With the first half of the Region 15 season officially over, the Emery Spartans picked up a big victory over the Grand Red Devils Wednesday night in more ways than one. Not only was it an impressive 56-point win, Emery also found itself in a tie for first place atop the Region 15 standings.
For an 84-28 win, the Spartans started out relatively slow. Two free throws by Kevin Butler and a runner by Dillon Wilstead to end the first quarter began the offensive onslaught that never let up for the remainder of the game. It was the first time this season the Spartans have scored at least 20 points in three consecutive quarters.
Emery broke the game wide open in the third in which it outscored the Red Devils 23-3. Coach Todd Jeffs pulled his starters with a minute and a half to go in the third quarter.
With a bunch of underclassmen seeing extended minutes in the latter part of the third quarter and in the fourth, the Spartans went on a huge 24-0 run and scored on their first six possessions of the fourth quarter. Grand scored its first points in the quarter with 3:40 remaining in the game.
Sophomore Koby Butler led 10 Spartans in the scoring column with 12. His twin brother Kolton was right behind with 11. Ridge Nielson was the other Spartan in double figures with 10. Wilstead and Tyson Roper poured in nine and eight points, respectively.
Emery has yet to lose to Grand since Emery entered Region 15 in the 2011-12 season. They are a perfect 7-0 in those games and are 10-0 against the Red Devils since the 2006-07 season.
Emery (10-6, 3-1 Region 15) sits in a tie with North Sevier atop the region. Both teams will lock horns on Friday when the Spartans travel to Salina for a matchup with the Wolves (9-8, 3-1 Region 15) at 7 p.m. Emery beat North Sevier 64-54 in Castle Dale on Jan. 21. The Spartans rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to secure the win.
Watch highlights of the game below:
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