After closing out the region season on Tuesday night with a road win at Grand High by the score of 86-69, the Emery High Spartan boys basketball team traveled to the first round of the 2015 2-A Utah state Tournament at Orem High School and defeated the Delta Rabbits 56-42 to advance to Richfield next Thursday and continue play.
The Rabbits joined seven other teams in ending their 2015 season with the loss.
Right after the game coach Todd Jeffs had this to say, “Great win, it is good to have this first win under our belts. We did a good job rebounding today and that won it for us.” Coach Jeffs was happy with the win but concerned with some of the teams play “we went a little brain dead in the fourth quarter, we have got to learn to take better care of the ball and realize where we are.” Jeffs wanted his team to play more in control late in the game to take time off the clock but they just kept attacking the basket. “We made silly mistakes but they were mistakes attacking the basket which is always good.”
Dillon Wilstead did not score in the first and third quarters but was absolutely dominant in the second and fourth quarters. Wilstead scored 13 points in the second period to help the Spartans build a halftime lead at 31-21, a lead they never relinquished. Emery was seven for 10 in shooting from the field in the period. Wilstead then added 9 points in the final period to help keep Delta at bay and secure the Emery victory.
The third quarter belonged to sophomore center Koby Butler. Butler, in the game because cousin Kevin Butler was in foul trouble, scored 10 points in the period as he made five baskets in the paint on his way to scoring 16 points in the game.
In the first quarter Emery built a 10-2 lead only to see Delta close the period with four straight baskets and it was 10-9 at the close of the period. Emery scored 10 points in their first four possessions of the second quarter, built a lead and Wilstead then closed out the quarter by scoring 10 of the final 11 points. Emery won the quarter 21-12 and led at the half 31-21. Emery scored on 10 of 13 possessions in the quarter.
The third quarter saw Emery win the period 13-8 but Delta was only still in the game because of the fouls called on Emery. At one point the fouls were 10-2 against the Spartans. Delta only managed one field goal in the period and the rest were free throws. The fourth quarter was nearly half over before Delta managed another second half field goal.
Although Dillon and Koby led the team in scoring in this game, the rest of the team played a pretty good game also in securing the win. Good defense, good rebounding and solid team play led to this win. Coach Jeffs added, “We did a good job rebounding, we had great effort in keeping Delta off the boards.” Delta did not have a single offensive rebound in the first half of play. Also scoring for the Spartans were Tyson Roper with 9 points, Kevin Butler with 4 points, Tai Justice with 3 points and Ridge Nielson with 2 points. Emery will now play this Thursday at 11:10 am at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield against Summit Academy, a 62-35 victor over Waterford. Region 15 went 2-2 on the first day with San Juan joining Emery in the win category while North Sevier and South Sevier both lost.
In the Grand game, Emery finished the game with four scorers in double figures. Tai Justice scored 18 to lead the way while Ridge Nielson and Tyson Roper scored 15 apiece and Wilstead scored 12. Bowdie Jacobsen scored 7, Koby Butler scored 3 and Jackson Jensen scored 2.
Emery Spartans win in first round of state
"Emery boys basketball will play in Richfield on Thursday in the second round of the state tournament. Back row: Coach Todd Jeffs, Tai Justice, Tyler Butler, Kyler Wakefield, Kolton Butler, Mitch Richarz, Kevin Butler, Koby Butler, Jackson Jensen, Keaton McDermott, Kyler Stilson, front row: Ridge Nielson, Easton Gordon, Dillion Wilstead, Zach Jorgensen, Tyson Roper, Logan Labrum, Bowdie Jacobsen, Cody Wilstead, Kobe Faimalo. Bryce Dugmore and Coach Jared Butler."