Riggs Griffin converted a scoop-shot layup as time expired to push the Emery Spartans past the South Sevier Rams 47-45 Wednesday night in Monroe.
Tied 45-45 in the closing minutes, South Sevier’s Brayden Staples missed a go-ahead three point shot. An Emery rebound and timeout with 14 seconds remaining in regulation set up Griffin’s heroics, which snapped a 13-game losing streak in the process.
“For the kids, I’m so pleased and excited for their efforts tonight and really all season long,” said head coach Jeff Cisneros following the win. “The defense tonight is what won us the basketball game. I told the kids at half time if we hold them under 50 points we’ll win and it happened.”
Faced with an early eight-point deficit in the first quarter, Emery quickly recovered and remained in striking distance throughout the game. After trailing 28-26 at the break, the Spartans captured their first lead midway through the third quarter.
With 4:40 remaining in regulation Emery held their largest lead of the game 41-37. South Sevier managed to rally and capture a 45-43 lead with less than 90 seconds remaining.
Griffin would go on to score the final four points for the Spartans, including two timely free throws to tie the game 45-45 with 1:25 remaining. The clutch shooting and defensive effort led to the most exciting finish of the season.
“The final play wasn’t exactly open like I told the guys it would be,” said Cisneros. “We didn’t panic and we got Riggs the basketball, who is one of the best on our team in one-on-one situations, and he took his guy to the paint and scored.”
Griffin ended with a team high 12 points, 11 of which came in the second half. Fellow senior Treven Brazier scored all 10 of his points in the first half. Beau Cook ended the game with nine, while Jax Madsen and Brett Rasmussen scored six.
The win ends a lengthy 13-game losing skid that started back on Dec. 11 with an overtime loss to the South Summit Wildcats. During the drought Emery lost five times by single digits including a buzzer beater at the hands of San Juan.
South Sevier’s Ridge Tebbs led the way for the Rams despite the loss as he scored 12 points. Carter Peterson finished with nine and Brayden Staples scored eight as South Sevier was held under 50 points for the second consecutive game.
After earning wins over Emery, Carbon and Grand, the Rams have now dropped two straight games, dipping their region record to 3-6 and 7-12 overall. South Sevier will now wrap up the regular season on Friday against Richfield.
The win moves Emery to 1-8 in Region 12 play and 3-14 overall. The team will have one more opportunity to improve its standing in the RPI when they return to the court Friday against Grand on Senior Night at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale.