything right in their season opener on Nov. 26, shellacking Copper Hills 85-46 on the road. It was the second year in a row that Davis defeated Copper Hills in the season opener, having won 79-60 12 months ago. 

The outcome of this meeting was never in doubt. 

Davis was up 18-7 after one quarter and 35-15 at halftime. The Darts cruised in the second half and got 12 players in the stat sheet. Leading the way was Coleman Atwater, who had 23 points, including four three-pointers. He also had four rebounds. Bode Sparrow scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds, while JT Turley had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Bennett Wright was the fourth Dart in double figures in points with 10. Croyden Christensen paced the team in rebounds with half a dozen. 

Davis made nearly twice as many field goals as Copper Hills – 30 to 16 – and made 14 of 19 free throws. The Darts also drilled 11 three-pointers, eight more than Copper Hills. The 39-point thrashing was Davis’ largest margin of victory over an in-state opponent since the Darts defeated Clearfield 68-26 in January 2022. Davis blasted Moreau Catholic High School, a California program, 76-36 last December. 

In defeating Copper Hills, head coach Chad Sims won his 187th game at Davis. He joined the program in 2014. 

Up next for Davis was a home game with Pleasant Grove on Tuesday, after our press deadline. Davis then played at Bingham on Wednesday, also after our press deadline. It was a rematch from a game played this past January when the Darts outlasted the Miners 67-58. On Friday, Davis hosts Region 4 foe Hunter. The last time those two schools faced off on the basketball court, Davis won easily by the count of 83-53. 

Farmington

The Phoenix have gotten off to a tough start to the season. 

Farmington dropped to 0-2 with a loss on Nov. 26 at Viewmont, falling 73-41. The Phoenix had a first half they would like to forget, as they got behind 16-4 after the opening quarter and trailed 42-13 at halftime. With a seemingly insurmountable deficit at the beginning of the second half, Farmington fared a little better in the third quarter but didn’t make up any ground. 

In defeat, Farmington shot just 31% from the floor. No one scored in double figures, as Cameron Brower paced the Phoenix with nine points. Malakai Tobler scored eight points, with Brycen Rudolph contributing seven points. The loss to Viewmont was a far cry from last year’s meeting when the Phoenix prevailed at home 53-44. 

Farmington was back home on Tuesday with a game against West Field. On Thursday, the Phoenix play at Region 6 foe Brighton. A contest at Region 5 opponent Bonneville follows on Friday. 

Since the school opened in 2018, Farmington has never started the season 0-3 in boys basketball. The Phoenix were hoping to avoid that fate on Tuesday. λ