| Chandler Pearson and Bowie Jeffs go high for the rebound against North Sevier. |
You start the week off with a double overtime loss at Lehi, your biggest obstacle for the region crown, and then you follow that with a thrilling, close victory over your archrival Carbon at their place. You are now hoarse, emotionally drained and ready for a rest and the Spartans accommodate you by not playing again until Friday night when they host the North Sanpete Hawks.
On Tuesday night, the Lehi game featured the second and third ranked teams in 3-A basketball and it was great. In double overtime, the Spartans came up just short as they lost 73-71. Lehi led after the first quarter 15-14, Emery led at the half 24-23 and at the end of the third quarter 41-39. In the fourth quarter, the Spartans had their biggest lead of the night at 56-51 with 2:16 to go but two baskets by Lehi put it at 56-55 with 1:29 left. Bowie Jeffs made 1 of 2 free throws with a 1:13 left and 25 seconds later Lehi tied the game with a pair of free throws at 57 each. That ended regulation as each team missed their last attempts.
In the first overtime, each team added five points to send it to a second overtime. Jeffs had a 3-pointer and Chad Phillips added two free throws. Zeke Atwood blocked a Lehi shot with :04 seconds left to help limit the Pioneers to five points.
In the second overtime, Lehi took the lead and Emery could never regain it. The Spartans were outscored 11-9 in that period.
Jeffs was the games leading scorer with 41 points. He was 6 of 7 at the free throw line, 7 of 12 from 2-point land and 8 of 16 from 3-point land. Chandler Pearson added 14 points and 8 rebounds. Keaton Cowley only had 1 point but he had 8 rebounds and 3 steals before he fouled out. Although you always like to win, this was still a great ball game as each Spartan gave his all and they were tired after this one.
On Friday night in Price, the underdog Dinos gave the Spartans everything they had before they lost to the Spartans 75-67. By halftime of the JV game, the Emery student section was in fine form. They were loud, they were cheering with the cheerleaders and they were having a good time. The fans were ready for varsity action.
The Spartans led 15-20 after the first quarter and 22-11 early in the second quarter before the Dinos came roaring back to trail only by 3 at 28-25. The game was tied several times in the third quarter before Emery grabbed a 5-point lead. In the fourth quarter, the Spartan man defense threw off the Dinos for just a minute and the Spartans put the game away, but again left their fans exhausted and hoarse.
Jeffs led the team with 28 points, 21 in the second half. Chandler Pearson added 24 points and led the Spartans in rebounding as the Spartans out did the Dinos 32-24 in rebounds. The Spartans had 11 steals, but also had 19 turnovers to aid the Carbon cause. Atwood, Stucki and Cowley all fouled out of this game in the fourth quarter.
Emery will host North Sanpete this Friday night at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale. The Hawks were leading Lehi with less than 3 minutes to go last Friday night in Mt. Pleasant. This should be a good ball game. Game time is 7 p.m.