The Emery High Spartan basketball team used a big fourth quarter to defeat Manti 54-52 Friday evening in Castle Dale.
Emery trailed 37-33 going into the fourth quarter, but big plays and unrelenting effort drove the fourth-quarter comeback.
Dallon Cologie and Brendon Jorgensen led the Spartans with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
“I was happy with our guys because the one thing I asked them to do at the beginning of the game was to compete, and I felt we did that,” said Emery head coach Todd Jeffs. “We made a ton of mistakes and missed a ton of shots we should have made, but we competed. That’s progress, so I’m happy with the way the guys played because they really got after it. As long as they do that, we can start developing and becoming a better team.”
Jordan Cox’s huge defensive play with approximately 1:30 left in the game helped Emery wrestle the momentum away from Manti. Cox took a charge that erased a Templar basket.
“I thought the play of the game was Jordan Cox taking the charge, that was huge,” Jeffs said. “That turned them over and bumped them off the score board for a bit, so I was really happy for him. He even took it on the chin with his blood splattered nose and came back smiling. That was really encouraging.”
Jeffs also praised his young team’s progress and said he expected the team to continue to improve throughout the season.
Emery improved to 3-5 on the season.
The Spartans gear up for a three-game week that starts with a visit to Union at 7 p.m. Wednesday.