The Emery High Lady Spartans grabbed control of the region 15 basketball season with solid victories last week against Grand High and North Sevier. On Tuesday Emery traveled to Moab and defeated the host team in a blow-out by the score of 81-36. On Thursday, Emery hosted the Wolves in Castle Dale and won the relatively close game 57-48.
In Moab, Emery actually trailed after the first quarter ended by the score of 13-12. From the onset of the second period though it was all Lady Spartan offense as the Emery team scored 27 points in the second period, 20 points in the third and 22 points in the final quarter of play. The Spartan defense limited the Grand High team to 6 points in each of the second and third quarters and 11 points in the final period.
Twelve different players scored for Emery in this game led by 15 points from Camrey Johnson. Lainee Jensen hit three 3-pointers and scored 9 points with Abbie Huntington and Morgan Hurdsman scoring 8 points. Megan Jensen scored 7 points and led the team with 9 rebounds. Kinlee Toomer scored 6 points while sister Kacelyn scored 5 points along with Bayler Griffin, Erin Hurst and Taijah Price. Jessica Olsen scored 4 points as did Madisyn Alton. Johnson also had 4 assists, 6 rebounds and 6 steals. Griffin led the team with 5 assists.
At home against North Sevier, Emery led 18-9 after the first quarter as Kinlee Toomer scored 6 points and the Spartans made seven of 15 shots while the Wolves only made four of 11 while turning the ball over five times. North Sevier won the second quarter 12-8 to trail 26-21 at the half. Bayler Griffin hit a pair of three’s on consecutive trips down the court but the Spartans as a team only made three of 11 shots in the period.
Emery won the third quarter 9-7 but the shooting in the period was not good as the team made just three of 14 shots for 21 percent shooting. North Sevier had seven turnovers in the quarter to keep their offensive effort down.
In the final quarter, Emery made four of 10 field goal attempts but shined at the free throw line where they made 12 of 16 shots. Emery’s last eight possessions all ended with the team shooting free throws. Lainee Jensen went four for four and Kacelyn Toomer went five for seven.
CJ led the way with 14 points followed closely by Kacelyn with 13 points. All of Kacelyn’s points came in the fourth quarter as she also made three of the four field goals made in the quarter with two of those being three-pointers. Kinlee scored 7 points and Megan and Bayler each scored 6 points. Jessica scored 5 points, Lainee scored 4 points and Aniston Curtis scored 2 points.
Emery plays at Gunnison on Tuesday and then will host San Juan on Thursday this week. The Emery High boys’ basketball team played twice last week and twice they were victorious although each game had head coach Todd Jeffs nervous more than once. Emery defeated Grand in what turned out to a blowout win by the score of 61-32 and then on Friday night Emery traveled to Salina and played North Sevier and defeated the Wolves 75-66.
On Wednesday, Emery hosted Grand High and the Spartan team went on top early as they outscored the Red Devils 21-10 in the first quarter. The Emery offense struggled in the second quarter though and Grand cut the lead back to nine after winning the period 12-10. Emery then held Grand to just five points in each of the second half periods and easily won the game.
In Salina, Emery turned a close first-half game into a win by outscoring the home team 19-11 in the third quarter. Emery had led after the first quarter by the score of 15-14 but trailed at the half 27-26. After winning the third quarter Emery had regained the lead at 45-38. Both teams scored at will in the final period but Emery prevailed in the period 30-28 and they now lead region 15 with a 2-0 record.
Junior forward Koby Butler was the leading Spartan scorer in each game with 18 points scored against Grand and 21 points scored against the Wolves. Koby also finished the Grand game with 10 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and a single steal.
Also scoring against North Sevier were Bowdie Jacobsen with 17 points, Kolton Butler with 15 points, Bryce Dugmore with 10 points, Beau Roundy and Zac Jorgensen with 5 points each and Cade Brazier with 2 points. Also scoring against Grand High were Dugmore with 10 points, Roundy with 9 points, Jacobsen with 8 points, Easton Gordon with 7 points, Kolton Butler with 5 points and Cody Wilstead and Keaton McDermott with 2 points each.
Emery is now 12-1 for the season and 2-0 in region action. Emery will host Gunnison on Wednesday night and will then close out the week with a road trip to Blanding to face the San Juan Bronco team.
Emery girls/boys basketball begin region with two wins
"Koby Butler was the leading scorer against Grand and North Sevier."