Scott Johansen delivered an unforgettable performance, scoring 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter as the Emery Spartans stunned the American Heritage Patriots 77-74 in the second round of the 3A State Tournament Saturday afternoon in American Fork.
Trailing 29-26 at half-time, the Spartans scored 27 points in the third quarter, capturing a 53-47 lead going into the fourth period. Emery’s advantage grew to double digits, but the Patriots erased the deficit, tying the game at 70 with 1:30 remaining in regulation.
The Spartans snapped the tie on the ensuing possession as Jace Frandsen buried a go-ahead three-point jumper with 51 seconds on the game clock. A timely defensive stop and crucial makes at the foul line allowed the No. 9 ranked Spartans to upset the No.8 seed Patriots on their home floor.
“The game was intense, and that’s playoff basketball,” said head coach Dave Justice after the win. “We knew we had to score a lot just because of the way they play and how good they are. We needed guys to step up, and I thought that Scott, West, and Jace were awesome, and so was everyone else. It was just a great team performance.”
Emery had to overcome a Hercules-type effort by American Heritage sophomore Mana Winitana. A one-man wrecking crew on both sides of the floor, Winitana scored a game-high 38 points, 15 of which came from beyond the arc. His incredible game included a near-impossible bank shot to knot the score at 70.
Frandsen’s go-ahead three-point jumper was one of three makes he had beyond the perimeter as he finished with 17 points. West Johansen scored 14 points, and Porter Hurdsman ended with 12.
Saturday’s win keeps the season alive and pushes the Spartans into the quarterfinals on Monday, Feb. 24. The Spartans will join seven other teams as the venue shifts to Utah Valley University for the final three days of the season.
Emery will now focus on its next opponent, the No. 1 seed Morgan Trojans. Morgan advanced to the quarterfinals after beating North Sanpete 72-33 on Saturday afternoon. The two teams met back on November 22 in a lopsided tilt ending in the Trojan’s favor 79-40.