The opener and rematch of last year’s state championship game lived up to its billing on Thursday night in the Spartan Center. Although the Spartans came into the contest short handed, they were determined to exact revenge.
Emery was outsized due to the absence of both its bigs, Tatum Tanner and Tambrie Tuttle, but first-year player Maddy Childs stepped up in a huge way. “Its was baptism by fire,” said head coach Lynn Tuttle after the game. “We don’t win that game without Maddy.”
The teams came out at a blistering speed to start the contest. Baylee Jacobson was all over the court and led the Spartans with 12 points in the first quarter. Emery delivered a strong blow, but Morgan regrouped and pulled within one (17-16) at the end of the period.
After the track meet in the first, both squads slowed down as fatigue set in. Emery scored only nine points in the second while Morgan mustered five, making it 26-21 at the break.
The second half could not have started better for the Lady Spartans. They opened the half with a Jacobson three, then a turnover gave it right back to Emery. Within 30 seconds, Emery had its second three, this time by Addie Lester, and led by 11 points. The Lady Trojans never gave up, however, and continued to fight back. They would cut it all the way down to four (39-35) with one quarter remaining.
Once again, it was Emery that was able to start fast as they recreated separation. Morgan’s foul trouble put the Spartans in the bonus, where they converted at the foul line all night. The Spartans shot 22-33 (67%) at the charity stripe, but converted in key moments.
Many were surprised that the Trojans did not use their size more to their advantage by forcing the ball down low for easy points in the paint. While the Spartans were constantly filling passing lanes and looking for steals, it seemed that when the ball arrived on the block, Morgan converted at a high percentage.
The Trojans finally went to the paint in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. Emery hit its foul shots down the stretch and pulled off the shorthanded upset over the top-ranked team in 3A, 59-50.
Jacobson finished with 25 points, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks, and was named the Trams Electric Player of the Game. Late in the game, Jacobson had a play where she was defending at the top of the arc. The ball was kicked over to the corner and Jacobson sprinted all the way to not only contest the shot, but get a hand on it. The block sent a message to Morgan that there was no way the Trojans were leaving with the win.
In reality, that message was sent all night by each Lady Spartan that took the court. Emery made life difficult for Morgan in every facet of the game. They were relentless for four straight quarters and all had moments, both individually and collectively, that set the tone.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Tuttle. “They played their hearts out.”
Brynn Gordon finished with 10 points and six rebounds, four offensive, to lead the team on the boards. Addie Lester recorded nine points while another new player, Tylee Norton, came off the bench to score seven. In addition, Daicee Ungerman accounted for five of the teams 17 steals. It was truly a team effort and one that will give the Lady Spartans a confidence boost going forward.
Up next, Emery (1-0) will host Manti (1-1) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on ETV Channel 10 and online at etvnews.com/livesports.
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- Photos by Dusty Butler
