Emery boys lead the region with win over Manti

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports Writer

The Emery High boys’ basketball team started their second time through their region 15 season last Friday night at Manti High School. Although it is usually harder to defeat a team for a second time and one might expect each game to be more difficult than the last time, Emery got out to a big first quarter lead and then managed to defeat Manti by the score of 68-60.
Emery played very well in the first quarter on defense as they limited the Templar offense to just five points in the period and the Emery offense was effective as they scored 17 points and the Spartans had a 12-point lead at the end of the quarter.
Emery increased the lead in the second quarter as they won the period 18-14 and led 35-19 at the half. The third quarter saw Manti get back into the game as they outscored the Spartans 25-17 and the Emery lead was cut in half by the end of the quarter. The fourth quarter saw both teams score 16 points and Emery won the game with just a little breathing room.
Koby Butler made 11 of 17 shots for a 65 percent shooting average and led the team with 24 points. He also went two for four at the free throw line. Koby also led the team with 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Bowdie Jacobsen also finished the game scoring in double figures as Bowdie made seven of 11 shots for a 64 percent shooting average and finished the game with 18 points. Bowdie went four for six at the line. Jacobsen also dished out 9 assists and had 2 steals.
Kolton Butler also finished the game in double figures as he scored 11 points on three of seven shooting from the field and four of five shooting at the free throw line. Kolton pulled down 10 rebounds and had a blocked shot, a steal and 3 assists. Also scoring for Emery were Easton Gordon with 9 points and Zach Jorgensen with 6 points. Gordon led the team with 5 steals and also had 4 rebounds and an assist.
Emery will host Gunnison and North Sevier this week with the Bulldogs coming in on Wednesday and the Wolves showing up on Friday. The Spartans enter the final two weeks of 2-A basketball play with a 16-1 overall season record and a 6-0 region record and is ranked as the number one team in 2-A basketball by the state-wide newspapers.