Brighton boys showing no letup on court

Brighton High’s boys basketball team sure knows how to fill up a stat sheet.

The Bengals, who average nearly 70 points per game this season, won 10 of their first 14 games and are stocked for the future with several underclassmen leading the way. Brandon Miller continues to be one of the state leaders in scoring and 3-point shooting, while Travis Devashrayee has been a find, averaging more than 14 points per game after averaging less than a point last season.

Brighton finished preseason with a flourish, capturing the Gillette Tournament in Wyoming with a sparkling 3-0 record. The Bengals defeated Natrona County, Wyo. 61-39 and Century, N.D. 61-46 in the preliminary rounds before topping host Gillette 81-74 in the championship game. Miller, Devashrayee and Zach Wertz were named to the all-tournament team for Brighton.

The Bengals followed that up with two more preseason wins – 52-39 over Mountain View and 75-47 over North Sanpete – before starting Region 3 play 2-1. Brighton opened region with a 65-63 overtime loss to Jordan and defeated Cottonwood (62-51) and Copper Hills (46-45).

Through 14 games, Miller was averaging 22 points per game and had made 39 3-pointers. Devashrayee averaged 14 points and six rebounds, Wertz eight points and three assists, Bryce Callahan eight points, Chris Eixenberger five points and five rebounds, and Jon Hicken five points. Miller has just one game with fewer than 10 points and one game without making a 3-pointer.

Miller had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win over Natrona County. Devashrayee had 16 points and seven rebounds, Callahan six points and seven rebounds, Eixenberger six points and eight rebounds, Hicken five points and five rebounds and Wertz four points and five assists. Devashrayee followed that up with 22 points and seven rebounds against Century. Miller had 11 points and six rebounds, Eixenberger six points and five rebounds, Wertz six points and seven assists, Callahan six points and Hicken and Adam Bernardo five points apiece.

Miller netted 27 points with five rebounds in the Gillette championship game. Devashrayee had 16 points and six rebounds, Wertz 12 points and four rebounds, Eixenberger seven points and five rebounds, Callahan eight points and Hicken nine points and 10 rebounds.

The success continued against Mountain View, as Miller had 17 points, Devashrayee 11 points and 13 rebounds, Wertz nine points and seven assists, Callahan six points and four rebounds, Eixenberger four points and nine rebounds, and Hicken four points and five rebounds. Miller had 21 points in the win over North Sanpete. Eixenberger had seven points and 10 rebounds, Hicken 10 points, Wertz nine points, Devashrayee eight points and Jackson Barton six points.

Jordan snapped Brighton’s win streak in overtime. Miller had 23 points, Devashrayee 18, Wertz 11 and Callahan 10. Miller responded with 27 points in the win over Cottonwood, while Devashrayee had 13 points, Hicken seven, Wertz and Eixenberger five apiece and Callahan four.

Brighton pulled away from Copper Hills in the second half, as Callahan scored 15 points, Miller nine, Devashrayee eight, Hicken seven and Wertz five.

Most recently, the Bengals defeated West Jordan 85-82 in overtime and lost to Alta 57-56. The outcomes left Brighton 11-5 overall and 3-2 in region play.

Miller scored 27 points and Devashrayee 19 in the win over West Jordan. Callahan and Wertz each added 13 points and Hicken had six, as Brighton led 59-50 after three quarters before West Jordan rallied to force overtime. Miller netted 24 points against Alta, while Devashrayee added 10, Callahan seven and Hicken six.

Wertz has been nominated as a McDonald’s All American. Coaches and athletic directors from every state, as well as McDonald’s officials, chose players. The McDonald’s All American high school basketball games are March 28 in Chicago.

The Bengals were scheduled to host Jordan on Feb. 3 and play at Cottonwood on Feb. 7.