The Spartans kicked off 2024 with three games in four days, two at home and one on the road. On Friday night they welcomed the Templars from Manti to town. Four quarters wasn’t enough to decide a winner, and unfortunately in overtime, the Templars found an extra gear earning a 77-67 win.
Emery kicked off the new year welcoming San Juan to the Spartan Center, handing them a 69-50 loss. Taking Wednesday off, they traveled to Richfield and faced the Wildcats, failing to come up with the win as the Wildcats earned the 57-53 victory.
On Friday night in the Spartan Center, the Manti Templars came to town. Both teams were evenly matched with neither team opening up a huge lead, Emery led by four at the end of the first quarter. In the second you kept looking for one team to impose its will on the other but that never happened as Emery did take a slim 33-29 lead going into the locker room.
In the second, Manti came out putting some space between the two teams, scoring 17 and taking the lead 46-44 going into the final eight minutes. In the fourth, Emery knew what they had to accomplish, just outscore the Templars by three. Each team played tough defense and as it came down to the wire, the quarter ended tied at 57.
In overtime, the Templars were a team possessed, and it seemed the Spartans ran out of gas, Manti would take control doubling up Emery and taking the win, in OT, 77-67.
Luke Justice led the Spartans with 23, adding a pair of rebounds and steals, and handed out one assist. Zack Tuttle scored 16 and pulled down three boards. Mason Stilson had 10, and Wade Stilson filled the stat line with eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals.
The Spartans will look to get back on track with a pair of home games this week.
On Wednesday the Canyon View Falcons come to town and on Friday night in the Spartan Center, the Carbon Dinos will make their only appearance in Castle Dale.
Both games will be available on KOAL 107.3 FM or 750 AM, streaming at castlecountryradio.com, and on the Castle Country Radio app.
The broadcasts will start with the Landon’s Diesel Pre-game Show at 6:30, with tip-off to follow at 7:00 p.m..