| Camille Fehlberg heads for the hoop. |
The Emery High Lady Spartans opened the region basketball season with a 10-point victory over the Lady Hawks of North Sanpete High. Emery won the game at the Spartan Center 50-40 on Thursday night. Earlier in the week, Emery lost their last preseason game as the visiting Wasatch Wasps pulled out a victory in the closing minutes of the game as the visitors won 51-49.
In the game against Wasatch, Emery won each of the first three quarters as they built a 6-point lead at the end of the third period. Unfortunately, Emery would only score 5 points in the final quarter to lose that game.
Wasatch took the lead for the first time in the game with 2:21 to go as they scored on two free throws. After two more Wasp free throws, Emery tied the score with a 3-point shot by Camille Fehlberg with 30 seconds left. With 21 seconds left, Wasatch went to the line again and sank two more free throws to reclaim the lead at 50-48. An Emery turnover led to another Emery foul and another made free throw by the Wasps.
With 11 seconds left, Emery’s Fehlberg brought the ball down court and hit a long 3-pointer as Coach Steve Gordon was calling timeout. Even though the shot looked like it was away before the time out was granted, the points were taken away and Emery still trailed by three. Meagan Pearson was fouled as the ball came back into play and made 1 of 2 free throws. Meagan stole the ensuing inbounds pass and got off a shot at the free throw line as four Wasps lunged at her to prevent a score. Even though, and I say this nicely, it appeared that major contact was made, no foul was called and the game was over.
Emery went 7:30 in the final quarter without a field goal, twice missed the front end of one and one free throw attempts, went two for eight at the line in the final period and still almost won the game against another top five basketball team.
Fehlberg led the team in scoring with 23 points including a 3-pointer in each quarter, Alexis Swasey had 9 points, Rachel Rasmussen had 6 points, Tahna Merrell and Ashley Hansen each had 4 points and Meagan Pearson had 3 points.
Against North Sanpete, Emery grabbed the early lead, built it to a 35-22 lead at the half and then held on to win by 10 points. A 4-point third quarter spoiled a decent offensive game.
Turnovers plagued the Spartans in this game as they committed 23 of them. Coach Gordon said, despite no press by the Hawks, that it was “dumb passes” that were the problem and that it was “ridiculous” that this team would just throw the ball away. Despite the turnovers and the lack of rebounding by Emery, Emery was still good enough to get the region win.
Fehlberg again led the team in scoring, this time with 10 points. Ashley also pitched in 10 points to share high honors. Jodi Lundell, after a great JV game, and Callie Seeley each had 7 points. Shala Pitchforth, who missed the Wasatch game as she was home ill, and Tahna each had 6 points. Alexis and Meagan each had 2 points.
Emery now travels twice to Salt Lake City this week as they play at Juan Diego on Tuesday night and at Granite on Thursday night. Both teams lost their openers last week as Carbon defeated Granite 52-28 and Delta pulled a surprise with 55-41 win.