The Lady Spartans headed back to the hard court last night after a  fifth place 3A finish last season. Traveling to Draper to face Juan Diego, it was indeed a battle. Emery held a three point lead heading in to the fourth quarter, and the Spartans came away with a 36-34 win.

The Spartans start the season with a familiar face in a new place as former assistant Jon Faimalo has taken the reigns from former head coach Lynn Tuttle who retired after last season.

Both teams showed a little rust early as they combined for 11 points in the first quarter. In quarter number two, the Spartans came out to play outscoring the Soaring Eagles 18-8 and going in to the locker room at half time with a 23-14 lead.

Coming out in the second half the Eagles doubled up the Spartans outscoring them 12-6 in quarter three, however Emery would hold Juan Diego off just enough finishing out the fourth and final quarter and earning the two point win, 36-34.

Aliya Lester had an evening for the Lady Spartans, scoring 18, and going 6-10 from the free throw line also pulling down six boards. Katelyn Nielson scored six,  going 4-4 from the line and pulled down 10 boards. Brielle Rowley added five points and five boards in the Spartan victory.

The Lady Spartans will be home on Tuesday night  Nov. 22 as they welcome in Judge Memorial. Last season Judge plowed through all the competition completing a perfect 26-0 season and earning a state championship in the 3A ranks.

After that it will be awhile before we see the Spartans at the Spartan Center, as they won’t play at home again until December 8, when they will face South Sevier.

The game on Tuesday with Judge Memorial will tip-off at 7.