The Emery Spartans gave it all they could in their semifinals matchup with Summit Academy Friday night at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Emery lost the close game that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth, 56-43.
The Spartans opened the game on a 6-0 run that included two Koby Butler buckets. Butler followed up his season-low in points the day before against Delta in the quarterfinals with 19 points and 11 boards against the Bears. The first period ended with a 10-all tie.
Summit Academy found a groove in the second and led at the break, 25-19. The third was a back-and-forth affair with Emery finding a slight edge as Emery ended the period on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to four 35-31.
The Bears added to their lead in the early part of the fourth until Bowdie Jacobson had a chance to tie the score at 40 at the 4:17 mark. He made one of two and that was the closest the team would get in the game. Summit Academy made a majority of their free throws to end the game for the win.
Jacobson went 11-13 from the free throw line en route to 19 points. The only other players that scored in the game were Kolton Butler with three points and Easton Gordon with two.
The Spartans will play for third place at 3 p.m. against Beaver in the consolation bracket on Saturday.
