The Davis boys basketball team captured the Class 6A state title a year ago. The team soon begins its defense of that crown. 

Davis had some holes to fill on this year’s squad after some key players from the 2024–25 team graduated. But the Darts still managed to capture a share of the Region 1 championship this season, tying Layton with a 6-2 record. 

The co-title gave the Darts a nice prize heading into the postseason, though the players will enter the tournament with a sour taste in their mouths. 

In the regular-season finale on Feb. 13, Davis fell in lopsided fashion to Syracuse, 66-42 at home. A poor first quarter did in Davis, which fell behind 16-3 after six minutes. After an even 14-14 second quarter, the third period was once again a struggle for Davis. Syracuse had a 22-12 advantage, essentially putting the game away. Bode Sparrow led the way for Davis with 15 points. Cameron Brower added 10 points. The game was a far cry from the Jan. 23 matchup between the two teams when Davis won 70-56. 

On the bright side, the second-to-last regular-season outing was a stellar one for the Darts. 

On that evening, Davis toppled league-leading Layton 64-51 on the road, thanks largely to an 18-9 first-quarter advantage. JT Turley paced Davis with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Brower had 19 points (including four three-pointers) and five rebounds. Tradon Bessinger was also in double figures in scoring with 12 points. 

Davis’ victory over Layton avenged a loss in the teams’ previous meeting, which Layton won 77-58 on Jan. 20. 

The Darts open the 6A state tournament against fellow Davis County foe Farmington on Feb. 20 in the second round. Davis gets the contest at home and will look to defeat the Phoenix for a third time on the season. Davis defeated Farmington at home on Feb. 3 by the score of 67-63 and won at Farmington 57-37 on Jan. 13 in a strong defensive effort. 

If Davis prevails over the Phoenix, it will face the winner of Lehi and Layton on Feb. 25 at the University of Utah. 

Farmington 

The Phoenix finished region play with a 3-5 mark and head into the state tournament with an overall record of 12-11. 

Farmington broke a four-game losing streak by defeating Weber 82-72 in the final regular-season game on Feb. 13. Playing at home, Farmington took down the Warriors for the second time this season. The first meeting between the teams was a 71-64 Farmington triumph on Jan. 23. This time around, four Phoenix players scored in double figures, led by Malakai Tobler, who netted 25 points. Jack Layton contributed 19 points, and Sawyer Bingham and Luke Beattie had 11 points and 10 points, respectively. 

Tobler was on fire in the win over Weber. 

Tobler, a junior guard, drilled a season-high seven three-pointers on the day. It was the seventh time this season that the sharpshooter hit at least four shots from long range. Tobler finished the regular season as the team’s leading scorer with an average of 14.6 points a game. He hit 54 three-pointers. 

Now comes a big test for the Phoenix. 

Farmington will look to break a four-game losing streak against Davis when the rivals collide in the tournament on Feb. 20. Farmington will be a big underdog as the 12th seed.