The Lady Spartan basketball team welcomed the Wayne Badgers to Castle Dale on Monday evening.  Emery is getting ready to begin region play and welcomed the Badgers, a team from 1A.  The Spartans took the win, in a close one, 41-37.

Emery lost their last outing on January 3 to Corner Canyon, 68-45, before that they had put together quite the impressive run winning six in a row. Wayne on the other hand, sits in the No.6 spot and holds a 7-3 overall record in 1A.

The Lady Spartans were in control of the game truly from beginning to end, outscoring the Badgers by nine points in the first half to take a 26-17 lead by half time.  Coming out in the second half, Emery let up allowing the game to get a little closer than maybe it should have been, with Emery putting up just 15 compared to Wayne’s 20. The Spartans held on for the four point win.

Aliya Lester led Emery with 15 and three rebounds. Katelyn Nielson added 10 grabbing five boards and Brielle Rowley had five collecting four rebounds on the victory.

The Spartans sit at 9-4 and own the No. 8 spot in 3A. Region 12 play will begin tonight as the Spartans travel to Cedar City to face Canyon View. The Falcons are 10-4 and sit at No.7 spot in the 3A RPI.

Thursday night, Emery will be back at the Spartan Center to face Richfield (13-2, No.3).

Game time is set for 7 p.m..