Westlake High Wins First-Ever Boys Basketball State Championship

Westlake Thunder defeat Bingham Miners 71-55 in historic victory.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Westlake High School boys basketball team made history on Friday night, winning their first-ever state championship with a 71-55 victory over the Bingham Miners at the Huntsman Center. Led by head coach Nate Carling, whose father Ron Carling was an assistant coach, the Thunder overcame a tough regular season to capture the title.

Why it matters

Westlake High School has never won a boys team sport state championship in its 17-year history, making this victory particularly meaningful for the school and the community. The win also marks a special moment for coach Nate Carling, who won a state title with his father Ron as a player back in 1995.

The details

Westlake's defense was the key to the victory, as they were able to limit Bingham's star player Luke West to just 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Thunder also got big games from Brody Thompson, who scored 24 points, and Graydin Anderson, who had 22 points including a crucial 3-pointer late in the game to help seal the win.

  • The championship game was played on Friday, February 28, 2026.
  • Nate Carling won a state title with his father Ron as a player back in 1995.

The players

Nate Carling

The head coach of the Westlake Thunder, who has been at the helm of the program for 12 years. He won a state championship as a player in 1995 with his father Ron Carling as the head coach.

Ron Carling

The assistant coach for the Westlake Thunder, and Nate Carling's father. He previously won a state championship as the head coach of Alta High School in 1995 with Nate on the roster.

Brody Thompson

The star player for the Westlake Thunder, who scored 24 points in the championship game on 78% shooting.

Graydin Anderson

A key offensive weapon for the Westlake Thunder, scoring 22 points including a crucial 3-pointer late in the game to help seal the victory.

Luke West

The all-time leading scorer for the Bingham Miners, who was held to just 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“It's so special because there's a lot of hard work, a lot of long hours, a lot of tears we shed together. He's just always had my back. He's always believed in me. It's really special, actually. It means the world to me.”

— Nate Carling, Head Coach, Westlake Thunder (Yahoo Sports)

“This is the thing I dream of my whole life. As a kid, I just dream of hitting those kinds of shots, so I'll remember that the rest of my life.”

— Graydin Anderson, Player, Westlake Thunder (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Westlake Thunder will be honored at a special ceremony at the school on Monday, March 2nd to celebrate their historic championship victory.

The takeaway

Westlake High School's first-ever boys basketball state championship is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and community support that has built the program over the past 17 years. This victory not only brings pride to the school, but also serves as an inspiring example of how homegrown talent and a focus on fundamentals can lead to championship success.