Emery Teams finish the season at State tournament in Richfield/Snow College

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports Writer

The 2011-12 2-A high school basketball season came to a close with the culmination of the state tournament and the crowning of the South Sevier Rams as the state champions. South Sevier won their second straight title with a very hard-fought victory over region rival, county rival and almost archenemy Richfield. Final score was 52-47.
South Sevier finished the season at number one after starting the season ranked number one. The Rams closed on a 24-game winning streak after losing their opening game of the season to Wasatch Academy. One would think that South Sevier will open next season at number one again with 2-A MVP Race Parsons returning for his senior season.
The Emery Spartans also participated in the just completed tournament and returned home winless but having a lot of heart for the way they performed on the court. Emery lost 56-47 to South Summit on Thursday and 66-54 to Wasatch Academy on Friday.
Emery was down 38-34 in the fourth quarter to South Summit after Jordan Cox scored with about five minutes left in the game. The Emery fans were excited for the conclusion but South Summit would not let the Spartans get any closer. South Summit scored on 10 of their final 11 possessions in winning the game.
Emery entered the fourth quarter down 32-23. South Summit scored on their first possession to take the lead to 11. Brendon Jorgensen hit a 3-pointer, Curtis Mason also hit a three on Emery’s next possession with Jorgensen then hitting another on the next possession and suddenly the game had changed. South Summit closed the game on their run to grab the win but the two teams each scored 24 points in that final period.
Emery was down 10-2 in the first quarter with time running in the period when Coach Todd Jeffs yelled to his senior guard, “Dallon, do something.” With time expiring, Cologie dribbled down the left side of the court and from just behind the half-court line let a shot fly with the clock at less than two seconds. The ball hit nothing but bottom of net.
In the second quarter with Emery trailing 18-11 and again time running out, Cologie hit his second shot of the day, another 3-pointer from way behind the line. The shot ended a 7-0 run to close out the half for Emery.
Cologie led the team in scoring in the game with 19 points and fellow senior Jordan Cox scored nine points. Jorgensen scored eight points, Mason six points, Dawson Jensen scored three points and Logan Tuttle scored two points. Cox also led the team with seven rebounds with Mason grabbing six rebounds. Cologie also led the team with four assists.
On Friday, Emery played Wasatch Academy, a team that many speculated would be in the final game but a team that could not score on Thursday. Emery battled throughout the game only to see their efforts go for naught in the closing moments. Emery trailed 17-16 after the first period, led 34-33 at the half and trailed 50-48 after the third quarter. Wasatch Academy outscored Emery 16-6 in that final period to close the door on the Spartans.
Emery shot seven for 10 in the first quarter, eight for 25 in the second and third quarters and only one for 10 in the final period. Wasatch Academy, on the other hand, was 11 for 22 in the second half from the field. Wasatch Academy simply had too many leapers to go along with too much height in grabbing the win.
Cologie led the team in scoring in his final game with 26 points. Cox and Jorgensen each scored seven points with Jensen and Mason each scoring five points. Bailey Faimalo added four points in the final quarter to close out the scoring.
After Coach Jeffs came into this season with virtually no varsity experience returning to his team, the same cannot be said for next season. With only Cologie and Cox being seniors, Emery should return a veteran team to the court, a team that will have to be reckoned with throughout the season.