Emery avenged a December loss to long-time rival Carbon with a 59-58 overtime win at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale on Saturday.
Dallon Cologie starred with 30 points for the Spartans. Cologie and teammate Brendon Jorgensen knocked down three thee-point shots each.
Jordan Blanc led the Dinos with 18 points.
Both teams had chances to win the back-and-forth game in regulation, but poor free throw shooting from both squads helped extend the game. Carbon went just 21 of 45 from the charity stripe, and Emery hit just 19 of 32 free throws.
Emery head coach Todd Jeffs said he was proud of his team’s response to adversity.
“In the third quarter we had a 10-point lead at one point, and we gave it back to them because we missed easy shots,” Jeffs said. “I don’t want to make any excuses for missing shots like that, but it was our third game in four days and I think maybe fatigue might have been a little bit of a factor. In the fourth quarter we seemed to get a little bit of an adrenaline rush and responded.”
Emery carried a nine-point lead into half time after outscoring Carbon 21-9 in the second quarter. The Dinos battled back to win the third quarter 18-5 and set up the thrilling finish to the game.
Jeffs noted Cologie’s will and effort in the win.
“Dallon Cologie was huge,” Jeffs said. “Every time we needed a big play he seemed to step up and make it. He created a lot of shots for himself obviously but also for some of our big kids. I though that was a big part of the game.”
Carbon defeated Emery 72-54 Dec. 16 in Price.
Emery improved to 5-6 on the season. The Spartans visit Richfield at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Carbon dropped to 7-3. The Dinos travel to Payson at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The game was broadcast live on ETV Channel 10. Rebroadcasts of the game will be shown throughout the coming weeks.