A fast start gave the Carbon Dinos a hefty advantage that they managed to keep throughout the game as they earned a 66-48 win over the Emery Spartans Friday night at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale.
Scoring the first five points of the game, Carbon allowed Emery to take the lead on a 7-0 run. Carbon ended the quarter on a 18-2 run and never looked back.
“We strive to set the tempo and play fast, and when the shots are falling it makes it easier,” said head coach Jared Butler. “They play scrappy defense and I was pleased with our offense in the first half tonight.”
Senior Preston Condie led the way for the Dinos as he poured in a game-high 16 points. Merrick Morgan chipped in with 12 and Rylan Hart finished with 10.
As a team the Dinos hit nine three-point shots compared to just one for the Spartans. Three of those makes came from Noah Bradford, who finished with nine points on the evening.
Friday’s win marks the fourth straight for the Dinos as they improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in Region 12 play. After topping South Sevier last week Carbon is currently tied with San Juan and Grand at the top of the division standings.
“I like that we will be on the road a bit more the first go around and then the second round we get these teams at home,” Butler said when asked about the 2-0 region start. “Wednesday we get San Juan and that’s a huge, huge game. It’s a sharp team and they are well coached.”
Friday’s loss for Emery marks the seventh straight for the team as they drop to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in division play. The loss also drops the Spartans one spot in the UHSAA RPI from 14 to 15.
“We come out and put ourselves in a hole in the first half just not doing what we should be doing,” said Emery head coach Jeff Cisneros. “We are in a situation where we have lost six or seven in a row, doing the same thing and we have to change.”
Trailing 43-22 at the end of the first half, the Spartans outscored Carbon 26-23 in the final two quarters.
Senior Jax Madsen led the Spartans in the loss with 10 points as he converted the team’s only make from deep. Riggs Griffin, plagued by foul trouble throughout, scored eight points, while Quintin Sorensen and Treven Brazier finished with six.
After dropping the first two region games at home, the Spartans will head on the road for back-to-back road games Wednesday and Friday against San Juan and Grand. The next home game will take place Jan. 27 against South Sevier.