It was a nail biter and as a fan I never really felt at ease throughout the entire game but despite some ups and downs the Emery High Lady Spartans won their opening game in the 2-A state basketball playoffs last Friday at Orem High School. Emery defeated Maeser Prep 52-46.
Emery led 16-9 after the first quarter and 27-17 at the half but the Lady Spartans saw that lead quickly disappear as the third quarter began as Maeser Prep outscored Emery 12-4 and the Spartans lead went to 31-29. Emery won the rest of the quarter 9-5 to regain just a little breathing room. Both teams scored 12 points in the final period.
Sophomore Lainee Jensen made three three-point shots in the game, she has been on a shooting streak as of late, and scored 19 points while freshman Megan Jensen scored 18 points and looked solid on both offense and defense in the game.
Freshmen twin sisters Kacelyn and Kinlee Toomer scored 3 and 6 points respectively as Kinlee got the start at the point as normal starter Bayler Griffin sat out the game with a sprained ankle. Senior Camrey Johnson scored the only other points in the game with 6.
Emery and the rest of the field will now move on to the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield this Thursday, Friday and Saturday to finish off the state tournament. Emery will face the number one seed from region 14 and the number one ranked Lady Rabbits from Delta in their 4:15 p.m. game as play resumes. Delta currently has a 20-1 season record.
North Sevier, who tied with the Lady Spartans with a 9-1 record in the region but received the number one seed from the region, defeated South Summit 60-20 while Manti and San Juan both lost their playoff games.
Delta defeated Emery early in the season in a game at Castle Dale by the score of 48-37. Emery now has a record of 15-6.
Emery girls defeat Maeser Prep
"Emery girls basketball will play in Richfield on Thursday at 4:10 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Front row: Madisyn Alton, Morgan Hurdsman, Erin Hurst, Lainee Jensen, Kinlee Toomer, Camrey Johnson, Taijah Price, Ambree Bennett, Bayler Griffin: Back: Coaches Lynn Tuttle, Ty Jensen, Kacelyn Toomer, Kira Saling, Bailey Huggard, Aniston Curtis, Megan Jensen, Jessica Olsen, Sam Morgan, Abbie Huntington, AdriAnne Childs, Rachel Hallows."