Lady Spartans finish first half of season with victories

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports Writer

The Emery High Lady Spartans closed out the first half of their region season last week with a pair of victories over region foes. Emery defeated San Juan at home 66-33 and then went on the road and destroyed Grand High 70-21. The Spartans finished this half of the season by outscoring their opponents 66.5 points per game to 26.5 points per game.
Emery scored 343 points in those five games and their foes scored just 133 points. The second half of the region season begins this Thursday night with the Manti Templars visiting the Spartan Center.
On Tuesday night Emery got out to a quick lead as they scored in four of their first five possessions and with their blanketing defense the game was quickly over. Emery won the period 16-5 as the Spartan defense limited the Broncos to only a pair of baskets and forced six turnovers.
Lainee Jensen hit three three-pointers in the quarter and Kinlee Toomer added another as the Emery team showed no mercy. The Spartans started the second quarter the same way as they scored on six times in their first eight possessions and they won the period 17-11 to lead 33-16 at the half. Megan Jensen scored four baskets and made four of five free throws to pace the team. Emery won the third quarter 13-8 and then the final period 20-9.
Emery was led by Megan Jensen with 20 points followed by Kacelyn Toomer and Lainee Jensen with 11 points each and Kinlee with 9 points. Also scoring for the Lady Spartans were Kira Sailing with 5 points, Hailey Jo Allred, Ambree Bennett and Madisyn Alton with 3 points each and Bailey Huggard with 1 point.
In Moab on Thursday night Emery again went out fast as they outscored the Lady Red Devils 27-9 in the first quarter and then 16-2 in the second quarter to lead 43-11 at the half. The third quarter was won 13-2 and the final quarter was won 14-8. Coach Lynn Tuttle has been playing his bench players liberally throughout the season and they keep the pressure going. Thirteen players played in the Grand game including a pair of freshmen.
Megan again led the way, this time with 16 points. Also in double figures were Lainee with 14 points and Kacelyn with 10 points.
Also scoring were Kinlee with 7 points, Alton with 6 points, Tayden Nielson with 4 points, Huggard and Bennett with 3 points each, Allred, Sailing, and Erin Hurst with 2 points and Adri Childs with a single point.