The Emery Spartans completed the regular season with a 112-79 win over the Green River Pirates Tuesday night at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale.
Playing in front of the home crowd for the final time this season the Spartans delivered an offensive clinic. Reaching the 100-point plateau for the fourth time this season, Emery recorded its highest total of the year.
“I was pretty happy with our guy’s effort after coming out a bit sluggish defensively,” said head coach Todd Jeffs. “Green River has some guys that can score and after we refocused defensively we played pretty well.”
Senior Kyson Stilson led the offensive explosion with 25 points, including three makes from beyond the three-point line. Fellow senior Cade Brazier chipped in with 19 points, while Brax Jensen added 15. Brodie Tuttle also finished in double-figures with ten as a total of 12 players scored at least two.
Jumping out to a fast start on the offensive side of the ball the Spartans led 25-19 at the end of the first quarter. That lead extended to 55-39 by the end of the first half, making the final two quarters a formality as Emery earned its 15th win on the season.
Green River’s Dawson Anderson poured in a game-high 31 points to pace the Pirates in the setback. Axel Anguiano registered 17 and Trey Vetere finished with 10.
Friday’s regular season finale marked the final home game for Emery seniors Stilson, Brazier, Tuttle, Mason Faimalo and Rance Jensen.
Emery will now turn its focus to the 3A State Championship Tournament, which begins this Saturday against South Summit at Orem High School. After finishing the Region 15 division with a 6-6 record, the Spartans will enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed from the division.
“For whatever reason it seems like we meet them in the postseason so we are familiar with South Summit,” said Jeffs. “We’ve got to focus on the post play they have and we have to take advantage of what they can give us.”
The first round pairing will serve as a rematch of last year’s opening round, which ended in South Summit’s favor 80-74.
Saturday’s win-or-go-home contest is scheduled to tip-off at 8:10 p.m.. Live play by play action will air on KOAL 107.3 FM, 750 AM and also online at castlecountryradio.com.