Sitting with three wins in Region 15 with three other teams before Wednesday’s tilt at North Sanpete, the Emery Spartans needed a road win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Spartans pulled out a gutsy performance, getting 27 points from Kyson Stilson, taking the game 81-76.
Emery withstood a furious Hawk comeback in the fourth quarter to secure the win, in which North Sanpete scored 31 points. Emery and North Sanpete were tied with three wins apiece before the game. The top six teams (out of seven) will make the 3A Playoffs, which kick off Feb. 17 at Wasatch High School.
After Stilson’s 27, Easton Gordon continued his stellar play in region action, notching 21 points, including three threes. Cade Brazier hit another five treys, netting 17 points. Brax Jensen was next with 16 points. As a team, Emery nailed 13 threes.
After a tight first quarter, Emery pulled away a bit in the second, taking an eight-point lead into halftime, 41-33. The Spartans increased that to 11 at the end of the third before the Hawks made a run at Emery in the fourth.
Emery (10-8, 4-5 Region 15) will have two straight home games, beginning Friday night against Manti (13-6, 5-4 Region 15). Grand will then come to Castle Dale on Wednesday. The Spartans will finish the regular season at San Juan on Feb. 10.
