It took all four quarters, but the Emery Lady Spartans pulled out a 57-48 victory over #3-ranked North Sevier Thursday night for a Region 15 victory. Emery sits atop the region standings at 2-0.
After a sluggish first five minutes of the game, the Lady Spartans finished the first quarter on an 11-5 run that included a Kinlee Toomer three-point play with under 20 seconds left to get Emery a nine-point lead, 18-9, at the end of the period.
Emery’s first points of the second came on a three by Baylor Griffin at the five-minute mark. Griffin would extend the Spartan lead to 10 on the next offensive possession as she banked in another three from the top of the key for a 24-14 lead. The Lady Wolves ended the half, though, on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to five, 26-21, at the half.
Emery pushed its lead back to 10 thanks in part to its pressing defense that troubled North Sevier. Jessica Olsen found the basket with 3:20 left in the period to give the Lady Spartans their largest lead of the game at 11, 35-24. Again North Sevier cut the lead by the end of quarter to trail by seven heading into the fourth and final quarter.
An Emery drought in the fourth and a 9-0 run by North Sevier spanning the third and fourth quarters cut the Emery lead to two, 35-33. Desperately in need of a bucket, freshman Kacelyn Toomer nailed a corner jumper to kill the North Sevier run, ultimately kick starting the Emery offense at the 5:15 mark. Camrey Johnson connected on a three-point play and Kacelyn Toomer nailed two threes and went 5-6 down the stretch from the free throw line to seal the Emery upset.
Johnson led the Lady Spartans with 14 points, including two threes. She has averaged 13 ppg over her last three games. The Toomer twins combined to score 20 points (Kacelyn with 11, Kinlee with nine) and three treys. Megan Jensen and Baylor Griffin each added six points apiece.
Emery (7-5, 20- Region 15) will play at Gunnison (2-10, 0-1 Region 15) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Watch highlights of the game below:
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