The Emery Spartans were just a few minutes away from securing a 2A title when the Manti Templars pressed relentlessly and secured a hard-fought 60-51 win in the 2A Championship game in the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield.
It was a near carbon copy game of the game the two played on Dec. 12 in Castle Dale, a game in which the Spartans were able to hang on and escape with a 88-87 win. After two quarters of play in the 2A title game, the game was tied at 29 all. Emery was then able to end the third on a run and led by nine, 42-33.
The Spartans would go on to lead again by nine in the fourth before Manti began pressing. The Templars cut the Spartans lead to 44-40 at the four-minute mark, but Emery then ran up the score to nine, 49-40, with three minutes to go. Manti ended the game on a 20-2 run to capture the 2A title.
Tyson Roper played perhaps his best game in a Spartan uniform, netting 17 points, grabbing 10 boards and dishing out five assists. Dillon Wilstead, who carried the Spartans in the first half, ended the game with a game-high 20 points.
Emery ended the season winners of 16 games compared to nine losses. The Spartans won the Region 15 Championship.
