Seeking revenge for a 2022 quarterfinals loss against the Morgan Trojans, the Emery Lady Spartans traveled to Utah Valley University for a quarterfinal showdown against the Trojans on Monday, Feb. 24. An odd contest throughout, the Spartans secured a 44-30 win over Morgan and earned a spot in the state semifinals.

Opening the game, both teams struggled to find the bottom of the basket. Emery would strike first, building a 6-0 advantage before the scoring would halt for the squad. Morgan would score the final four points of the frame but Emery would still hold a narrow 6-4 edge at the end of one.

The offense would be uncorked in the second period, as Ashley Burt for the Trojans dueled with Katelyn Nielson and Kabree Gordon as both tried to secure momentum heading into the halftime break. Emery would secure the lead in the quarter and the game as the midway buzzer sounded with the Spartans up 22-17.

Not wanting to allow Morgan any opportunity to seize the lead, Emery ripped off a 15-2 run in the third quarter, crushing the Trojans with relentless defensive pressure, setting the Spartans up with fast break opportunities and easy transition points. Heading into the final frame, Emery held the upper hand 37-19.

Morgan would win their lone quarter of the game in the fourth, holding Emery to seven points while trying to overcome a deep deficit with 11 of their own. However, it was too little, too late as Emery cruised to a 44-30 victory.

“I think we did well defensively, holding them to two points in the third quarter,” said senior Saige Curtis following the game,” We kinda let up in the fourth quarter but hey, we got it done in the end.”

Leading the way for the Spartans was Nielson, who scored a game-high 16 points. Gordon poured in 12 with Kali Jensen right behind her with seven. Curtis closed with six and Jabry Sharp had two in the contest.

With the win, Emery punches their ticket to the state semifinals where they will have a rematch from last year’s semifinals against the Grantsville Cowboys – a contest which the Spartans won 43-41. The two squads will face off on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4:10 p.m. at Utah Valley University.

This showdown will be streamed on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM starting at 3:50 p.m. with the Landon’s Diesel Service Pregame Show. Additionally, the game will be streamed on YouTube on Castle Country Sports- Emery.