The 2017-18 boys’ basketball regular season comes to a close this week and the very competitive region 15 is finally beginning to shake out after last week’s games. South Sevier at 7-2, Grand at 8-3 and Manti at 6-4 are locked into the first-round next week at Wasatch High School on Saturday.
Emery and San Juan are currently tied for fourth with 4-6 records and North Sanpete and Richfield are tied for last with a 3-7 record. North Sanpete plays Manti and Richfield plays South Sevier, probably losses for those two teams at the bottom and then they play each other with the winner going and the loser staying home. The winner of the San Juan-Emery game will probably take fourth in the region.
To get here Emery defeated North Sanpete on the road last week by the score of 81-76 as Kyson Stilson scored 27 points as he made 64 percent of his shots from the field and went 7 for 9 at the free throw line. Emery then hosted Manti on Friday night and although the two teams battled back and forth all night, the Templars finally took control in the fourth quarter to win the game 76-71 despite Stilson again leading the team in scoring, this time with 24 points.
Against Manti, Emery fell behind in the first quarter 19-12 despite shooting 50 percent from the field, Manti shot 54 percent. Emery closed the gap in the second quarter by winning the period 16-13. Emery won the third period 26-22 and the two teams were tied entering quarter four.
Brax Jensen scored 10 points in that final period to keep the Spartans close but Manti made eight of their field goal attempts in this quarter and the Templars won the period 22-17 to cement their spot in the playoffs.
Stilson also had 5 rebounds in the game, 4 assists and 2 steals besides the 24 points. Jensen ended the game with 17 points, having made five of eight shots from the field, had 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds. Cade Brazier hit four three-pointers in the game, scored 13 points and also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Easton Gordon scored 9 points and Tyler Butler scored 8 points.
Against the Hawks on Wednesday, Stilson scored those 27 points, had 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 assists for a pretty complete game.
Gordon scored 21 points, had 7 rebounds 2 steals and 3 assists for a decent game also.
Brazier scored 17 points and had a couple of rebounds while Jensen closed out the scoring with 16 points and added 8 assists. Emery made 16 of 19 free throws in the game.
Emery will host Grand on Wednesday night and then will close out the season at San Juan on Friday night as they continue trying to get the best seed they can for the upcoming state tournament.
Emery boys pick up a win on road, loss at home
IMG_3536.JPG Danyale Service