Koby Butler wasn’t ready to call it quits on his high school career. The senior willed the Emery Spartans past the South Summit Wildcats Friday afternoon in the 2A Consolation Semifinals 65-63 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield.
Behind Butler’s 26 points and 13 rebounds, sophomore Kyson Stilson came off the bench to pour in a career high 19 points. Stilson was a focal point for Emery during stretches of the game. Butler sealed the game with two free throws under 30 seconds to play to put his team up four before the Wildcats cut it to two on a bucket on the following possession. Butler missed two free throws with under three seconds to go but South Summit’s attempt from half court didn’t draw iron, sending the Spartans to the consolation final on Saturday.
Emery trailed by as many as 12 points early in the second quarter but rallied near the end of the half to lead by one at the break, 28-27. But South Summit opened up the third on a 10-2 run to take back the lead. Both teams went at each other for the next quarter and a half before the Spartans were able to take the lead for good.
Bowdie Jacobson, bothered by a slight knee injury, chipped in 10 points and dished out three assists. Easton Gordon added six points and four rebounds.
Emery shot just 31% in the first half (9-29) but rebounded in the second, going 13-23 for a 56.5% clip. Led by Stilson’s 7-9 from the free throw line, Emery shot a combined 20-25 from the charity stripe.
Emery will now take on South Sevier, who beat Grand 69-55 in the other consolation final on Friday, on Saturday at 11:40 a.m. for a chance at fifth place.
