The Lady Spartans came on at the end of the season winning the final four games and the opening game of the championships against Manti. On Saturday they would take on the Richfield Wildcats and in the final game of the season, Emery would give everything they had but in the end, they would come up just short 56-49.
Starting on Thursday the Lady Spartans took on a team that they have become familiar with, Judge Memorial, earning a 55-45 win, then moving into the semifinals they would face the No.1 team in 3A, the Grantsville Cowboys. Grantsville played tough all season, and in the game with Emery, they faced a team that matched their physicality, the Lady Spartans won the contest 43-41, securing their spot in the final with Richfield.
These two teams are very familiar with each other having played two times in region play. The Wildcats came away with the win in both contests.
Richfield came out firing in the first quarter putting up 15 holding Emery to eight and setting the tone for the game. Emery would come back in the second quarter trying to chop into the Richfield lead cutting it to six, 29-23 at the half.
In the third things would start to get interesting, Kenadie Maughn had to be taken out of the game picking up her fourth foul at the five-minute mark. Maughn had been plagued by foul trouble all evening, and could never get into the rhythm of the game. The Spartans kept it interesting throughout the second half cutting the Wildcat lead to five at one point, but Emery could never get over the hump falling to the Wildcats 56-49.
The seniors, who led the Spartans all season came up big in this one as well. Aliya Lester scored 10 in the contest, and Karleigh Stilson had seven, with three rebounds, three steals, and a pair of assists. Libby Faimalo scored seven with five rebounds and a pair of assists. Kali Jensen led the Spartans with 12 points, four rebounds, a block, and a steal. Maughn also added eight, with three rebounds, a block and a steal.
The Lady Spartans ended the season with a 17-9 record and earned the No. 5 spot in the final RPI, and they will come back reloaded and ready for next season.
Jensen is a junior and Maughn a sophomore, there are plenty of great underclassmen ready to step up next year.
Tune into KOAL’s Drive Time Sports on 107.3 FM or 750 AM next week for a complete recap of the Lady Spartans’ season as well as a season-ending interview with Coach Jon Faimolo.