Spartan boys basketball hold onto top spot in region

By Gary Arrington Sports Writer

By the time Friday night came to an end, the Emery High Spartan boy’s basketball team found themselves all alone in first place in region 15. After having easily, defeated Grand High School on Wednesday night by the score of 84-28, the Spartans traveled to Salina to face the North Sevier Wolves in a key region matchup since the teams along with South Sevier were all tied atop the region standings. Emery won in overtime over the Wolves by the score of 72-69 and the Rams lost to San Juan.
The win was huge for the team. With just two games remaining on the region schedule, it is highly likely that Emery team will win the region title and get a more favorable first round game in state. Dillon Wilstead had a monster game in Salina against the Wolves. According to Coach Jeffs, Dillon was “unreal, efficient and really made big plays to keep us in the game.” Wilstead hit four three-pointers in the game and scored 35 points in the game. Tai Justice, after being just a little under the weather the past little while, also found his rhythm again and hit four three-point shots and scored 17 points in the game. Justice is the leading three-point shooter in 2-A basketball.
Emery led 15-14 after the first quarter and 36-29 at the half. Emery extended their lead to 10 at the end of three quarters as they also won that period 15-12. But the fourth quarter belonged to North Sevier as they out scored the Spartans 18-8 to tie the score. Emery had an opportunity to win in regulation but could not get a shot off. The Wolves had pressured the Spartans throughout that fourth quarter and Emery struggled offensively. North Sevier played really well in this game as they gave the Spartans nothing, they made them earn it.
Tyson Roper scored 6 points, Bowdie Jacobsen scored 5 points, Koby Butler scored 3 points and Kevin Butler, Kolton Butler and Ridge Nielson each scored 2 points. Earlier in the week Grand High came to town. After winning the first quarter by a modest 14-7 Emery opened up a 20 point halftime lead by out scoring the Red Devils 24-11 in the second quarter. The third quarter was all Emery as they ran away with the period by the score of 23-3. Emery now led by 40.
When the JV players substituted late in the third quarter, they also showed no mercy to the Devils as they scored points on 10 of their first 12 possessions. This was after the starters had scored on their final seven possessions of the third quarter.
Kolton Butler led the Spartans in scoring with 13 points as he was one of 12 Spartans that scored in the game. Also scoring in double figures were Jacobsen, Nielson and Koby Butler with 10 points each. also scoring in the game were Wilstead with 9 points, Roper with 8 points, Justice and Kevin Butler with 5 points each, Zac Jorgensen with 5 points, Bryce Dugmore with 4 points, Jackson Jensen with 2 points and Kyler Stilson with 1 point.
Against Grand the Spartans won the stat battle as the Spartans had just three turnovers compared to 17 to Grand. Emery won the rebounding battle 38-17 and because of winning both rebounds and turnovers, Emery took 73 shots compared to 37 for Grand.
Coach Jeffs added, “I’m excited, we are really playing some of our better ball right now. North Sevier played incredible but so did we, that was one of the best games that we played this season. Emery will play away games against San Juan on Wednesday and Wasatch Academy on Saturday.