The Emery Spartans topped the Richfield Wildcats 54-53 for a monumental Region 12 victory Friday night at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale.
Senior Brax Jensen poured in a game-high 21 points, including the go-ahead foul-and-one three-point play with 42 seconds remaining in regulation. Fellow senior Jordan Ekker complimented Jensen with 16 points, 12 of which came from beyond the arc.
“We just wanted to beat these guys and get them back for what they did to us at their place,” said Ekker. “We came in with the mindset to win. We weren’t intimidated by them. We had a different game plan and we executed it perfectly.”
Locked in a back-and-forth battle throughout, the Spartans trailed 51-46 with 2:57 remaining in the game. Following two foul shots from Jensen, Ekker tied the game with a transition corner three with 1:39 left on the clock.
The Wildcats responded by capturing a two-point lead on a Emmit Hink lay up. On the ensuing possession Jensen took the ball the length of the court drawing contact from Hink, while converting the layup and the eventual game-winning free throw.
Richfield had one last opportunity to win the game, but senior Morgan Albrecht misfired a baseline jumper as time expired. The Emery win means a season series split between the two teams.
“We didn’t let them hit five threes in the first quarter,” said senior Brax Jensen when asked about the difference between the two games. “Even though our shots weren’t falling early we were still in the game. We felt comfortable throughout.”
Senior Josh Thalman led the Wildcats with 17 points and three makes from deep. Hink finished with 13 before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Hayden Harward chipped in with 12, all of which came from the three-point line in the third quarter.
The Spartans have now won six straight since losing to Richfield on Jan. 8. The win moves Emery to No. 2 in the RPI rankings with an overall record of 13-3. Richfield drops one spot to No. 3 and now sits 12-4. The two teams are tied at the top of the Region 12 standings at 5-1 in division play.
Emery will resume region play with a highly important road game on Wednesday against No. 4 San Juan in Blanding. The week will come to an end on Friday at home against Carbon.