On Friday night, the Emery Spartans traveled to Manti to face the Templars to open up region play. Welcoming back players who were suspended for their contest against Pinnacle, Porter Sitterud went off for Emery, scoring 21 of his game-high 30 points in the first half. The Spartans cruised to a 76-61 win.

Emery has compiled a 10-5 mark overall and sits at No. 4 in the latest rankings from MaxPreps and the Utah High School Activities Association. The last time they were on the court, the short-handed Spartans took a 20-point lead over the Pinnacle Panthers 68-48.

The Spartans hit the court running in the first quarter, capitalizing on Manti turnovers all night and keeping their foot on the gas, building a 32-12 lead by the end of the period. In the second, the turnovers continued, turning into a layup drill for Emery as they built their lead throughout the quarter, pushing it to 51-24 as they headed to the locker room at halftime.

In the third, Manti came out as the aggressor, holding the Spartans in check for the first part of the quarter and cutting the Emery lead to 21, 63-42. The final eight minutes were more of a formality, but the Templars played like the scoreboard read 0-0, and when all was said and done, they had cut into the Spartans’ lead but came up short, with Emery taking the win 76-61.

Sitterud scored a game-high 30 for the Spartans. Brek Griffin added 12, and Ajay Thomas and Logan Lester each added 10 in the win for Emery.

On Tuesday, Emery will make the trip to Monroe to face the North Sevier Rams in a non-region tilt.

You can catch the action live on KOAL 107.3 FM  or 750 AM and a live video stream on our YouTube channel, Castle Country Radio- Emery.

The Landon’s Diesel Pre-game show will begin at 6:30 with tip-off to follow at 7:00 p.m.