The rivalry between the teams from Emery and Carbon counties was alive and well on the basketball floor at the Spartan Center on Feb. 6. It was a clean sweep for the Emery teams with the sophomore, junior varsity and the varsity teams each coming away with a victory.
In varsity action the floor was heated up with tough play from both teams. After the half time break the Dinos came out smoking and closed the gap between the two teams, but the Spartans would not be denied and in the third quarter with 2:16 remaining the Spartans were given a needed lift with a three-point shot from Willie Lester. This brought the score to 37-29 for the Spartans. The Spartans added another basket and the Dinos added a basket and a foul shot to bring the score to 39-32.
Bowie Jeffs came up with a basket to bring the tally to 41-32 and as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter Jeffs added to his point total by swishing a three to bring the score to 44-34.
Lester came out on fire in the fourth quarter by jumping out with a quick three-point basket. Travis Barnett fouled a Dino and put him on the line for foul shots. He made the first and missed the second to bring the score to 47-38. A Dino came up big with the rebound from the missed foul shot and tried to dunk the ball only to have it bounce back out. The Spartans possession ended with a walking foul on Barnett but on their next trip down the court Lester with the hot hand swished in another three. The score stood at 50-38 but the Dinos weren’t ready to give it up yet and they added two points on their end.
On the Spartan end of the court Jeffs put in a quick 3-pointer. The Spartans lost the ball out of bounds and Barnett ended up with his fourth foul in the fracas and seconds later on the other end of the floor he picked up his fifth personal foul and had to take a seat.
The Spartans didn’t skip a beat even though their big man was on the bench and there was still 3:58 left in the fourth quarter. Brandon Hansen got into the scoring frenzy for the Spartans as well when he added two points with a short jumper. Spartans were up 55-40 with 2:44 left in the quarter when the Dinos started to foul to stop the clock.
Pete Nielson missed his foul shot and when the ball returned to the Dino side, Lester stole it away passed to Nielson, who was quickly fouled again. Nielson missed the first shot but drained the second to help his team to a 56-40 lead. A Dino got lucky with a tip in to add a basket to their score.
Jeffs was fouled on the Spartan end and he missed and then made his foul shots. With the clock winding down to 1:08 the next time the Spartans brought the ball in Lester was tied up with an intentional foul by the Dino. Lester made his first foul shot but missed the second and the score stood at 58-42 with 1:05 left to play.
Seth Powell was also to get a chance at the foul line where he missed the first and put in the second to bring the score to 59-42. Dinos attempted a 3-point basket with no luck and Hansen came away with a steal and the Dinos fouled him. Hansen could not get the ball to bounce his way as both shots went astray.
Relief help was sent in by the Spartans to finish off the Dinos. Curt Jensen went to the foul line with 16.6 seconds left but failed to come up with the point. On the Carbon end of the court they put in a shot at the buzzer to bring the final score to 59-44 in favor of the Spartans.
Jeffs led the Spartans with 19 points, Lester with 16 points, Nielson with 8 points, Barnett with 8 points, Powell with 3 points, Kent Stilson with 3 points, Hansen with 2 points.
Emery Bruises Rival Carbon 59-44
