One game after putting up a 21-point and 11-rebound performance against the third-ranked North Sevier Wolves on Friday, Koby Butler followed that up with another monster performance in Wednesday night’s thrashing of Gunnison, 67-39. The win marked the 10th-straight win for the Spartans.
Butler had his way in the paint and even knocked in his second trey of the season en route to a career-high 30 points. He also pulled down 14 rebounds. Butler has averaged 22 ppg and 14.4 rpg over his last five games, all Emery wins.
After a slow first quarter, Emery and Gunnison found an offensive groove in the second. Emery led after one 9-6, but the Bulldogs used a 7-0 run to lead 19-13 before Butler connected on back-to-back baskets at near three-minute mark, and a Bryce Dugmore runner at 1:10 got the lead back, 20-19, matching Gunnison’s 7-0 run. The Bulldogs again pulled ahead on an Emery turnover with under 10 seconds left in the half, but Dugmore dribbled the length of the floor and nailed a three at the buzzer to put the Spartans up 23-21 at the half.
After multiple buckets by Butler and a three-point play from Bowdie Jacobson at the 2:17 mark of the third, the Spartans enjoyed their first 10-point lead of the game, 39-29. That lead would increase to 13 by the end of the quarter on another lay-in from Jacobson.
A 22-7 quarter by Emery in the fourth would put the game away.
Behind Butler’s 30, Jacobson finished with 12 points. Dugmore and Beau Roundy each pitched in eight points apiece.
Emery (13-1, 3-0 Region 15. #1 in 2A) will travel to Blanding on Friday for a matchup with San Juan (7-4, 3-0 Region 15) at 7 p.m.
Watch highlights of the game below:
