The Emery Lady Spartans erased an early double-digit deficit to earn a comfortable 60-42 victory over the Carbon Lady Dinos Thursday night in Price.
“I give Carbon a lot of credit. Coach Bianco had his girls ready to play,” said Emery High School head coach Lynn Tuttle. “The only thing I could fault my girls was the way they came out. We dug a hole and battled back before the end of the first half so we could have a clean slate in the second.”
Carbon held a comfortable 13-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. The 10-point margin held throughout most of the second as Carbon led 19-9 midway through the period. At that point Emery went on a 16-2 that carried into the third quarter, giving them the lead for good.
The Emery run was led by junior Daicee Ungerman, who connected on back-to-back three point shots to change momentum. Ungerman’s efficient play offensively carried throughout the game as she posted a season best 15 points.
“She probably gets the game ball,” said Tuttle when asked about Ungerman’s performance. “Defensively she played tough. Offensively she took it to the hole and finished very well at the rim.”
Fellow junior Baylee Jacobson matched Ungerman as she too poured in 15 points for the Lady Spartans. Tatum Tanner also reached double-figures as she finished with 10. Tambrie Tuttle chipped in with nine and Addie Lester added eight to round out the well balanced Emery effort.
Carbon Freshman Madi Orth led the way for the Lady Dinos as she scored a game-high 16 points before fouling out in the later stages of the fourth quarter. Despite battling foul trouble for most of the second half, Orth impacted the game on both sides of the ball.
Senior Makenna Blanc scored 11 of Carbon’s first 13 points of the game as she finished with 14 for the contest. Beyond points, Blanc also delivered defensively and on the glass for Carbon.
Emery entered Thursday’s Region 12 game ranked No. 5 in the RPI with a 4-3 record overall, but 1-0 in league play following a win over Richfield, who at the time was No. 2. Carbon entered the tilt No. 1 with a 10-1 record after topping the formerly ranked No. 1 South Sevier Rams. The two teams have now flipped in the RPI, giving Emery the No. 1 spot and Carbon No. 5.
The Lady Spartans will now take the rest of the weekend off before returning to the court on Tuesday for a home meeting with Grand. Playing the majority of their games away from the Spartan Center, Tuesday will mark the first home game since Dec. 12.
Carbon will also return to the court on Tuesday as they make the lengthy trip to Blanding to meet the San Juan Broncos. Following the road tilt, Carbon will play back-to-back home games beginning Jan. 21.