Luke Justice scored the go-ahead basket with 16 seconds remaining in regulation as the No. 3 ranked Emery Spartans topped No. 2 Manti 59-57 on the road Wednesday night.
“I got the ball and I saw the two defenders collapsing down on me,” said Justice. “I spun around, gave a pump fake and got the shot to drop.”
After taking the advantage on Justice’s basket, the Spartans had to hold off Manti’s final possession. Running the clock down to the final seconds, the Templars attempted game winner bounced off the front of the rim and into the hands of Wade Stilson, preserving the win for Emery.
“That last play we saw them pushing and, in my mind, I was saying just don’t foul,” Justice said when asked about the final defensive stop. “They got a decent shot at the basket, but we kept our arms up and made sure we did not foul.”
Justice scored a game-high 16 points to lead Emery to its 15th win of the season. Zack Tuttle scored all his 13 points in the opening half and Creek Sharp rounded out a balanced performance with 11 points. Mason Stilson scored eight points, hitting two crucial three-point jumpers. Wade Stilson chipped in with seven and Matt Olsen ended with four.
Emery held its largest lead of nine in the second quarter. Manti remained in striking distance and captured the lead on two occasions in the fourth quarter.
Manti’s Reggie Frischknecht poured in a game-high 18 points as the Templars slipped to 15-6 overall on the season. Austin Thomas and Jessen Barton scored 11 points each.
Wednesday’s win marks the second straight for Emery and comes following a victory on senior night over the Richfield Wildcats last Friday. With just three games remaining on the regular season slate, Emery is now just one game back of Richfield and Manti for first place in the region.
The Spartans, still ranked No. 3 in the RPI, will return to the court on Friday night with a road trip to Cedar City to meet No. 5 Canyon View Falcons. A win will give the Spartans a season-series split and keep the hopes of a region crown alive.
Live coverage of Friday’s game will air live on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM beginning at 6:30 p.m.